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Post by Robin on Dec 17, 2003 22:47:36 GMT -5
As per Martha's instructions, I broke down and spent $20 bucks on a Silpat. Hated it. Into the bottom of a drawer it goes. Parchment rules! What do you think?
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Post by Robin on Dec 29, 2003 19:24:17 GMT -5
Oh Robin - That looks wonderful!!! Yummy!!! I really enjoy Trifle and that looked absolutely great!!!!! Thanks for the pictures! Lisa Lisa Did I tell you the Trife was "low fat"? I'll have to upload the recipe. I used Angel food cake and no fat whipped topping. It looked richer and more fattening then it was. ;D
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Post by Robin on Dec 29, 2003 19:22:10 GMT -5
Robin, You are such an inspiration. Your exchange looks wonderful. Thanks for all the details and helpful ideas, I need to find more friends that bake so I can do a cookie exchange next year. Thanks, Emily Hi Emily, that is so sweet of you to say. Thank You! Good Luck with trying to put together and exchange for next year!
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Post by Robin on Dec 16, 2003 0:46:05 GMT -5
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Post by Robin on Dec 17, 2003 22:43:37 GMT -5
I have never heard of Otis Spunkmeyer. Looked them up on the web.. doesn't look like they sell parchment on the web.
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Post by Robin on Dec 29, 2003 19:18:51 GMT -5
After making (and testing!) 2 batches of the Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Pastry Cookies I was 'sick' of how rich it was so for my party I split the 6 doz and made half w/ the chocolate and the other 3 doz with Almond Paste and chopped sliced almonds... I happen to love almond stuff so it was a real treat! Yummy lil' mini danishes! You could use Apricot paste or raspberry jam or fig jam as well!
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Post by Robin on Dec 13, 2003 13:03:40 GMT -5
I made the Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Pastry Cookies for my party tomorrow. (Recipe Below.) I tried the recipe as it stands and thought it was "missing something". My husband loved them, but I thought it needed a little pizazz. My additions to the recipe were sliced almonds, brushed on egg whites, before baking. I also sprinkled them Cinnamon Sugar right after they came out of the oven, and then and added a plain sugar icing, which I think this recipe needed to look like a "Danish Pastry". Another tip would be to use MINI Choco chips. I used the regular size as I forgot to buy the mini's. Also, I think I used too many choco chips... I would use a bit less next time. These cookies are very rich. I think they tasted best straight out of the oven and I will recommend to my Cookie Ladies to warm them up in the toaster oven or microwave before serving. On the whole it is an interesting recipe and you could substitute other flavors instead of chocolate to make "mini-Danish's". Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Pastry Cookies Ingredients: 2 sheets (17.25-oz. pkg.) frozen puff pastry, thawed 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 3/4 cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Milk Chocolate Morsels, divided Directions: UNFOLD 1 puff pastry sheet on lightly floured surface. Roll out to make 14 x 10-inch rectangle. Combine cream cheese and sugar in small bowl until smooth. Spread half cream cheese mixture over puff pastry, leaving 1-inch border on one long side. Sprinkle with half morsels. Roll up starting at long side covered with cream cheese. Seal end by moistening with water. Repeat steps with remaining ingredients. Refrigerate for 1 hour. PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Lightly grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper. CUT rolls crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Place cut side down on prepared baking sheets. BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
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Post by Robin on Dec 13, 2003 12:19:31 GMT -5
Besides Toll House Cookies, this has got to me my all time favorite cookie. It is the BEST RECIPE on the planet for Peanut Butter Cookies. It's an old family recipe from my husband's maternal grandmother, who was born in Sweden and she was reknown as the best baker! Betcha can't eat just one!!! They're delectableAnna Olson's Criss Cross Peanut Butter Cookies Ingredients: 2 1/2 C Flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 C soft butter 1 C crunchy peanut butter 1 C lt. brown sugar, packed 1 C granulated sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp. vanilla Directions: Preheat oven to 375 F. 1. Mix flour and baking soda, set aside. Mix all other ingredients in another large bowl until smooth and fluffy. 2. Pour the flour slowly into the wet ingredients until thoroughly combined. 3. Chill for one at least one hour or over night. 4. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls. 5. Dip fork tines in flour and criss cross each ball, flatten with fork. 6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. 7. Remove from oven, let site one minute, transfer to cooling rack. Enjoy!
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Post by Robin on Dec 13, 2003 12:11:09 GMT -5
Share your favorite Holiday Cookie Recipes in this thread!
