In fairness to my mother, whom I love dearly, I must point out that she could bake like nobody else. Everything was from scratch and the freezer was filled to overflowing with homemade cookies the likes of which I haven't encountered elsewhere.

My favorites:

Chocolate Bread Pudding
Christmas cookies with a chocolate mint hidden inside
Pecan Sandies
Flaky Glazed Twists (can't really describe)
Italian Cookies frosted and topped with crushed peppermint
English Apple Pie (not a pie and tasted like walnuts)

Holiday meals might be humdrum but there were always a half dozen pies for dessert.

My dad was 5'7 and easily 250 lbs. She knew what made him happy.