Cass County residents and visitors celebrated Christmas in July at Lake Anita State Park and by joining in the Cass County Christmas Cookie Recipe Exchange facilitated by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

A child talks to Santa at Lake Anita State Park, in July 2020 (Photo submitted)

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says at Lake Anita State Park, campers participated in a campsite Christmas decorating contest, and children got the chance to talk to Santa. Even though it was typical July weather, Santa still wore his red suit. Many people spending additional time at home to help slow the spread of COVID-19 have been baking, so the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce facilitated the Cass County Christmas Cookie Recipe Exchange.

Lake Anita State Park Christmas in July campsite decorating contest first place entry.
(Photo submitted)

Here are two of the shared recipes:

Decorated Sugar Cookies
Submitted by Beverly Johnson
Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup butter (not margarine)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon soda
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions:

1. Cream together sugar and margarine
2. Beat in egg, vanilla, and lemon zest
3. Stir in sour cream
4. Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, soda, nutmeg
5. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture
6. Chill dough (this is a rich dough and must be chilled)
7. On lightly floured surface, roll out to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick and cut into desired shapes and place
   on ungreased cookie sheet
8. Bake in 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes – makes 1-2 dozen depending on size of cookie
   cutters.

NOTE: Before refrigerating, you can color the dough with a soft gel paste. Before baking, sprinkle with
colored sugar. Tips: It is a rich dough, so it is very important the dough is chilled and try to not use too much flour.

Grandma Suiter’s Gingersnap Recipe
Submitted by Ardyth Harris Gillespie
Ingredients:
• 1 c sugar
• 3/4 c butter
• 1 egg
• 1 T ginger (dried, ground)
• 1 t soda
• 3 ½ c sifted flour
• 1/4 t salt
• 3/4 c sweetened molasses

Directions:

1. Cream sugar and shortening.
2. Add well beaten egg.
3. Combine molasses and soda and add sifted dry ingredients.
4. Chill, then roll into balls and bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees.

Tips: It takes about 6-8 minutes to bake for a chewy cooking. A little longer for a snap which is
harder and good for dipping in milk. A third variation, especially at Christmas time, is gingerbread men
and in my generation other cooking cutter shapes. It could be gingerbread women as well.
Depending upon the thickness, these take 4-6 minute.

For more information on local wellness events or resources, follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty.