This month we offer whimsical ideas for celebrating the holidays with children. It's a special time to get them involved in traditions of the season. Allow them to help make cinnamon ornaments, which will also make your home smell wonderful. And what better gift for small kids to give their friends than homemade sidewalk chalk? 'Tis the season to celebrate. From my house to yours, peace.

SPICEY CINNAMON ORNAMENTS

3/4 cup to 1 cup applesauce
1 bottle ground cinnamon, about 4 oz.
1 Tablespoon ground cloves
1 Tablespoon ground nutmeg

Mix applesauce and spices to form stiff dough. Roll to 1/4-inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters. Using a straw, make hole for threading with ribbons. Allow to dry several days, turning at least once a day. When completely dry, thread with ribbon and hang on Christmas tree. These are not edible. Makes 4 small ornaments. Recipe mix can be doubled.

STAINED GLASS CANDY ORNAMENTS

Heavy metal cookie cutters
Vegetable spray
2 bags Life Savers candies
Cookie sheet
Straw
Ribbon

Preheat oven to 350°. Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Spray cookie cutters and aluminum foil with vegetable cooking spray. Fill inside of cookie cutters with a single layer of Life Savers using as many as will fit. Bake 5 to 7 minutes until candies are melted. Remove from oven and allow candy to cool about 2 minutes. Make a hole in each with a straw to thread ribbon through for hanging. Continue cooling until cutters can be handled. Very gently, pull cutters away from ornament. Thread with ribbon and hang on Christmas tree or in windows. These are also edible. Makes 10-12, depending upon cookie cutter size.
Note: This is a great project for kids. Allow them to fill the cookie cutters with Life Savers. An adult should bake and remove the ornaments from the oven, being very careful because they break easily.

HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS CHALK

6 cups plaster of Paris (do not pack)
2-2/3 cups cool water
Liquid tempera paint
2 empty paper towel rolls
Masking tape

Prepare molds by cutting paper towel roll into 4 individual tubes. Tape off bottom of each tube to form a cup. Pour plaster into a container. Using a paint stick (or other disposable stick), stir until most of the water is incorporated. Add liquid tempera paint, until you reach desired color. Mix well, especially at the bottom. Add a little more water and the mixture should begin to thicken. Stir well and pour into prepared molds. Remove molds after chalk has completely dried, which may take several days. Makes 8 large pieces of chalk.
Note: This project is very messy but a great gift idea for kids to make for their friends. Chalk is to be used only on sidewalks, as it is too hard for chalkboards.

LOLLIPOP TREE

Vegetable oil or spray vegetable oil
6-12 lollipop sticks
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon mint or other flavoring
4 or 5 drops of red or green food coloring
1 roll thin, shiny ribbon
Small Styrofoam tree-shaped cone
Masking tape

Grease small cookie cutters with oil. Also grease cookie sheet. With a mallet, pound the end of the stick to flatten as much as possible. Lay cookie cutters over top of about 1" end of thin lollipop sticks, placing onto greased baking sheet. Mix corn syrup, sugar, and water in heavy saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Boil over medium heat (do not stir now) until temperature reaches 295° on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and stir in flavoring and coloring. Immediately pour into cutters to depth of 1/8 inch. If candy mixture runs outside of molds, gently push it back in with a lollipop stick that has been sprayed with vegetable oil. Allow molds and candy to cool, then remove from cookie sheet. Trim any excess candy. Wrap a tree-shaped cone with thin, shiny ribbon, attaching ribbon at base with tape and winding it around to the top of the cone, covering any foam area showing. Insert lollipop sticks into cone. This makes a great centerpiece for a kid's party, and it's edible. Makes 6 large or 12 small lollipops.

Linda Allison-Lewis writes from her home in Bullitt County. She is the author of Kentucky's Best-Fifty Years of Great Recipes. Send letters, recipes, or requests to Kentucky Cooks, Linda Allison-Lewis, P. O. Box 40, Hillview, KY 40129.