We’re always in a quandary about gifts for the grandchildren. One year we had the bright idea to give cash to each grandchild of elementary school age and then we would shop with them to see what they would select. We decided it should be a signi�cant amount so they would really take their spending spree seriously. Tess and Kyra, then 9 and 12 years old, were ecstatic to have $50 to spend – with no rules attached. They directed us to their favorite store, Hobby Lobby.Grandpa accompanied Tess and I followed Kyra, who headed �rst to the fabrics. She patted the nap on the corduroys, caressed the satins and checked out every ribbon and embellishment, conscientiously noting the prices. Next she looked over cookie sheets, cupcake liners and cake-decorating apparatus; then she canvassed the stationery items and surveyed the extensive

craft aisles. We covered every nook and cranny of that store and she hadn’t yet put a single item in the shopping cart.An hour and a half later, we connected with Grandpa and Tess. Grandpa was awed by Tess’s shopping prowess. With his help, she kept a running account of all the items she selected and still had $30 to spend!Grandpa, however, was getting �dgety (he’s never understood how women shop) and declared his back hurt and he was going to �nd a bench to sit on. I proceeded to re-explore the entire store with both girls.I don’t remember what they bought. And now, at ages 13 and 16, they probably don’t either.This Christmas we’ll joke about our excursion (and tease Grandpa for bowing out early). I think we’ll all recall the day fondly, but agree the warm memory has nothing to do with the dollars expended or the gifts purchased. But the time we spent together was truly priceless.Our time is surely the ultimate gift we can give our grandchildren. I wish you joyful times with your family this holiday season. Don’t forget to get together in the kitchen… perhaps making some gingerbread people.

Joan, The Cherry Tomato Lady | cherrytomatolady@plantationcable.net | www.cherrytomatolady.com

The Best Gift of Allwww.cherrytomatolady.com

Table TopicsAround our Christmas tables, we’ll be discussing the blessings of the year and our thankfulness for one another. You might want to add this question at your family gathering: What is the best gift you’ve ever received? It’s sure to stimulate some good memories.

Copyright 2011 Cherry Tomato Lady Publications

News and Notes for Grandmothers from the Cherry Tomato Lady

Bringing families together in the kitchen™

Holiday 2011

Freshfrom thevinevine

Did You Know?Historians disagree on the origin of gingerbread, but recipes date back to the 14th Century. In the 16th Century, it is said that Queen Elizabeth I had gingerbread �gures made in the likeness of her guests.The 2009 Guinness Book of Records says the world’s largest gingerbread man was made in Smithville, Texas. It weighed 1,308 pounds, 8 ounces and stood over 20 feet tall!Ginger was almost as popular a seasoning as pepper in Medieval times.

Cinnamon comes from the bark of a tree.

Cloves are a rich source of anti-oxidants.

Two spices come from the nutmeg

tree. Nutmeg is the seed

while mace is the

covering of the seed.

Ginger is used to calm upset stomachs and to treat motion sickness.

Some Spicy Info

Catch Me If You Can...Making gingerbread men is a tradition at Joyce and Joe Anderson’s home in Gallipolis, Ohio. And their way of eating them is a tradition too. When the kids and grandkids pile into their home for the holiday, they anticipate those �rst bites. In a threatening voice, Grandpa Joe will begin saying: “Gingerbread Man, Gingerbread Man, I am going to eat your right foot.” Grandma Joyce will join in: “Gingerbread Man, Gingerbread Man, I am going to devour your head.” There are always lots of giggles as everyone gets in on the act, carefully choosing the part of the anatomy to consume �rst. Soon the plate is empty. These gingerbread men can’t run away from this family. Here is the recipe Joyce has used for years:

Joyce’s Gingerbread Men½ cup molasses½ cup sugar1 cup margarine1 tsp ground cloves1 tsp ginger1 tsp cinnamon½ tsp nutmeg½ tsp salt1 tsp baking soda1 tsp baking powder3 cups �ourIn a large bowl, cream the molasses, sugar and margarine with an electric mixer. In a separate small bowl, combine the spices, salt, baking soda and baking powder and add to the creamed mixture. Add the �our and mix well. Refrigerate the dough an hour or two.Roll out the dough between layers of waxed paper or parchment. For soft cookies, make it about 3/8-inch thick. (The thinner you roll it out, the crispier the cookie will be.)Place cut cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven 8 to 10 minutes. For easiest removal, let the cookies sit on the baking pan a few minutes before trans-ferring them with a wide spatula.The yield will depend on the size of your gingerbread man cookie cutter. You’ll get about 10 cookies using a 6-inch by 5-inch cutter. Decorate with sprinkles, nuts, raisins and/or Royal Icing.

Coming Up in the Next Issue The next issue of “Fresh from the Vine” will be a special one – full of recipes, cooking tips and stories about grandchildren that readers like you have sent. I’ll also share reader comments about some of the recipes in my book, Cooking with the Cherry Tomato Lady. I’m always eager to hear your ideas for involving children in cooking or growing food. Keep the notes and letters coming – and pictures of your grandchildren as well.Email to cherrytomatolady@plantationcable.net or send mail to Cherry Tomato Lady 100 Camak Place, Eatonton, GA 31024.HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Good-luck menusWhen I was a teenager, I was permitted to go to New Year’s Eve parties at the homes of my

friends. They knew that I would arrive with a jar of sauerkraut and at the stroke of midnight, I’d make the rounds, ensuring that each partier took a taste of it for good luck.After all, that was my German family’s heritage. Sauerkraut served on New Year’s Day meant good fortune in the year ahead. Our entrée on New Year’s Day was always (and still is) cabbage rolls topped with sauerkraut. (The family recipe is in Cooking with the Cherry Tomato Lady.)Here in the South, folks eat Hoppin’ John made with black-eyed peas. I’m told it’s more e�ective for good luck if dished up with collard greens. Some contend those greens, whether they be cabbage leaves or collards or kale, resemble green cash; thus, a prosperous new year.Italians serve lentils on New Year’s to bring good luck. The Chinese and other Asians eat long noodles, which symbolize longevity. In Spain, New Year’s Eve revelers eat 12 grapes at midnight, one at each stroke of the clock.Did you notice that all these good-luck foods have something in common? They are all nutritious choices. I can’t guarantee that eating them will bring good luck, but consuming them liberally throughout the year is sure to give you a healthier future.

Royal IcingRoyal Icing, which hardens as it dries, is often used to decorate gingerbread men. It is also the “glue” used to hold

gingerbread houses together. To make it, use an electric mixer to beat two egg whites (pasteurized is safest) until frothy. Add 1 teaspoon almond or vanilla

�avoring and 3 cups powdered sugar. Beat on high speed about 7 minutes, until sti� peaks form. Divide

into small bowls and add desired food coloring. This should make enough to trim 10 gingerbread men.