AND GIVEAWAY!
The holidays are coming and it's always such an exciting time of the year for me. Besides teaching culinary classes for adults and children and going to holiday gatherings I also bake A LOT, and share my baked goods for gifts or with whomever I can.
Years ago, I heard of something called a "cookie exchange or swap". Of course I had no idea what this was, nor had I ever been to one, let alone given one.
A cookie exchange is where you invite a group of friends, relatives, and neighbors over to your house to exchange homemade cookies or even bar cookies, etc. Every person brings anywhere from one to six dozen of one type of cookie. The cookies are laid out on the dining room table and exchanged. The result is that everyone goes home with an assortment of one - six dozen different types of cookies (based on the number brought). The recipes are also swapped, so that if you take home a new cookie that you really like, you will be able to make it yourself. The cookie party can be given at any time during the year; however, most cookie exchange parties occur in December.
I've been researching information about hosting a cookie exchange and found that the Cookie Exchange Queen is a woman by the name of Robin Olsen who has written a book, has a website and newsletter with everything you'd ever want to know on the topic. Since I signed up for it last year she reminded me a couple of weeks ago to get in gear and get my invitations sent out.
Realizing that I have far too much going on in the next couple of months to try and pull one together I decided to host a "Virtual Cookie Swap" on my blog. Here all my family, friends, bloggers friends, and anyone out in cyberspace can visit. Since there's plenty of room for everyone, we can all share our favorite cookie or bar recipes.
In addition, I have a fabulous giveaway to go along with my "Virtual Cookie Swap". Thanks to Kuhn Rikon they've been nice enough to offer one lucky guest that attends my cookie swap and shares a recipe the chance to win a Kuhn Rikon Stainless Steel Cookie Press. If you don't have one, well, you don't want to be without this for the holidays. Watch these videos to see all that you can do with this wonderful tool!
So that everyone can be a part of my first "virtual cookie swap" here's what you need to know:
Deadline for all recipe submissions is November 14th, 2011 when a winner for the Kuhn Rikon Cookie Press with be selected at random.
- Post your recipe in the comments section and if you have a photo post that too. If you have a cookie recipe that you've already posted on your blog feel free to provide the link to that if you prefer. Tell us why you've selected the recipe you're sharing.
- Share in the comments section why you'd like to win the Kuhn Rikon cookie press and "like" the Kuhn Rikon facebook page.
- Like the "At Home with Vicki Bensinger" facebook page, and place this widget
on your blog using this link (http://in-homeculinaryclasses.blogspot.com/2011/10/virtual-cookie-swap-giveaway.html), so others can join in on the virtual cookie swap fun as well.
4. The winner of the Kuhn Rikon Stainless Steel Cookie Press will be selected at random on November 14th, 2011. Be sure when you post your comments that you leave your contact information in the event you win.
Note: If you would like to get a PDF of all the recipes with photos submitted to my first annual Virtual Cookie Swap then please email me your recipe at: virtualcookieswap@gmail.com Be sure when you email your recipe that you:
- enter your first name and last initial or blog name if you prefer
- city and state where you live
- email address so that I can send you a copy of the pdf when it's done (your email address will not be given out)
- Name of your recipe, plus a full list of ingredients and instructions along with # of cookies it makes
- photo of the recipe if you have one.
- share any information that you can about why you selected this recipe (you can copy and paste what you posted in the comments section of my blog)
Oops! I almost forgot to post my favorite cookie for the holidays, "Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies". I posted this recipe back in December of 2009.
The recipe can be found here.
Thank you all ahead of time for taking part in my first "Virtual Cookie Swap". I'm so excited that I'm finally having one. Maybe next year I'll actually be able to host it in my home. In the meantime, share your recipes, photos and stories. Hopefully we'll all have lots of fun, and great cookies and bars to make for family and friends this holiday 2011.
The Winner of the Virtual Cookie Swap Kuhn Rikon Cookie Press (selected at Random) is #18 - Jill, from DulceDough.
Congratulations Jill. Please contact me at vkb2@hotmail.com.
I hope everyone has a wonderful time baking all these fantastic holiday treats!
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