Everyone’s got a grandma that can make a casserole better than anyone else. Everyone’s got that secret family recipe that’s been passed down to each generation. And, everyone’s got that one food that is an absolute weakness that they just can’t say no to. Luckily, saving and sharing those delicious delicacies is easier than ever with a customizable Lulu cookbook – a cherished gift that is sure to win you the family favorite award this holiday season.

“When my kids saw their picture on the cover of my cookbook, they got so excited shouting: ‘We’re famous,’” said Tamra Davis, author of Make Me Something Good to Eat. “I’m grateful to Lulu for helping me gather all my family’s favorite recipes into one book. Lulu offered so many size options for my cookbook. I love that I can just toss it in my purse and take it to the market, or give it to friends.”

Creating and publishing a cookbook through Lulu is simple, and best of all – free. To get started:

* Pick from one of Lulu’s hundreds of cookbook templates and themes.

* Upload pictures of your dishes and drag and drop them into your cookbook.

* Add in your recipes.

* Set the price for your work.

* Share as many copies as you want with Lulu’s print-on-demand technology.

From baking to stir fry, Lulu makes it possible to create a recipe book of family-favorites or for your own fundraiser. So spread some comfort and joy this holiday season through the power of food. By creating a cookbook of your own, you’ll have a remarkable gift that will last forever. And, even if it doesn’t, print-on-demand makes it quick and affordable to get a brand new one. To learn more about creating your own custom cookbook log onto www.lulu.com. In the meantime, enjoy this recipe for gingerbread people from Davis’ cookbook – a delicious holiday treat and fun family project.

Gingerbread People

1 stick of butter softened

½ cup of sugar

½ cup of honey

¼ cup of dark molasses

2 ½ cups of flour

2 teaspoons of ground ginger

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

Decoration:

Powdered sugar icing with food coloring

Candies and raisins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit. Mix all the ingredients, except decorations, together in a large mixing bowl. (If it does not come together add a tablespoon of ice water.) Wrap in wax paper and put it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Roll out the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper until it’s about ¼ inch thick.

Cut out the gingerbread people. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool before decorating. Set out your decorations. Mix powdered sugar with a little water to make an icing. Add food coloring to make different colors (tip: try putting the coloring in squirt bottles or a little bowl with some brushes or spoons).

Put out little bowls with different candies and raisins.

Fun activity: put each gingerbread person on a piece of wax paper and let the kids write their names and decorate their gingerbread person. It takes about 20 minutes for the frosting to set and they are ready to eat.

African Sweet Potato Pie

2 large sweet potatoes (pre-baked)

2 tablespoons butter

2 eggs

1/3 cup of sugar

¼ cup of maple syrup

1 tablespoon of flour

2/3 cup of milk

½ teaspoon of cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Pie Shell (or use pre-made)

1 stick of butter

1 ½ cup of flour

1 tablespoon maple syrup

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ – ½ cup of ice water

Prebake 2 sweet potatoes (wrap in foil and bake at 375 degrees Farenheit for 45 minutes) until they are soft.

Make the pie dough by cutting butter into flour. Add the sugar and salt. Slowly add water until it forms a dough. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Then roll it out between two pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap. Place in a pie pan and then prebake at 375 degrees Farenheit with a pie chain or some other weight for 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Mix the insides of the sweet potatoes, butter, eggs, sugar, maple syrup, flour, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a bowl or blender. Mix this together until super smooth.

Place in the prebaked pie shell and bake for 35-50 minutes or until center is set to the touch. Cool and serve. It will continue to set in the refrigerator.

*This can be made nondairy by using margarine instead of butter and soymilk instead of milk.

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