The cookbook sells for $16, which includes tax.  It can be shipped for an additional $2.95.

The cookbook commemorates the Christmas Market’s 20th annual festival, which takes place on the square on December 4, 5, and 6 this year.  The cookbook includes the Christmas Market logo on the cover and features 175 spiral-bound pages of recipes, helpful hints, cooking information, and a brief history of the festival, which dates back to 1990.

“We’re really excited about finally seeing all of our work come together in the final, printed piece,” said Christmas Market President Debbie Zilm.  “The book really looks nice, but the proof is in the tasting, and I think a lot of people will be tasting some very good food if they use our 20th Anniversary cookbook.

“It’s nice that the printer got it done early, too, so we can get it out for people to buy before the holidays officially begin.  There are about 290 recipes in the book, with everything from appetizers and entrees to soups, salads, side dishes, breads, and desserts.  Most of the recipes are from Carlinville area residents and their relatives, but we have some from former residents and out-of-area Christmas Market visitors and vendors, too.”

Zilm offered sincere thanks to everyone who submitted recipes and an apology to anyone who submitted recipes but doesn’t find them in the book.  “We weren’t sure how many we’d get, but we ended up with more than 500 recipes.  For the size of the book we wanted and the affordable cost we settled on, the printer said we had to cut some.  We tried to get as much representation and balance as possible.  If this cookbook is successful, maybe we can include the recipes we had to cut in a second book.”