- Christina Le Breton
Santa is Immune to Covid!
(originally written for the MacEwan University Social Media Marketing course- content has been edited for relevance)

It is true! Santa is immune to Covid! His Holly Jolly self will be Ho-Ho-Ho'ing his way down your chimney in less than a week!
You can avoid getting coal in your stocking by making sure the big guy has some goodies for him and his reindeer to eat.
Where to Start
Whenever we think of Christmas, the joyous images of gingerbread men dance through our heads. Oh, what fun it is to decorate the little men (and women!) before devouring them savagely. Personally, I like to go for the legs first; some like the arms, while some go straight in for the kill with the crunchy little gingerbread head!
Whatever way you prefer to devour your molasses infused friend, none can argue that eating a good gingerbread man cookie brings back a sense of nostalgia and memories of a simpler time. A time when friends and family could surround us, and we could sing Christmas carols and stuff ourselves full of delicious food!
If you are like many this Christmas season missing out on the holidays with your friends and family but you want to avoid getting coal in your stocking (and you still want something that tastes even slightly like mom's cookies), Elmwood Park Community League has you covered! We scoured the Internet for you to bring you the BEST gingerbread cookie recipe the Internet has to offer! Santa approved!
Recipe adapted from Ventray Recipes
What you need
Baking Sheets
Parchment Paper
Cookie-cutter shapes (you can use any shape you would like!)
A large mixing bowl and a wooden spoon (or a stationary stand mixer if you have one!)
Rolling pin
Plastic wrap
Wire rack

Photo adapted from Archanas Kitchen
Ingredients
In order to make delicious gingerbread cookies, you will need the following ingredients
1/2 cup room temp butter 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup Molasses 1 Egg
2 tbsp Water 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp Baking Soda 1/2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Ground Ginger 1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg 1/2 tsp All Spice
and my favourite... FROSTING!!

Directions
First, go to the kitchen... just kidding, I know you are already there telling me to get on with it and give you the dang recipe already! You're hungry!
Ok, ok, here we go... are you ready?
THE REAL DIRECTIONS!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Line baking sheets with parchment paper (so the cookies do not stick to the pan)
Sift together all of the dry ingredients
In your bowl (or stand mixer), cream butter, brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg, and water
Add in dry ingredients, mix until thoroughly combined.
Divide cookie dough In half, roll into a disk shape
Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 30-45 minutes
Use a cookie cutter to shape and cut the cookies into what will soon become your grumbly tumbly's next meal
Place on baking sheet 2' apart
Bake for 8-10 minutes (do not forget about them!)
Cool on a wire rack completely before eating (it is hot, hot ouch)
Decorate!
Devour (save some for Santa!)
Get the full, unedited recipe at Ventray Recipes
We hope you enjoyed this gingerbread man recipe! Follow our Facebook page for more helpful tips, news and events!
For more information about Elmwood Park Community League, check out our site!