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A Blog for the "Cookie Exchange" ~ Part II

12/5/2013

What kind of cookie exchange will you have if you don't have an assortment of Christmas cookies. Some of you have cookies you make each year because it's part of your heritage. Others make a certain cookie because of the memory it holds. Maybe there is a cookie you love but because it's such a pain to make, you only do it once a year.

Whatever the reason for this one cookie standing out, will you share it with us in a comment below. I'd love to hear why the recipe is special to you or the reason you decided to share it with everyone. Thank you in advance. My favorite is one I attempt to make each year because of the memory it holds yet I've yet to make it like my mom - I'll keep trying though.

My Favorite: Betty Crocker Candy Cane Cookies

The reason these are my favorite...because I enjoyed watching my mother make them, and I like mint. Mom's patience and wisdom to now what was enough rolling without overdoing always amazed me. Thanks Mom!

Betty Crocker's Candy Cane Cookies
click on candy cane cookie photo for a direct link
Ingredients
1  cup sugar
1 cup butter or margarine softened
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 egg
3 1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red food color
2  tablespoons finely crushed peppermint candies
2 tablespoons sugar

Directions

Stir together 1 cup sugar, the butter, milk, vanilla, peppermint extract and egg in large bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Divide dough in half. Stir food color into 1 half. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
Heat oven to 375ºF.
Stir together peppermint candy and 2 tablespoon sugar; set aside.
For each candy cane, shape 1 rounded teaspoon dough from each half into 4-inch rope by rolling back and forth on floured surface. Place 1 red and white rope side by side; press together lightly and twist. Place on ungreased cookie sheet; curve top of cookie down to form handle of cane.
Bake 9 to 12 minutes or until set and very light brown. Immediately sprinkle candy mixture over cookies. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Will you share your favorite Christmas cookie recipe below?
If you have a link for a photo - feel free to include it.

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A Blog for the "Cookie Exchange" - Part I

12/4/2013

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The original title for this blog was, "What is your favorite Christmas cookie?" but then as I started to write, well, let's just say a different blog came to mind. This is the first of two parts and it's the second part I think everyone will enjoy the most. Of course the reason for this blog is my love for Christmas cookies, and the excitement and fun of participating in a cookie exchange.

As I thought about this though I realized something, not everyone might know what a "cookie exchange" is or how it's organized or plays out. As with any fun, festive, and traditional activity - one cookie exchange might be very different than another yet the ultimate and most important similarity...you acquire an assortment of holiday cookies to share with friends and family.

What is a "cookie exchange"?
Basically, you and a group of your friends, co-workers, neighbors, church family, club, or who ever decide you want to have an assortment of cookies when you entertain without the work of making ten different types of cookies. By doing an exchange like this, you bake only one type of cookies but after the "party", you have a platter of cookies any bakery would pay for.

Who do I invite?
Anyone you enjoy spending time with and you wouldn't mind spending time with during the Christmas season in a relaxed, fun, and super-delicious manner.

How many cookies do I have to make?
This depends on how many people choose to participate in the cookie exchange. If 6 people sign up, then you make 6 dozen. If 12 people sign up, you made 12 dozen.

How do I make sure there aren't duplicates of cookie types?
You create a sign up sheet. When someone agrees to join the cookie exchange (aka PARTY), you ask, "What type of cookie are you going to bring?" and then write them down for that cookie. When the next person joins, you let them know what is already on the list and they pick something different.

How do I sort my cookies after I baked, to bring to the exchange?
There are many ways to do this. It's usually unique to the person bringing the cookies and the type of cookie they are sharing. I've placed a dozen on a paper plate, put the plate in a zip lock baggie, sealed it, and placed a Christmas bow on top in the past. I've also bought the decorative containers and used those. It all depends, there is no right or wrong way to separate and wrap your cookies for the exchange - as long as you have a dozen for each person sorted and sealed in a way the other people can bring them home without losing them in your driveway on the way out the door.

