A time to share -and cook

I love Christmas and the whole reason we celebrate the holiday.

Sometimes I think we allow Christmas to take on a purpose beyond the actual meaning. To me, Christmas is a time of family and goodwill. More than that, it is a time to make others happy and simply enjoy being alive. It's not about money or presents or the stress of it all. It's a time of year to remind ourselves that everyone else in the world matters.

White Cheese Potatoes

4 large baking potatoes

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Salt to taste

Fresh ground pepper to taste

Sugar to taste

1/2 cup green onion, chopped

1 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup chopped green onion for garnish

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel and thinly slice potatoes. Arrange a layer of potato slices in the bottom of a buttered shallow baking sheet. Sprinkle with a little lemon juice, salt, pepper and sugar. Repeat until everything is used, ending with cheese. Pour the chicken broth and wine over the potatoes and bake for approximately 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender and top is browned. Garnish with green onion.

Oven Caramel Corn

2 sticks butter, melted

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

5 quarts popped popcorn

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Bring to a boil butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt. Gradually pour over popped corn, mixing with a fork. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool; break caramel corn apart. When you add the soda and vanilla, the syrup is going to bubble and "grow." Be sure to use at least a 2 1/2-quart pan or you will have hot syrup all over the place.

Broccoli Salad

1 bunch broccoli using just the tips, cut small

1/2 pound bacon, fried crisp and crumbled

1 cup celery, chopped

1 cup green onion, chopped

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped

1/2 cup green and red grapes, sliced

1 tablespoon salad vinegar

1 cup Miracle Whip

1/3 cup sugar

3/4 cup pecans or almonds

Mix salad ingredients; put in a salad bowl. Combine dressing ingredients. Add dressing ingredients just before serving.

GARY'S TIP: To keep celery for a long time, remove celery from store bag and wrap it in paper towel, then in aluminum foil. Store in the refrigerator. When you need some, break off what you need and re-wrap the rest and return to refrigerator.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Some kids' idea of a seven-course meal is six cookies and a glass of milk.