Count me in with the adult kids, no grands and missing the mornings excitement. What we do is get very creative with the wrapping. The boys especially compete for most creative wrap. One year i got DS some yard tools, and i used poster board to create a giant snowman. The tools were taped to the back and handles were used as arms. I added a scarf and mittens. They were all so surprised- figured' it was just another of Moms goofy attempts at holiday decorating. Lately its been big ticket gifts, but I supplement that with small items bought from local artisan fairs, such as hand made soap, soy candles or treats. There is a vendor who makes incredible cake ball truffles the boys love, and another who makes Indian nut brittle, DD1s favorite. Those are the elaborately wrapped items. But the all-time favorite is the stocking. We use the same ones every year-theyve been personalized with each persons name. I have mine from my childhood, the kids` original stockings from their first Christma, and every one who joins us gets one. I keep them and we reuse them every year. I even have the ex-BFs and ex-GFs! And since Christmas in our family always includes friends or extended family, I keep a supply of new stockings on hand. They are such a hit for all ages. The key is the stockings contain very inexpensive goodies. I go to the dollar store and find fun things-sudoko and word search books; packets of kleenex; paper airplanes and puzzles. Ive recently been adding calendars which are a HUGE hit. Sticky notes, lip balm, pocket size hand sanitizer, disposable lighters, packs of band aids, and ALWAYS candy bars & a scratch off lottery ticket. Oh, and an orange. Thats always in the toe. One year I forgot the oranges and they were so disappointed. I pick up trinkets all year long for the stockings. Those end caps at the grocery store checkstands yeild good selections.

I'll do the copy and paste! COOKIES BROWN SUGAR GINGER CRISPS NOVEMBER 1989 Little nuggets of spicy crystallized ginger are mellowed with brown sugar in a sophisticated butter cookie that carries this irresistible combination. This is just one of Gourmets Favorite Cookies: 1941-2008. Although weÂve retested the recipes, in the interest of authenticity weÂve left them unchanged: The instructions below are still exactly as they were originally printed.  2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter at room temperature  1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar  1 large egg yolk  1 teaspoon vanilla  1/2 cup (about 3 ounces) finely chopped crystallized ginger  1/4 teaspoon ground ginger  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour  1/4 teaspoon double-acting baking powder  1/2 teaspoon salt  In a bowl cream together the butter and the brown sugar and beat in the egg yolk, the vanilla, the crystallized ginger, and the ground ginger. Into the bowl sift together the flour, the baking powder, and the salt and combine the batter well. Drop the batter by teaspoons 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets and bake the cookies in the middle of a preheated 350° F. oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are just golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, transfer COCOA FUDGE COOKIES 1 cup flour ¼ tsp baking soda 1/8 tsp salt 5 Tbsp butter 7 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa 2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt 1 tsp vanilla extract Cooking spray 1. Preheat oven to 350° 2. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, soda and salt; set aside. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in cocoa powder and sugars (mixture will resemble coarse sand). Add yogurt and vanilla, stirring to combine Add flour mixture, stirring until moist. Drop by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. 3. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until almost set. Cool on pans 2-3 minutes or until firm. Remove cookies from pans; cool on wire racks. Yield: 2 dozen cookies. Sugar cookies: 1 cup of butter 2 cups of sugar Cream together and add 2 eggs beaten with 2 T milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla ( I like a bit more) Mix with the butter mix Add 3 cups flour mixed with 1/2 tsp salt....and as much as 1/2 cup more flour until it's stiff enough to roll out Make flat patties, wrap and refrigerate for an hour or longer.... Dust board with flour and roll and cut... Bake 375 for 8 to 10 minutes....I use parchment on the cookie sheets....if you don't have parchment....lightly grease the sheets. The absence of baking powder keeps them from rising and keeps the cookies true to the shape of the cutter.....and makes them crisp Anise Drops 3 eggs 1 c. sugar 1 3/4 c. flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 1/2 tsp anise seeds In a large bowl, beat the eggs and the sugar for 10 minutes ( I cheat!!) . Mix flour and baking powder. add vanilla and anist to egg mix and stir in flour. Drop by teaspoonsful on a greased cookie sheet and let stand at room temperature over night. Bake at 350 until beige. Makes about 70. And that's enough for now....best to leave room for someone esle! Linda C

I am sort of in Aprile's situation, except many long-distance gifts. I send gifts to my nephew and his mother every year and get a box of stale cookies from her in return (I think she even froze some of mine and sent them back. I tasted one and threw the rest away this year--so stale!) He is 27 and calls to thank me but never sends anything, even a card. My neighbor friend gives me cookies even though I tell her I don't like to eat sweets and think I'm diabetic. I usually give her handmade things--crochet towels, dried flowers, whatever cookies I have left that I didn't give away. So it's no big gift exchange. But I froze all the sweets from her and others, maybe will have to give them to other neighbors. I do have a couple friends who send me things I like, and I enjoy planning gifts for them. But I'm thinking about trying to cut down next year. I asked my nephew if I could just send $ this year and he said no, he likes my gifts! Someone else demanded I send shortbread. I shipped 6 boxes altogether and it cost $115 in shipping, and was exhausting. (I did receive a an unexpected knickknack and sent anazon prime gift in time.) Just trying to figure out how to tell people I'm not sending boxes next year. And then there's a neighbor who some years drops off a cranberry loaf early in the morning when I am barely dressed and unprepared to reciprocate and of course mortified. I would not knock on their door in the morning without warning. So how do you say I'm not doing this and please stop (expecting gifts/giving me sweets,...)?

Meltaways Cookie Recipe This buttery little cookie has a superb, melt-in-your mouth texture. 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour 1 cup cornstarch 1 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla Powdered sugar Sift flour and cornstarch together and set aside. In large mixing bowl, cream butter and gradually beat in sugar; beat well. Add salt and vanilla; beat well. Stir in sifted dry ingredients; mix well. Refrigerate 2 or 3 hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Shape dough into small balls, place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet, and bake 15-20 minutes. While cookies are still hot, roll them in powdered sugar. —Lillian Stockfish Milwaukee, Wisconsin --------------- I add a cup of finely chopped pecans....making them Pecan Meltaways. I have shared the recipe many times. Everyone loves them.