the HERALD- Wednesday December ll FOOD Pagel5B Cookie baking a fun family holiday activity Warm holiday memories are made from the sweet smell of cookies and the wonderful tastes of festive goodies For many cookie baking is a popular family tradition Its fun for everyone even the youngest members of the family can help roll and decorate sugar cookies and gingerbread Santas Treat family friends and unexpected guests to trays of cookies and other marvelous foods that wilt tempt the eyes before they touch the palate Delicious Delightful Gifts Cookies are great gifts for friends and terrific offerings at bazaars and chanty fund raisers too Theres a special joy in mak ing and giving gifts from your kit chen Trade the frantic pace of department store shopping for the freshbaked aromas and warmth of your own kitchen Presentation is the key to a memorable gift Present cookies in a cookie jar teapot mixing bowl or freez nig container Arrange cookies on a new cookie sheet tray or serving plate Offer cookies in a basket with oven mitts apron or a kitchen towel For the kids on your list package cookies in a toy boat truck or lunch box Combine a gift of homemade cookies with the recipe and some of the ingredients such as spices and dried fruits Freezing Tips The trick to enjoying holiday entertaining is simple plan ahead Many cookies can be made weeks ahead and stored in tins or in the freezer In tradtional England holiday baking started in late November with the making of plum pudding and fruitcake But today thanks to your freezer you can start baking any time The Cnsco kit chens bring you these handy freezing tips Ensure temperature of your freezer is32HF C or lower Cool cookies thoroughly Separate layers of cookies with plastic storage bags for maximum retention of flavour and moisture Freeze frosted cookies covered until they are firm then pack a single layer in an air tight container lmet with plastic wrap or aluminum foil Before sealing remove as much air from bag as possible Label and date all packages Most bar cookies are ex cellent for freezing Line pan with foil before baking remove from pan when cooled and cut in to squares Wrap in airtight plastic Rolls of refrigerated cookie dough can be wrapped and refrigerated for several weeks or frozen for about six months When ready to bake slice the frozen dough with a sharp knife The Crisco kitchens have two scrumptious recipes for your holiday celebrations Try Apricot Almond Bars and Raspberry Coconut Drops theyre sure to become you festive favourites ONTHE10THDAY OF CHRISTMAS 10 LORDS ARE LEAPING IN DRY CLEANING COUPONS All you have to do is bring a nonperishable food item to one of these locations and receive 500 off dry cleaning There is no limit One coupon per item Bring in as many items as you want Ho Ho Ho Save More Dough OZZY OSBOURNE NO MORE TEARS TOM COCHRANE MAO MAD WORLD i 1699 MOTLEY CRUE DECADE OF DECADENCE 1899 i HAMMER TOD LEGIT TO 1699 GS TELEVISION GUELPH ST GEORGETOWN 8779541