Dear Reader Column 03-18-08

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Dear Reader,

There's always one house in the neighborhood that seems to attract kids. When I was young Mrs. Creswick's house was the place for me. I loved going to her house because she always made me feel special. Mrs. Creswick knew that cherry tomatoes and cottage cheese were my favorite and whenever I was there, she'd set a plate in front of me.

My house doesn't attract the neighborhood kids, but it does seem to be the house that grown-ups love to visit. My bug man, the lawn guy, the plumber, even the postman hangs around a bit longer than he has to after he rings my bell and hands me my mail. I know he's hoping I baked yesterday. "Would you like some cookies?" He never turns me down.

Larry the man who treats my lawn, always makes sure he calls a couple days ahead of time to let me know when he'll be stopping by--just in case I'd like to whip up a batch of cookies. My chocolate chip cookies must be a topic of conversation at his office because when Larry was on vacation and someone else showed up to do my lawn, after he handed me the bill he smiled and said, "You're that woman who always has cookies, aren't you?"

Even my UPS guy thinks of my house as the chocolate chip cookie place. He knows that I bake for book club readers every month and when he picks up the cookie packages that I'm shipping to the winners, he's hoping there are some leftovers in a Ziploc bag for him, too.

Speaking of baking for readers, tomorrow I'll announce the Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway for March. I'd love to bake for you, so be sure to enter.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warm regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Congratulations to the Fun Box Winners: Cindy Tuttle-Helton, Shay Tressa DeSimone, Rebekah Van Sweden, Becky Spilver and Teme Ring.

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Comments

[Kat Finnegan]

Loved today's column about the cookies. I have the same problem this time of year with Easter Lambs. A thousand years ago, my mother inherited a cast iron easter lamb mold from a family member. She subsequently bought another heavy steel mold and baked at least 6 lambs every year for family. These were good molds with a real lamb face, not like the flat-faced cheap aluminum you get today. They were pound cakes with a buttercream frosting covered in coconut. Somehow, about 10 years ago I inherited this tradition, purchased another good heavy duty lamb mold from Martha Stewart along with an Easter egg and Bunny mold. Everybody loves these cakes and I now have a list of about 20 people that want one each year.

As for cookies - next time you are asked for a donation from an organization doing a fundraiser, offer to bake 3 dozen cookies each month and ship them. I do this for my Rotary Club auction. Mom's will bid/buy to ship to kids away at college, or a spouse/friend at work. I send their choice to whomever they designate. The receiver loves them.