Ok, I pooped out much too quickly and wasn't getting anything done and the sod cookie mystery got me so here is what I think happened. They didn't have self rising flour back then so could it be soda and they forgot to write the a ? I found this recipe but doubt its the same as yours but the only one that had anything like sod in it, lol. It does say on most they can be made up to a month early and are better with age as Lucy said. I ate nearly my whole bag of candy and the orange last night, lol. Thanks again. Here is the recipe I found. Sounds yummy. 8 ounces candied citron 4 ounces candied orange peel 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground cardamom 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon aniseeds 5 eggs, separated 2 tablespoons butter (at room temperature) 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar 2 to 3 tablespoons milk Additional confectioners sugar Coarsely grind citron and orange peel with grinder fitted with coarse blade; set aside. Sift flour with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda and pepper. sprinkle anise seeds over flour mixture. Set aside. In large mixing bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, beat egg yolks with butter and lemon peel until smooth. Reduce speed to low and beat in granulated sugar. Set aside. Beat egg whites in clean mixer bowl with electric mixer or by hand until stiff peaks form. On low speed of electric mixer, gently fold reserved egg yolk mixture into beaten egg whites. Blend in reserved flour mixture, using your hands. Blend in reserved coarsely ground candied citron and orange peel. Shape dough into balls the size of a small walnut; place balls, 1 inch apart, on ungreased baking sheets. Let stand, uncovered, 8 hours, or overnight. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes or until double in size and lightly browned. Remove from baking sheets and let cool to room temperature. Mix confectioners' sugar with enough milk to form thin glaze; drizzle glaze over cookies. If desired, after glaze has hardened, shake cookies gently in paper bag containing additional confectioners sugar.

Hi there Yes, I have to agree, its sad that more children dont read. I have the full set of Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, Animorphs, on my shelf, so these really appeal to my children. When my son was that age, books that had stories about bodily parts and what emanated (sorry to sound crude), were wonderful. An author that comes to mind is "Andy Griffiths", he is Australian so it may not be available in the US. He had books with titles such as "Just Tricking", "Just Disgusting", "Just Crazy", "Just Stupid". My son loved these stories. The thing that really got him reading was Pokemon, that craze with all those cards, he had piles of them when he was about 7, and sat and read all of them, then we got the guide, and he read that. So if you want to encourage them to have a love of reading, try and think laterally as well. There are computer magazines, science magazines, and all sorts of interesting publications. I firmly believe, if they read, they do better at school. So you should read to them as well. I still read to my son, occasionally, he is 14 now, things out of the paper, for instance. One more thing I did, was to make a biggish deal about buying books. The Harry Potter hype was good, and we regularly go into the books shops and drool over the books, not literally of course ! I try to make anything to do with books a pleasurable experience, you can be silly about it, that always appeals to young children. I always emphasize the smell of the book, its always brings giggles. Happy reading, so many lovely stories. Popi

The best WW II novels I know are by Alan Furst, all the protagonists are unimportant people caught up in the war--usually getting involved with spying in some way or other. The recreation of the period is phenomenal, and the characters compelling, though they might be a trifle too sophisticated for teens. For adults, I also recommend two memoirs, now pretty much forgotten. I ran across reference to them in some other book I was reading a few years ago. One is called The Walls Came Tumbling Down and is by a Dutch woman who was imprisoned as a political prisoner. When the Germans fled the prison camp, she and several friends had to figure out how to get home. Very interesting. The other is Three Came Back (I hope I have the name right.) An American woman, her husband and very small son are trapped in southeast Asia when the war breaks out and survive the war in a Japanese internment camp. Also very good.

sheesh, sounds like your list was "free reading" for individuals. That is different than "teaching to" a certain story/book. Most English classes have one or more books the entire class "has to" read so the tests/projects/ assignments are centered around that read. I don't think a free reading list would be an issue. It is when an entire class is FORCED to read a book due to the agenda of the English curriculum. The dress code thing in public schools has me stymied. Schools seem to have given up. The "free expression" crowd used law suits to get schools to back off. FEW schools will go to the expense--even when in the "right" to fight this issue. IMHO schools are not the corner malt shop, the mall, the local hang out. High Schools are a place where we prepare young people for adulthood. Teachers should model professional behavior in their dress and actions so students know what is and will be expected of them in the adult work world. This is why we have "free" education, so these students can become TAX PAYING citizens. I think schools should expect students to follow the model. If it could not be worn in the world of work--it has no place at school. All the wrangling about dress codes being more pointed at girls than boys, who gets to say what is modest what is not, is CRAP. "Casual professional" should be the NORM. For all the feminist PC laws we have enacted we are allowing our girls to dress/act/ feel being a "slut" is the way to be. I agree a girl SHOULD be able to walk around naked and not get raped..but that is denying that humans are animals at their core and some of our proclivities need to be more respected. It is not respectful for a girl to dress in a way that would arouse a male. He often has no control over these arousals. Males need to LEARN to control themselves for sure, but how is it fair to have breasts and butts all but naked in your face all day long! That is asking a lot--for them to just not notice. What is a young man to do when there is non stop sexual arrousal just by walking down a school hallway?! How is that ok!? For all the health/sex education we fight about, no one is teaching these teens how boys work. They get arroused when they SEE certain things. It is automatic, some more easily than others. This is how they are wired, how they are born..they are in process of learning to deal with these situations they did not seek! How does a mom tell her son respect Susie when she passed him in the hall and her personal style aroused him like he has never been before? These things JUST HAPPEN to boys/men. The way we deny the biological FACTS is not fair. How is he supposed to feel he was respected? He got a "problem" he didn't seek or want in that time and space!! I guess I need to get off this soap box..sorry.