Holiday baking is the time to bring out old family recipes, get new ones from friends/neighbors, or use traditional style recipes to make something creative. It's a time to bring the family together and bake together. There's something about baking that brings a smile to everyone. You can share ideas and use your creativity to make the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Before getting into gear with holiday baking, make sure you have the supplies to meet your needs. You will need cookie cutters with the shapes that go with your theme, any decorating utensils, cookbooks, and an apron for your little helpers. Some ideas for summer holiday baking are key lime pie, peach, or any fruit pies are a delicious treat.

For something a little more original there is chocolate ice cream sandwiches. Just two large cookies with ice cream in between and freeze. Too hot to bake? Here's a recipe for cookies that requires no baking. Gather eight whole wheat graham crackers (grounded), 1/4 cup each of raisins and smooth peanut butter, 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons of honey. Mold into 8 cookies and roll in unsweetened coconut. Another easy fresh dessert is strawberry tiramisu bites. Take 1/2 cup strawberry preserves, ready made tart shells (1 1/2 pkgs), one 8oz package of mascarpone cheese softened, 1/4 cup lemonade, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, 1/4 cup confectioners sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon extract, and 2 quarts fresh strawberries, halved.

Place about 1/2-teaspoon strawberry preserves in bottom of each tart shell and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine mascarpone cheese, lemonade and lemon juice. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. In a medium bowl combine cream, sugar and lemon extract. Beat at medium speed until medium peaks form. Fold into mascarpone mixture, stirring until combined. Spoon about one tablespoon mascarpone mixture into each tart shell. Top each with a strawberry half.

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