“Do you say: care-a mel or kar-muhl,” asked the grocery store checker as she scanned my package of candy?

“Hmm, I say cara- mel.”

“No, no. It’s car-mel, just two syllables,” said the bagger, a hard-working high school student.

“Well, whatever…Don’t you just love them?” I asked.

“Oh my yes,” gushed the checker. “They are sooo good, but, you know, most people buy caramels at Halloween.”

“Well, I found a new cookie recipe (in Rachael Ray’s magazine) and I’m trying it for Christmas.” So, I went home and baked a batch.