I cannot help but sing many different songs to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree." I make up words to this tune---silly words---while driving the kids around town. And I could just as easily make up a holiday-cookie-baking version of the song... if I really wanted to. Singing or not singing, it is the time of year to bring out the flour, sugar and butter and mix them into round, square and otherwise cut-out cookies. My son loves to make this particular recipe. The recipe originated from my beat-up, soft cover Betty Crocker Cookbook (from when I was a kid); you know, the fancy twisted candy cane cookies? But over the years and birthdays and broken candy canes, it has become a multi-colored log that we slice and bake as 'rounds.'

It still tastes as good. Especially if you sing between bites.

And we alter the colors according to the event. When we cheer for our team, it is purple and gold swirled together; for my son's birthday it was blue and yellow. And for Christmas, well you would think---and could go with---red and green. But in our case, my son chose ice blue. And we rolled the log in red and green sugar before slicing. (Recipe below).

Oh, and speaking of variations on the Oh Christmas Tree song? My sons picked up this hilarious version; be careful, you will start singing it at the most inopportune times:

"Oh Todd the Toad"

Oh Todd the Toad Oh Todd the Toad Why did you hop onto the road? Did you not see the big red truck? For now you are a hockey puck.

Oh Todd the Toad Oh Todd the Toad Why did you hop onto the road? Did you not see that rolling car? For now you are a piece of tar.

Oh Todd the Toad Oh Todd the Toad Why did you hop onto the road? You used to be so big and fat, And now you are so very flat.

Oh Todd the Toad Oh Todd the Toad Why did you hop onto the road? You used to eat a fly or two, But now the flies are eating you.

Oh Todd the Toad Oh Todd the Toad Why did you hop onto the road?

Keep singing and make:

Hockey Puck Cookies 1 cup shortening (or half shortening, half butter) 1 cup confectioners sugar 1 egg 1 1/2 tsp. almond extract 1 tsp vanilla 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp food coloring (split the dough in 2 and use 2 different colors, if desired; roll together into log) optional: crushed candy cane, colored sugar for rolling

Oven to 375 degrees. Mix well first five ingredients; blend, then add salt and flour. Color dough. Roll into 1 1/2 inch log; roll in colored sugar/crushed candy canes. Cut in 1/2 - 3/4 inch slices. Bake for 9 minutes. If after singing and baking, you have developed a great affection for Todd the Toad---consider coloring the hockey pucks green.