Carmen Long
Simply Delicious
Children’s books, cookbooks, picture books, fiction—I love books. As long as I can remember, I have enjoyed reading. As a child, I loved to read so much that my parents would have to make me stop to go outside and get some exercise.
As an adult, I know not to start a book when I have other things that need to be done or places to go. When I start reading, I don’t want to stop. I don’t want to go to sleep or to work or do anything else until I finish. When I listen to an audiobook while traveling, I don’t want to reach my destination if the book isn’t over. My husband has caught me sitting in the driveway still listening and waiting until a chapter ends.
I love the suspense a book brings, wondering what is going to happen next. It is wonderful to travel to new places, learn new information, and make new friends through books. Books can also be a good way to escape stress as you forget about your own issues and problems while being absorbed into the story.
Libraries are one of my favorite places and I have no trouble spending hours looking at the wonderful selection of books for all ages and interests. The opportunity to check out books for free, enjoy reading, and then return them so someone else can experience the pleasure is such a win-win. However, there are some books I like to keep in my own little library and read over and over again. Children’s holiday books fall into this category.
For many years, I purchased books each holiday for our children. The Christmas ones are some of our family’s favorites. I store the books with our holiday decorations and look forward to pulling them out each year and enjoying them once again. Not only do they add to our holiday décor, they also bring back special memories.
This holiday season think about giving books to those on your gift list. Books are a gift that keeps on giving. My grandmother gave me a gardening book when we purchased our first home many years ago. I still find that book useful. Some of our most used wedding presents were cookbooks we are enjoying 35 years later. Each time I open a book given to us by family members or friends who are no longer living, their memories live on. I especially like it when they sign and date the book.
When giving a child a book, consider providing an experience along with the story. Making memories makes the present even more meaningful. A fun children’s book to share while making cookies for Santa is The Gingerbread Man. Some of you may remember the line from the story, “Run, run, fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!” Try this recipe for easy gingerbread cookies and incorporate some movement in your day and run like the Gingerbread Man.
Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies
Prep time 15 minutes;
About 12 servings
Ingredients
- ½ cup margarine
- ½ cup brown sugar
- (1) large egg
- (1) box of instant butterscotch pudding mix
- 2 cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Icing for decorating
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream margarine, add brown sugar and egg. Mix well.
- Measure all the dry ingredients into a bowl and stir.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well. Dough will be stiff.
- Roll out on a floured surface and cut with cookie cutters.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes depending on size and thickness of cookies.
- Decorate as desired.
Hints: To make rolling dough easier, refrigerate in bowl for 30 minutes. A flexible cutting board works well to roll dough on and makes cleaning up easier. If you don’t have a gingerbread man cookie cutter, you can make round cookies by cutting the dough with a drinking glass.
Merry Christmas, and I hope all your holiday wishes come true!
