Last night Northfield’s main street was closed to traffic and luminaries were placed along the curbs and downtown business stayed open late for holiday shoppers. There were carolers, and horse-drawn wagon rides and store-front windows decorated for the festive, annual Winter Walk. I remember the first Winter Walk 18 years ago. I bought a Santa hat at Jacobsen’s Department Store and have worn it to every Winter Walk since. Jacobsen’s closed in 1998. It was a “store with a heart” – so they advertised – a wonderful, old fashioned department store where you could find anything.
Many stores offer treats during the Winter Walk. My friend makes cookies for a corner store on main street with windows are always decorated creatively, no matter what time of year. My friend is a great cook and baker. If she asks me for a recipe I feel special. One year she asked for my mom’s ginger cookie recipe and somehow it was decided she would make 1,000 ginger cookies using my moms recipe to hand out at the corner store during Winter Walk this year! My mother would been surprised and I was delighted to stop by and taste a delicious ginger cookie.
I have always said of Ruby’s ginger cookies…there cannot possibly be anything unhealthy eating a fresh baked, (especially warm from the oven) ginger cookie!
I need your mom’s recipe! 🙂
I can get it to you!
Such a sweet way to honor your mom and her baking talents! I love this picture of you and Gary! So sweet!
Thanks Amber!
Randy told me traffic in downtown Northfield last evening was crazy as he was leaving work. I asked him what draws people to the Winter Walk. Now I know. Thanks for this informative and touching post.
I love that you wear that Jacobson’s Santa hat every year. But mostly, I l love that story about your mom’s gingersnaps. I’ve found there’s something about those cookies that people really love. I think it’s the memories, the connection to loved ones.
My mom’s ginger cookies are the best!
You’ll have to come up for Winter Walk next year. It was especially nice this year because it didn’t seem as crowded and there was “snow-globe” type snow falling.