Christmas Treats

Christmastime calls for lots of sweet treats!

Many people look forward to sweet treats during the Christmas holidays. Fruitcake is part of the Christmas celebration in many countries. This rich cake is made with spices, dried fruit and nuts. The best fruitcakes are 50 percent fruit and nuts. To some in America, however, fruitcake is not appealing. They don't think it tastes good, and it's usually stale. People who receive one often regift it rather than eat it.

Christmas cookies, on the other hand, are warmly welcomed. People usually bake these fancy cookies at home. Sugar cookies are the most popular. They are cut out in Christmas-themed shapes and decorated with frosting and colored sugar. People often make plates of these special cookies to give away as gifts.

Sweet and spicy gingerbread is another traditional favorite. Some people make gingerbread cookies. Others make elegant houses from gingerbread and decorate them with frosting and candy. Some towns even have contests for gingerbread house builders.

Everyone enjoys the Christmas season - especially the treats that come with the season!

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: How America Got Its Name (America的由來)
叫做America是因為當初第一個確認美洲 為一「新大陸」的義大利的航海家名字就叫做 亞美利哥．唯斯普奇（Amerigo Vespucci）。 他在1501年十沿著南美海岸航行2400英里， 確認美洲是一個新大陸、「新世界」。 之後日耳曼的地理學家以其名字命名美洲，之後就定下來了。

Grammar Gym
"They are cut out in Christmas-themed shapes..."
- Try having a beach-themed party on a cold winter day.

Language Lab
stale adj.
bread or cake that is stale is no longer fresh or good to eat [≠ fresh]:
- The cheesecake has been in the refrigerator for months, and it has gone stale already.
not interesting or exciting any more:
- Ray's stale jokes are no longer funny.

regift v.
- Margaret decided to regift this handbag because she already has lots of bags.
- You have to double check the condition of your gift before regifting it.

frosting n.
a sweet substance put on cakes and made from powdery sugar and butter [= icing]
- The frosting on the cupcake is pastel blue and decorated with M&M's.
frost v.
to cover a cake with a mixture of powdery sugar and liquid [= ice]
- The baker frosted the chocolate cake with a powdered sugar frosting.

spicy adj.
food that is spicy has a pleasantly strong taste, and gives you a pleasant burning feeling in your mouth [= hot]
- The Thai seafood soup is quite spicy. You'd better eat it with some rice.
- Larry enjoys spicy food a lot. HE always adds Tabasco sauce to his chili.


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