Holiday Helpers from the Rapid City Public Library

By Morgan Sohl, Librarian I

We all know that holidays can become incredibly stressful. The Rapid City Public Library can help you plan a wonderful, relaxing holiday with your family, not to mention saving money and avoiding entering the New Year with a mountain of holiday-induced debt.

The best holiday presents are ones that someone you love makes just for you. The library has a great collection of books with step-by-step instructions for unique handmade gifts for loved ones of all ages. Explore our craft, decorating, and cookbooks and learn how to make delicious baked goods and candies, get new ideas to freshen up traditional holiday menus, and decorate the house for the festive family gathering.

Hundreds of cookbooks will help sweeten the holidays with fudge, fruitcake, cookies, and cupcakes. Some of my favorites include: Betty Crocker’s Best Christmas Cookbook; Christmas Cookies are for Giving: Recipes, Stories, and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts by Kristin Johnson and Mimi Cummins; and Simply Handmade: 365 Easy Projects for Every Occasion by Carol Field Dahlstrom. For ideas on how to celebrate other holiday traditions with your family this season, try Hannukkah: Activities, Crafts, Recipes, and More by Carole Marsh; and A Kwanzaa Holiday Cookbook by Emily Raabe.

Enhance your family’s traditions with great new recipes for old favorite holiday menus or launch some new traditions with holiday meal ideas from around the world. Children and teens will find recipe books specially designed for young chefs. And cooking together can involve the whole family and create the best holiday memories of all. Try Rachel Ray’s latest book Yum-O!: The Family Cookbook. For more local flavor, South Dakota Kids Cookbook by Carole Marsh is a great resource.

What about starting a completely new holiday tradition of curling up by the fire with a great mystery? It can be a great way to unwind after the frenzy of holiday cooking. You can still keep the cooking theme going with mysteries - a remarkable number of mysteries start in the kitchen or dining room and involve great chefs and sumptuous feasts. New titles to try include: Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry: A Scumble River Mystery by Denise Swanson; Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells,;and Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery by Joanne Fluke. And reading is absolutely calorie free!

After saving all those calories by reading rather than eating, you’ll be ready to indulge in a final holiday treat. Bring your Rapid City Public Library card to Mostly Chocolates and receive a 10% discount on all your purchases.

Start your holiday planning and preparations with the wealth of sources available at the Rapid City Public Library, and be sure to visit both the Downtown and North libraries.