I'm confused - you said one dozen cookies for each person but I don't need a dozen of my own - where does the extra dozen go?
This is probably the greatest perk to a cookie exchange. The extra dozen is to eat while exchanging. Have an empty platter in the center of the table. As people bring in their cookies, one dozen is opened and added to the large tray. Once everyone has handed out and collected their cookies - you have a "sample" cookie platter to enjoy over coffee, tea, milk, or your favorite drink with Christmas cookies.

Where do I hold a cookie exchange? How much time do I need?
This, like the way you separate and present your cookies is up to you and your inner creativity. We've had cookie exchanges at school - we meet in the school's library before school one morning, divide up the cookies, carry them out to our cars, put the extra dozen in the teacher's room, and then get back to work. I've also gone to one where we met a friends, swapped cookies and then enjoyed a time of fellowship with the kiddos watching a Christmas movie in one room and the husbands watching sports in another. It's your party - have fun with it and make it as big, or small as you need it to be.

In a nutshell - the cookie exchange is an opportunity (or excuse if you need one) to get together with your friends and/or family to enjoy a time of laughter, festive cheer, and just plain togetherness. The bonus, you'll get to eat cookies you probably would never make.

Tomorrow's blog is an opportunity for you to share your favorite Christmas cookie recipe. Oh yeah, get out those recipe cards and share them with others. Who knows, your cookie might become a cookie exchange favorite across the country just because you shared the recipe here.

Do you partake in a cookie exchange during the holidays?
Is there something you do different or would like to add?
Leave a comment below.

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TOP's Tuesday: A day at Baldwinsville Baptist

12/3/2013

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This summer I received an email from the associate pastor of the Baldwinsville Baptist Church located on Syracuse Street in town. After proper introductions, Pastor Chris shared a little about himself and how he first learned of my sister's kidnapping. As he shared, I listened in awe as another aspect of how God was working to locate and help Heidi in 1994...one I was unaware of until over nineteen years later.

Pastor Chris attended Onondaga Community College (OCC) during the same time period as my sister, Heidi M Allen. Although they didn't "know" each other per say, they did have a few classes together. He shared how he remembered Heidi's smile and how nice she was to everyone. A memory many of us share when we think of Heidi don't you agree? I wasn't surprised by the fact I didn't know each person had class with but it was Pastor Chris' next tidbit that left me so thankful.

If you attended OCC in April of 1994, you may remember this also but for those of us that didn't, let me enlighten you on how God was at work in at least one of our neighboring counties. Pastor Chris said that upon arrival back to classes after the Spring/Easter break, each professor started class by explaining Heidi's kidnapping while holding up one of the missing person flyers. The professors said there were additional flyers for people to hang around campus, in their neighborhoods and anywhere they might think of, and encouraged "anyone with information to contact law enforcement" -- even giving out the tip line's phone number.

This is so cool! I knew OCC did some amazing things and were an encouragement when they told my parents "We will make sure everyone knows." They not only were true to their word, they went above and beyond. Pastor Chris said classes started like this for at least a week and possibly into the next week to make sure every student on campus was aware. As if this isn't enough, they also offered counselors for anyone who might need to talk. Thank you OCC, and thank you Christ for sharing this with me. I passed it along to my family and now to those reading the blog.

This wasn't the reason Pastor Chris contacted me yet it our initial conversation that brought such a peace and humility, that at the very time I was cranky with God ~ He was working through the administration at OCC.

The purpose of the initial email and then phone conversations was to talk about the possibility of speaking at the Baldwinsville Baptist Church sometime in the near future. I won't bore you with all the details of arranging a speaking engagement but I will say, it was a great time of planning and preparation. In addition to Pastor Chris, I had the privilege of talking with the head pastor, Pastor James. Both men are true men of God seeking to serve Him and their community.

Pastor James offered the idea to do an "interview" as part of the morning worship service. A little Q & A, if you will. I was hesitant in the beginning but Pastor James was patient and compassionate with me. To ease my nerves of "What might you ask me on the fly?" I could almost hear his smile as he said something like, "I wouldn't just ask you then without going over the questions with you before hand." Phew, I wiped the sweat from my brow and we did a run through, right then and there, over the phone. I felt so much better. Thank you Pastor James.