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Post by Robin on Dec 11, 2003 23:09:51 GMT -5
Hi Robin, I did it! I hosted a cookie exchange and it turned out wonderful. You know, I've always wanted to do that but never had the time to sit down and figure out the best approach. Thanks so much for providing your guidelines - they were very enabling. Pam Hi Pam, Nice to hear from you! I'm always happy to hear when people start a new Exchange after visiting my site. It's a great way to start the holidays. Was there anything you found especially challenging or was it smooth sailing for your first event? Did you take pics?
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Post by Robin on Sept 10, 2004 10:52:49 GMT -5
Robin, I saw an article in the Southern California Home and Outdoor Mag today at the salon but... can not find the mag on the web. Do you still have info on the publisher? Would like to get a copy of Aug edition. It was put out by Churm Publishing. www.churmpublishing.com/
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Post by Robin on Dec 16, 2003 19:50:07 GMT -5
The publisher sent it to me, got it today.
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Post by Robin on Dec 13, 2003 12:10:28 GMT -5
I heard back from the publisher, she said a copy of the mag is on its way to me... I'll post it here.
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Post by Robin on Dec 11, 2003 11:46:17 GMT -5
I was interviewed a few months ago for an article on Cookie Exchanges for Southern California Home & Outdoor magazine.
Does anyone get this mag? I'd love to see the article. I contacted the writer, who gave me info on who to contact at the publishing company. I emailed them but have yet to hear back. They do not publish their articles to the web.
Thanks!
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Post by Robin on Dec 17, 2003 23:10:35 GMT -5
Hi Robin: I read about your cookie exchange and thought it sounded like so much fun that I wanted to try one. I sent out invitations with all the details to 18 ladies who work in my office and asked them to RSVP by Dec. 10th (party was Dec. 14th). I never heard back from anyone and cancelled the whole thing. I don't know if people were scared of backing 6 dozen cookies, too busy or just not interested. Any suggestions? I would like to try it again. Has anyone ever had a cookie exchange for other holidays? Thanks for any feedback. Hi Barbara, I am so sorry it turned out that way... I don't think it was the amount of cookies... I think it was that people weren't hooked into the idea yet and didn't understand what the "reward" was to be... I will think about this situation some more, but off the top of my head... I would say that if you're going to invite office people, that you try and have the exchange at the office! Also, I wouldn't have as rigid baking rules for a brand new exchange as I have. After all, if you had it at the office then you wouldn't be killing yourself to clean and decorate your house and buy a ton of fancy food and entertain for 3 hours. You could do the exchange in 15 minutes during a break or at lunch. I would open it up to favorite holiday goodies... which could include baked, sugared pecans, no-bake cookies (even though I don't like them, lol) truffles, bars... I suggest that because those items are easier and you might be dealing with people who are not bakers? I have good friends that DO NOT BAKE and have never attended my exchanges. There seems to be a dividing line among women --those who bake and those who do not bake.You could still call it a "cookie exchange" but then put in the invite that other goodies would be welcome too. At the office it would be the sort of event that would grow every year... people see the action and vow "next year, I'll bring something".... Hope this gave you a few ideas. Good Luck. PS) I have never heard of a cookie exchange for other holidays... but why not? You could try it again on Valentines Day or Easter.
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Post by Robin on Dec 11, 2003 10:15:39 GMT -5
Hi Lourdes, I'm glad that you enjoyed your first Cookie Exchange! Thanks for letting us know about your exchange. Send pics to post.
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Post by Robin on Dec 8, 2003 19:14:52 GMT -5
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Post by Robin on Dec 29, 2003 19:20:11 GMT -5
Robin was kind enough to post pictures of my cookie swap to her site. Check it out under her cookie swap pictures - Tracy in NJ. Thanks Robin! You're welcome Tracy!
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Post by Robin on Dec 8, 2003 19:17:31 GMT -5
Hi Tracy, I vote with Emily... I want to come to your cookie exchange!
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Post by Robin on Dec 7, 2003 15:57:21 GMT -5
Fourel, Congrats on having your first party! Make sure you takes lots of pictures...so you can see how your party progresses over the years... It also help to remind me of what cookies I've made for my parties.
I ask for people to bring their own trays to take their cookies home, but someone always forgets, so I have on hand those disposable baking sheets.
I also have a jumbo box (3000 feet) of plastic wrap to cover peoples cookies for those who don't have a lid to their take home container. Don't want those cookies sliding all over the car when they leave! I got my box at Costco which I still call "Price Club". It costs about 10 bucks and last for an year to two years. Great value!
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