BETWEEN THE LINES: HOLIDAY BAKING REQUIRES FINDING JUST THE RIGHT INGREDIENT

* There's something about the holidays that makes baking more fun than usual.

The final week before the holiday always seems to creep up slowly and then surprise me. This week is no different. I made a list of all the things I still had to do before Christmas and realized there aren't enough hours in the day.

My list doesn't include any shopping since I'm finished I think. It's a good thing, too, because I have plenty of baking and cooking to do before the holiday. And that list doesn't even include the house-cleaning chores before guests arrive.

So when people at the office suggested a cookie exchange Monday, I passed over the opportunity thinking my holiday baking was already complete and I wouldn't need more cookies. I was wrong -- as usual.

It seems that I forgot the several dozen cookies I intended to make as gifts for the neighbors, friends and acquaintances. And then there were the whiskey balls for the office and the sugar cookies I wanted to bake and decorate. Then there are my favorite cookies that are great for snacking anytime. I really could have used six dozen cookies in the exchange.

So I guess I'll be up at midnight baking cookies and decorating them so that everything on my list gets done. It wouldn't be the first time, and probably won't be the last. At least it's baking, which is a simpler task than putting together the tiny pieces of a child's Christmas toy. Things could be worse.

Baking cookies and treats at Christmastime is always special. Baking cookies isn't really a difficult task, but it seems like even less work at Christmas than it does at other times of the year.

While looking through my collection of recipes and deciding which cookies to bake, I realized that most of my recipes have been passed on from relatives or friends.

But the recipes didn't come with their expertise. In my family, we tend to list the ingredients in a recipe but often skip the mixing process. So I had to call someone for advice with my first batch of holiday cookies.

I thought I was all set to bake cookies the weekend after Thanksgiving. I had all the ingredients, including the finely chopped dates and nuts. I found the recipe in my box and then realized I had to call for a clarification.

The recipe came from my friend Carol via her mother. I had to call and make sure I had the right kind of sweet milk to bake the cookies. When I called Carol, I also got to hear about her family's holiday plans and catch up with what was happening in Columbia.

About two weeks ago, I called my grandpa to figure out how exactly to make his annual holiday treat: whiskey balls. My recipe card just has the list of ingredients needed for whiskey balls and nothing more. My mom offered little advice since she's the one who passed her father's recipe to me. Luckily, Grandpa Harold remembered exactly how to mix the ingredients so I didn't make a flop of the treat.

I was relieved to know that I'm not the only one who loses recipes or forgets exactly how to make something.

On Monday morning, we received a phone call from a former neighbor in Scott City who was asking about a recipe for pumpkin cookies. It has been a long time since we'd heard from Mrs. Harmon, so it was nice to talk to her, and my mom was happy to share the recipe.

Maybe that's the ingredient that makes holiday baking so enjoyable just a hint of warmth found in the love of friends and family who have shared their recipes with another.

Laura Johnston is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.