HOLIDAY RECIPES: Our recent column where we suggested putting together family recipe books as Christmas gifts struck a chord with at least one person.

One reader wrote to say, “Loved the 11/25 (column) — reminded me of family competitions of Italian holiday desserts…the Persichinis, the Gentiles, the Paternitis…whose Cassata was best, whose is more authentic to ‘the old country.’ Don’t even get started on Cuccidati cookies (ground figs, dates, nuts, fruits rolled in dough and cut to size).”

“Those were the days when no one called ahead — they just dropped in, there was always sauce and meatballs on the stove, cookies nearby. Wonderful memories of noisy talk around everyone’s tables.”

Those memories are priceless.

DELIVERY: We hope all our readers can be with their family on Christmas day.

But for those of you who can’t, here’s when you need to mail your cards and gifts by if you want to get them in the hands of your loved ones by Christmas day, according to the United States Postal Service.

For Priority Mail Express International and Retail Ground, have packages out by Dec. 14. First Class Mail should be out by Dec. 19, Priority Mail by Dec. 20 and Priority Mail Express by Dec. 22.

If you’re delivering a holiday treat to a service member, you’ll need to get that package or card out even sooner.

For both APO/FPO First-Class Mail Letters and Cards and APO/FPO Priority Mail, have items in the mail by Dec. 11. For APO/FPO Priority Mail Express Military Service, mail items by Dec. 16.

The Postal Service anticipates handling about 15 billion letters, cards and packages during the holiday season — 850 million of them packages — so taking extra care to have everything labeled and packaged correctly will make it more likely your letter or package will reach its destination safely.

We’ll have more shipping tips in an upcoming column.