Kidness

No, that's not a type-o or misspelling. Toy stores can bring it out of you - kidness. :)

I couldn't help myself yesterday. I was at a local toy store, similar to Toys R Us, but smaller and very much unlike it. I just had to play with their toys! ...and they didn't mind at all. In fact, they seem to encourage one to do so. The employees would come around and explain what they were, and how they were to be played with.

This was a dedicated toy store, one that had generations of toys - from the latest radio controlled cars, to the board games and wooden (and die-cast) trains of yesteryear. There were Wheel-O's and dolls. (No, I didn't play with the dolls.) There were stuffed toys and tops, stick horses that relied on the rider to make the sounds, gun sets to battle Indians and outlaws with. I remember being on many a cattle drive in my younger days, and keeping law and order in the old West on my trusty steed. They had microscopes and telescopes, banks that looked like safes, doll houses and toy ovens that did absolutely nothing - but spur a child's imagination. Ladies, do you remember the ovens of yesterday? They didn't make noises. There were no lights that flashed, no bells that dinged. There were only gourmet meals that magically appeared - after suitable baking time.

Speaking of baking, it's about the time of year when kringla need to appear. I need to make a list and check it twice - to make sure the ingredients are readily available.

Kringla

1	c	Sugar
½	c	Butter or oleo
1		Egg
3	c	Flour
1	ts	Vanilla
1	ts	Baking soda
2 ½	ts	Baking pwd.
½	ts	Salt
1	c	Buttermilk

Mix sugar, butter, unbeaten egg. Add buttermilk and soda, then flour, salt, baking powder and vanilla. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Must keep dough cold as you work with it so just take out of the frig. what you need at a time. Roll out small pieces like a pencil on a floured pastry cloth. Can make them into a circle, a bow shape or a figure eight shape. Bake at 400 F. on an ungreased cookie sheet til very lightly browned, only about 8-10 mins. Serve spreading butter on the bottom. You can double this for five dozen. These freeze well and warm in microwave oven for drop in coffee friends.

And, VOILA!