"It's beginning to look a lot like ..."

Well, you know the rest. Which means in addition to gift shopping and decorating, you'll have some baking to do.You don't have to tackle the task yourself.As evidenced by a Carbon County 4-H program held recently at St. Peter's Church in Mantzville, children are eager to tackle baking and cooking projects.About 15 youngsters, ranging in age from 8 to middle teens, attended "A Family Holiday Gathering," held by the 4-H. The children were instructed on basic baking skills, how to make hot chocolate from scratch, creating decorative wreaths from cloth and recycling used CDs to make Christmas ornaments.Many of the youngsters said they already do baking."I like to bake brownies, cookies, cake and make things with chocolate," 8-year-old Lyla Kershner said.Madeline Tonkin, 14, said she cooks at home."I make cookies, brownies and fudge, and sometimes I make dinner."The Family Holiday Gathering had the children mix ingredients together for a cookie mix.They were then given several recipes for which they could use the mix. In charge was Georgia Farrow, 4-H coordinator in Carbon County.Laura Kennedy, a 4-H instructor, had the participants mix together the ingredients for hot chocolate powder. Each was given a jar of the powder to use during the holidays.Shawn Tonkin was the instructor for a wreath-making workshop.Sandy Palinchak helped the children make tree decorations using old compact discs.The workshop opened with a presentation by Dee Searfoss, owner of Fluffy D's Cake & Candy Supplies in Lehighton.Searfoss showed the participants how they could be creative with chocolate, using it with pretzels, Oreo cookies, lollipops and peppermints."Making candy makes a mess, but it's fun," said Madeline Tonkin. "It was a good experience."Kershner said one thing she learned was, "If you put water in chocolate, the chocolate will spoil."Madeline Tonkin said although she does baking at home, this was the first time she made cookie dough and hot chocolate from scratch.Homemade Cookie MixCourtesy of the Crisco website.Prep Time: 15 min.Yield: 16 cups mix.Ingredients:8 cups Pillsbury BEST All Purpose Flour4 cups sugar4 teaspoons baking powder3 teaspoons salt2 2/3 sticks of Crisco Butter Flavor All-Vegetable shortening or 2 2/3 sticks of Crisco Butter Sticks Butter Flavor All-Vegetable shortening1. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a very large bowl. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal.2. Store in airtight container in freezer up to six months.Recipes on the Crisco website using homemade cookie mix include:• Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies• Classic Gingersnaps• Frosted Banana Nut Cookies• Frosted Chocolate Drops• Orange Coconut Cookies• Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookie Bites• Peanut Butter Cookies• Pecan Cookie BarsHot Chocolate Mix in a JarPrep time: 10 minutes.Ingredients2 cups powdered milk1 cup Hershey's cocoa2 cups powdered sugar1 cup powdered CoffeeMate creamerDash of salt1. Mix together all ingredients well.2. Spoon into Mason jars or Mason jar Mugs, then top with regular mouth lids.3. Affix a lid and add a pretty bow.To make one cup, fill a mug 1/4 to 1/2 full of mix, stirring in 6 to 8 ounces of very hot water. Stir well and add mini marshmallows if desired. Enjoy!