Daily Independent Journal from San Rafael, California • Page 25

FOOD PAGE III I All Of A I SECOND SECTION Dec. 15, 1954 25 1 mtMfi SIK I- GINGERBREAD houses, above, with cookie cut-out figures are Christmas specialty. Read how to make them. GRAVANDERS Swedish Applied Arts Studio lies on slope of Mt. Tamalpais.

She is seen, above, practicing an art for which she is less well known, cookie making. Children throughout the bay area know for her baking talents; their parents know her for her weaving, and the glass, copper, wood, brass, and straw ornaments that she brought from Sweden for sale here. 1 FESTIVE CHRISTMAS COOKIES, made from variety of cookie cutters seen on wall, are given out by Gravander to Mill Valiev children who gather around her for samples and stories ot in Sweden. The young- sters are the Misses Danford, left to right. Deborah, 6, Carol, 8.

and Susan, 11. tells Independent-Journal readers today how to make her famous gingerbread houses and also describes the Santa Lucia Christmas festival of Sweden. ELITE FOODS Fourth St. Son Rafael GIANT TIDE COFFEE (2 PUMPKIN Libby's or Del Monte, No. tin SAUCE Box Hills Bros.

All Grinds Lb. tins CRANBERRY Ocean Spray Strained or whole tins MAMA rolls out dough for gingerbread house. Mince Meat Large Jar Gravander Tells 5 OLIVES I Stories Recipes Of Sweden Pitted Lindsey, Medium No. 1 Tin TEST OF WILL POWER is a part of Christmas baking custom in Sweden. Swedish voungsters a contest to see whose pile of goodies last through New ay.

From the expression on the faces of the Danford children as Gravander takes cookies from the game be very popular in Mill Valley. relates customs and recipes in story today, (Independent-Journal photos.) By MAYBELE SPECKMANN Gravander, as she is familiarly and affectionately known to children and adults alike throughout the Bay Area, is primarily noted as a she is also a worker of magic with cookies and a weaver of tales. At (Oak Hill) her Swedish applied arts studio high on a Mt. Tamalpais slope that lies within Mill Valley, (Mrs. Valborg Gravander professionally) gave us not only the recipe for the famous Lucia gingerbread houses and cookies but the story of the Santa Lucia festival in Sweden which marks the opening of the Christmas season when they are baked.

The busy fingers of the weaver sewed a new costume for a thirty- five-year-old doll that had belonged to her daughter as she told the Santa Lucia legend. Seated in the chiaroscura of rain-dimmed light coming through a huge glass window that formed a frame, she seemed to be a Rembrandt portrait come to life. BAKING DAY IN SWEDEN December 13, the darkest day of the she the Swedish people celebrate the festival of Santa Lucia, and the first cookie baking of the Christmas season is done. all started with the observance of the day as a religious festival begging their gods for light. Then Sweden was Christianized by the Roman Catholic The festival was named in honor of Santa Lucia, the Italian patron saint of light and eyes.

in Sweden it is a public holiday. One of its most beautiful customs takes place before dawn in all public institutions such as hospitals. A maiden dressed In flowing white and a dazzling headdress of lighted candles enters each room bringing and the Santa Lucia cakes or buns, cookies and coffee. of these buns are made in traditional shapes called Lucia Golden Bishop's and others for which the origin of the names and shapes has, been lost in the mists of GINGERBREAD HOUSES But to return to our gingerbread houses. By Christmas Eve all the baking has been done, and a table is set with one of these gingerbread houses as a centerpiece.

On it is placed for each member of the family a pile of all the things that have been baked, as well as nuts, raisins and fruits. The children have a contest to see who can make his pile of goodies last clear through to New Day. And this is a real test of will power, for there is a party on Christmas Eve. a party at 5 on Christmas morning, another party on the day after Christmas, and still another on the third afternoon after Christmas. TOTS CHRISTMAS GAME your pile is to last, Gravander reminisced, have to resort to just nibbling around the edges of the cakes and cookies.

found the same customs being followed she remarked, I was in Sweden for the holidays last Incidentally, her studio is filled not only with countless fabrics and articles of her own but with fascinat- I ing glass, copper, wood, brass and straw ornaments and other things she brought back for sale on this and other trips to Sweden. We doubt that your youngsters will be interested in testing their will power, but theyri to be delighted with the gingerbread houses and cookies, and how you make them. RECIPE FOR LUCIA GINGER COOKIES OR GINGERBREAD HOUSE (For latter, add a little more flour) cup brown sugar cup dark syrup 1 tsp. ginger 1 tsp. cinnamon tsp.

cloves tbsp. baking soda cup butter 1 egg 5 cups flour Heat sugar, syrup and spices to boiling point. Add baking soda, and pour mixture over butter in bowl. Stir until butter melts. Add egg and sifted flour and blend thoroughly.

Knead on baking board. Chill. Roll out and cut into desired shapes (house sections, Christmas trees, Santa Clauses, angels, animals, people.) Bake on greased baking sheet at 325 degrees F. 8 to 10 minutes. HOUSE CUT-OUT For houses cut out cardboard patterns and cut rolled thin dough from pattern.

Dimensions of 9 pieces for small house are: 2 rectangles for 2 sides. 2 rectangles for front and back (with peak cut at centers of pieces so that remaining sides fit with house sides). 1 rectangle for roof. 4 chimney rectangles with inverted cut in two of them in center of sides so that they will fit over roof peak. When baked and cooled, sides and front should have windows and doors, vines, shingles, etc.

made with frosting of cup confectioners sugar and egg white or (Continued On Page 27) ONIONS YAMS SUGAR NAPKINS Creamed, Dutch No. 303 Tin Hume, No. 2 Tin Powdered or Brown 1-lb. Box Zee Large Dinner Size 80 Count Pkg. 1 1 i Fresh Fruits Vegetables FRESH CRANBERRIES Yams or Sweet Potatoes 2 lb, Green Onions or Radishes Bunch 5 CELERY Utah Type lb.

Lee's Choice Meats and Poultry Sell Only the Pannofl Unme Boneless, Ready to eat. him wcUinSu flalllS Very lean. lbs. shankless each i HIM Hi) ACT Fresh Eastern Pork liUin fllmjl 2-3tt lbs. Urge end cute GROUND BEEF Fresh choice grade lb.

lb. 49 39 I AMR run DC Choice Grade LArlD tnura small and Urge ribs lb. 79 OYSTERS Fresh Pacific Pint 57 ORDER YOUR CHRISTMAS TURKEY NOW- AND BE SURE OF THE FINEST.