The Brussels Post, 1973-12-12, Page 13County establishments gets tourist loans Egan
)r Sleet" was
tario Hospital
ttion which is
le hospitals in
neered by the
sent of Wing,
iospital.,
Tourist industry loans totalling
$59,657.00 will go to two tourist
establishments in ,Huron county
according to Industry and
Tourism Minister Claude , F.
Bennett. Each of the loans is
repayable with 6 per cent
interest.
A new trailer park will be
established and the facilities at a
nearby campground will be
improved. Birch Bark Trailer Park
east of Grand Bend, will receive
$49,800 toward the cost of
developing 100 .sites with a
swimming pool and recreational
and service facilities, The park is
expected to open prior to the 1974
summer season and remain open
Year-round. Huron Cliffs Park
Limited on Lake Huron near
Goderich will use a $9,857 loan to
add a swimming pool and
improve the campground,
11 Line of
-EcTRIC
S.
YEA
/2 NM
/2 NM
/2 NM
. .
NATIVITY SCENE, Grotip of cookies with colorful frost-
ing decoration by Mae Gerhard.
Photo courtesy of Museum of Contemporary
Crafts of The American Crafts Council
Christmas Cookery:
Old and New -Traditions
In the Baker's Art
The first Christmas trees, which originated in Germany,
were decorated with apples, symbolizing Adam's fall, and
round wafers, representing the Sacred Host, which signi-
fied redemption.
Later, the apples and wafers were replaced by Christ-
mas cookies, which became more and more elaborate
through the years.
Fancy Christmas cookies were introduced to America
in the 18th century by the early. German settlers, who
counted their old cookie molds„ made of clay, tin or wood,
among their most treasured heirlooms:
Industrious Pennsylvania Dutc1- housewives baked them
by the washbasketful in such varying shapes as fish, rab-
bits, men smoking pipes, horseback riders, hatchet-bear-
ing Indians, stars, dolls, and of course all the characters
and animalS associated with the nativity scene. There
were even, some reindeer which were over a foot long.
Until the early part of this century, Pennsylvania Dutch
Christmas trees were decorated almost entirely with these
edible ornaments and it was part of the celebration to
eat from the tree all through the Christmas season, so
that it was practically bare by Twelfth Night. This cus-
tom is still followed in Europe.
Outstanding cookie specimens were proudly displayed
and used to decorate the windows. Cookies were tucked
into Christmas baskets for the poor and it was customary
to include several dozen cookies when returning molds
that had been borrowed.
Many cookies were h6,nded out to the Belsnickles, those
costumed visitors, like mummers, who- went from house
to house checking up on the children's behavior during
the year, It is said that some of the Belsnickles were so
terrifying that children were known to confess to hitherto
unsuspected misdoings.
After World. War I, as American women began to emerge
from the kitchen to go out in the business world and
follow more modern pursuits, the practice of making
elaborate cookies and breads was largely abandoned.
However, a few years ago, The Museum of Contemporary
crafts in New York City put on an exhibit called "The
Baker's Art," which traveled to many cities throughout
the country, This apparently helped set off a nationwide
revival of interest in decorative baking...
Some of the most exciting pieces in this exhibition
were submitted by Mae Gerhard, a teacher at The Hussian
School of Art in Philadelphia.
Miss Gerhard, who learned this traditional art from
her Pennsylvania Dutch mother, created a beautiful
gingerbread creche of more than two dozen pieces from
five to six inches tall, all decorated in brilliant Byantine
colors. She has also Made large and elaborate working
puppets based on Christmas subjects, using a firmer but
inedible dough.
Mae Gerhard's Gingerbread Creche Recipe
(Enough for 1 nativity set)
1/2 cup shortenin g
IA cup dark brown sugar
(firmly packed)
1/2 cup molasses
31/2 cups flour (sifted)
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
11/2 teaspoons ginger
2, teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup buttermilk
Store Hours
Mon.-Fr. 7:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m,
ISat. 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Creani shortening, sugar and molasses together.
Sift fioisr, Salt, soda and spices together, 131end into
first mixture, alternating with vinegar and blitter-
Milk. Chill for 1 hour. Roll dough out to 1/4 " thick-.
ness. USe wax paper pattern and Cut with a Sharp
knife, dipped in flottr, Remove the pattern as you
transfer the dough to a greased cookie sheet. Bake
10 to 15 Minutes in 375° oven, •
Decorator Icing
2 cups confectioner's sugar
I teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites
Food coloring
Beat egg whites until stilt.
Gradually beat in, sifted
COrifeCtidne?8 Spgar. To add
fOOd coloring, 'divide into
Individual bOwlS. Add color-
ing to each botV1 Until' dor,.
test Shade is obtained.
Spread With knife Or use
decorator tubes or "paint's
oh 'with paint brush..
Egg folk- "Paine.
a egg oho, plus food .color
Apply with paint
THE •IiitUttettpOST DECEMBER • 1913wA3r
SWtSS STAR'
HOA.O 14" dianieter, Ity
Nally II•dttiudhu-linhot
Of C
rafts of •tciiiideittiomey
;the :AffibrIenif