I’m heartsick about bazaars being cancelled this year. Damn you, COVID-19. Where will I get my cabbage rolls? Where will I buy my next tea cozy? Where will I flirt with women named Bea across a table piled high with knitted accessories?

I’ve been doing my annual Bazaar-o-Rama tour every November since 2012, highlighting the weird and wonderful treasures I find at church holiday bazaars. But rather than wallow around in my knit slippers, I decided that if people can’t go to bazaars, I’ll bring the bazaars to the people.

Every week throughout November, I’ll post recipes for bazaar bake table classics, taken from one of my community cookbooks. These are tried-and-true recipes endorsed by yours truly. Make these treats for yourself or give them to someone you care about. Or set up a bake table at the end of your driveway and sell them. Just make sure you wear a hazmat suit and use hotdog tongs.

As if a weekly recipe wasn’t exciting enough, I’ll also feature some of my favourite Bazaar-o-Rama finds from over the years. You’ll be surprised how much fifty cents can buy.

To kick things off, let’s start with the bake table staple, Shortbread Cookies with Maraschino Cherries. My mom used to make these, but she was always stingy with the cherries. These cookies deserve nothing more than a full half.

This recipe comes from Royal Recipes: For the Love of Tiny Hearts.

1 cup salted butter

½ cup icing sugar

1½ cups flour

Maraschino cherries

Preheat oven to 300°. In bowl, add butter and icing sugar. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed with electric mixer. Add flour, then beat again until well blended. Drop by spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet and top with cherry. Bake for about 15 minutes (or until light brown edges appear). Remove and cool. Makes about 2 dozen.

I lightly flattened mine with a floured fork. And yes, these are fricking delicious. Light, buttery and they disappear in your mouth. I recommend serving these along with a Styrofoam cup of percolated coffee.

Now, onto my Best o’ Bazaar-o-Rama treasures!

1) Latch Hook Rug

I came across this beauty at a bazaar in 2013. I’m still not sure what it’s supposed to be. A chicken? A hydrogen bomb going off? A representation in yarn of humanity’s fragile heart in the face of unrelenting adversity? It’s difficult to say, but art is always subjective. This was one dollar.

2) Peter Mug

There’s no better way to start your day than with a cup of General Foods International Coffees’ Suisse Mocha in the morning, especially when served in a mug inscribed with inspirational poetry.

Friends may come

And friends may go

And friends may peter

Out you know

But we’ll be friends

Through thick and thin

Peter out or peter in

Honestly, I can’t tell you how many friends I’ve petered in and out of over the years. I found this gem in 2014 and it cost me 50 cents.

Come back next week for another bazaar bake table recipe and more of my bazaar treasures. Until then, stay safe and watch that peter!