Jessica Frost

I.                    Introduction

a.       Show everyone one of the Santa Clause cookies.

b.      I am going to explain the importance of the Santa Clause cookies in my family.

c.       The Santa Clause cookies have been a yearly tradition in my family for over 60 years, which has made them the most anticipated part of Christmas. I also want to talk a little about how the cookies are made.

d.      Who in here doesn’t like cookies?

II.                 Body

a.       The cookies have been a Christmas tradition in my family for about 62 years.

                                                               i.      My great grandmother bought the Santa Clause cookie cutter the same year my grandpa was born.

                                                             ii.      Company that created this cookie cutter has been out of business for a many years so the cookie cutter is now irreplaceable which adds to its value in our family.

                                                            iii.      The cookie cutter was passed on to my mom from her grandmother and will continue to be passed down through my family.

b.      The people in my family have become more excited about the cookies than their gifts.

                                                               i.      We get asked every year if we are making the cookies.

                                                             ii.      It used to be part of tradition that the cookies were wrapped in plastic wrap and placed on the presents instead of tags.

1.      Now that I have 2 dogs we can no longer put the cookies on the gifts.

                                                            iii.      Story about my best friend Casey getting so excited about getting one of the famous Santa Clause cookies that she forgot about her gift.

1.      Knew all about our cookies and was very excited to receive one.

2.      Realized about an hour later that she didn’t open her gift.

c.       To make these special cookies takes a little work.

                                                               i.      First we have to make the cookie dough the night before and let it chill over night.

                                                             ii.      Before my mom goes to press the cookies she makes the red sugar. We actually make our own red sugar and have had to cheat only once or twice.

                                                            iii.      Usually when my mom is pressing the cookies into the cookie cutter I am chopping up raisins to place as the eyes. Then the cookies go into the oven.

                                                           iv.      During the time the cookies are cooking in the oven and cooling on the rack, my mom makes the special frosting, the frosting that will harden once it dries.

                                                             v.      Once the cookies are cooled and the frosting and sugar is ready, my mom, my younger brother and I sit and decorate.

III.               Conclusion

a.       The Santa Clause cookies are a part of my culture because they have been in my family for over 60 years which has caused them to become the most anticipated part of Christmas and it takes a lot of work to make these special cookies.

b.      How nice would I be if I did a whole speech on cookies and did not give any to all of you nice people who listened? (Pass out cookies)