Those Homemade Cookbooks

In 1996, after my dad died, I made cookbooks for various family members. The books were three-ring binders with family recipes which were stuffed into flexible plastic sheet protectors. I believe I used Now You're Cooking software, but will use MasterCook when I finally get around to doing this with my own, personal recipes.

ANYWAY ... I got the most wonderful phone call from my daughter today! She (like many of us) is short of funds for gift-giving this year. So she hauled out the family cookbook (I'm not sure if anyone else has ever used theirs), and started baking.

She and a friend are baking at least a half-dozen different kinds of cookies, and she'll mail the baked goods to friends and family who aren't nearby. This makes me feel so good! Something I did has proven to be of value!

Strangely, Crash and I had already decided to make homemade candies for gift-giving this year. When the cookies and candies are combined, everyone will have a very nice selection of goodies that will make our doctors and dentists faint in horror. And when they awaken, they'll put in those orders for next year's BMWs.

If I remember right, Ana is making gingersnaps, snowballs-Mexican wedding cakes-Russian teacakes, date pinwheels, anise seed cookies .... I know there are more, but most of my brain cells have Vacancy signs posted on them these days.

So far, Crash and I are planning on making chocolate covered cherries, English toffee, cashew brittle, white chocolate dipped mini-pretzels, Butterfinger-like candies, vanilla caramels, and probably other things that I've forgotten.

Recipes for all of the cookies and candies listed above are available if anyone wants them. Well, I'll probably have to find a brittle recipe somewhere. I don't seem to have Mom's readily available.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my smile with people who would understand it.

Carol --