Chandler Lindsley, the granddaughter of Eleanor and President Franklin D. Roosevelt, didn’t start out writing cookbooks, but she realized that her cookbooks were selling like hotcakes in the places where she volunteers and supports.
Last fall during Autumn at the Arboretum, the garden featured the “Dallas Arboretum Pumpkin Festival Recipes.” The inspiration for this collection came from Lindsley. This winter as the Dallas Arboretum opens The 12 Days of Christmas exhibit throughout the garden on November 8, it also debuts “The 12 Days of Christmas Cookie Cookbook.”
Mary Brinegar, president and CEO of the Dallas Arboretum, said, “The 12 Days of Christmas exhibit and its concept conceived by Phyllis McCasland has been so well received that our guests have visited our gift shop for items featuring The 12 Days to share with friends. We now have ornaments galore, special aprons and t-shirts, but one thing was felt to be missing.”
Brinegar added, “Chandler Lindsley, who wrote the Pumpkin Cookbook, offered to write one on great holiday cookies and share the photographs of this magnificent holiday exhibit on The 12 Days of Christmas as this Pumpkin Cookbook has been very popular. She began doing books like this for the gift shop at Roosevelt Campobello International Park where she wrote a book called ‘Cookies for Eleanor’ featuring favorite cookies of her grandmother, Eleanor Roosevelt.”
Lindsley said, “I’m happy that there’s a grand Christmas exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum. This cookbook will get people in the holiday spirit as baking and sharing favorite cookies are a part of celebrating the season.”
This new book, which is available at the Arboretum’s Hoffman Family Gift Store for $4.95, features recipes from Lindsley, docents from the Arboretum chaired by Barbara Brooks and a tasting committee of willing staff and volunteers who selected the best tasting cookies. A sampling these recipes includes Chocolate Mint Cookies, Peppermint Meringues, Pecan Snowballs and Maple Syrup Sugar Cookies.
All proceeds from the book will go to the care, maintenance and growth of the Arboretum.
Holiday at the Arboretum features the return of the magnificent 12 Days of Christmas outdoor exhibit from November 8 to January 3 and The Artistry of the Nativity at the DeGolyer House, November 26 to January 3 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. On certain evenings, the garden remains open for extended hours for The 12 Days at Night displaying the illuminated gazebos for magical viewings. New this year is the addition of 500,000 lights throughout the garden, trimming the architecture of the historic homes and lighting the canopies overhead—including a 30-foot-tall tree at the center of property.
Holiday tea, Santa sightings and special activities round out a visit to the garden. For the first two weeks of The 12 Days nighttime exhibit, special ticket pricing with parking included, is available. Tickets are based on limited availability. For more information, visit dallasarboretum.org.