My husband Ed, and daughter, Mags, joined me for the day and we enjoyed it a lot. In addition to the morning worship service, we were able to see the array of Bible Studies going on before church, the bread give-away, coffee hour, and of course the preparation of the "Thanksgiving Feast" downstairs. It is a busy church with a big heart to serve.

The worship service was uplifting and caused me to reflect on the reason for Thanksgiving and the many reasons to be thankful. I shared the video Pastor James played last week after I found it on YouTube.

After the service, there was a delicious feast of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and all the traditional fixings. Boy were we full but the amount of desserts awaiting everyone was even greater and I spied cheesecake while I set up. I commented a couple times and one of the church members asked if he could "sneak me a piece" to the side so I could enjoy it after I spoke. I told him "If there is some left, then I meant to eat it. If not, then God's watching out for me.", we both laughed.

As everyone found their seats with dessert and a cup of coffee, Pastor James introduced me so I could "continue" my message and story from the interview portion of the worship service. This was the first time I introduced a presentation prior to speaking and then had to pick up, kind of in the middle, yet at the beginning. I'm up for a challenge and I prayed God would give me the words and keep it interesting for the parts important to revisit, while still moving forward.

I shared my presentation titled, "Tragedy to Triumph". This has become one of my favorites to share and one Ed and Mary tease me about because they haven't seen it presented the same way yet.

My family teases me about this yet when Elaine W. Miller (https://splashesofserenity.com/) mentored me with the speaking aspect, she suggested I develop at least one message that is versatile enough to change with my audience and interesting enough to kind of be a staple in my speaker's toolbox.

After I finished I asked if there were any questions. When I started to speak I didn't accept questions in an open forum style but slowly transitioned to opening it up at select engagements. I don't know about you but sometimes when we say, "I'm not doing that." you can almost picture God up there smiling and shaking His head saying, "Oh yeah, you just wait." Or am I alone in this thought?

Anyway, now I am more comfortable with answering questions about my books, testimony, faith, and life in general. An aspect of this process I wasn't prepared for was how inspiring, encouraging, and reflective the audiences questions would be to me as I traveled home. Some questions have ignited riveting conversations with my family, while others leave me silent and in my own thought process the entire trip, if not for a few days. I've learned it is during this process that I am challenged and learn to stretch and grow a little bit more...for Him and in sharing hope and Heidi with others.

It was a wonderful day and I'm thankful for the opportunity to meet Pastor Chris and Pastor James, and their families. We were thankful to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast with the Baldwinsville Baptist Church family and their community. I was thankful to hear someone knew she had hope because of something God used me to share. What would have happened if I said no?

Has God ever forced you out of your comfort zone? How?

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"Christmas Kindness Challenge" - Will you join Paula and me?

12/2/2013

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Meet my friend Paula....

Last year for Advent Paula released her first devotional, Cherish This Christmas. I shared this and another Advent devotional with you yesterday here on the blog. Well, once again, Paula has found a way to help each of us draw closer to God and remember the reason for the season. This one won't cost you a penny, can be delivered to your inbox each morning, and will have you thinking about the "reason for the season" throughout the day and this entire month.

As I checked my mail last night I saw Paula's email in my inbox. I subscribe to her blog and enjoy reading them very much yet last night's title caught my attention, "Christmas Kindness Challenge". I was excited and intrigued. Since it was so late when I saw it, I didn't complete Day 1 so I'm adding it to my Day 2 things to do. I'm not going to skip it but instead, add it to today's challenge.

This is the type of fun challenges we all should accept, especially at this time of year. And you never know, after seven days of doing something it becomes a habit. What would happen in your chunk of the world if you signed up to receive Paula's "Christmas Kindness Challenge" blog series this month, you not only complete each challenge but made a list and revisited days of past. My hope and goal is to build on each challenge. I'll start with the current day's challenge and then go back and try to do the other day's challenges too. So initially by the time Christmas arrives I would be doing 25 random acts of kindness a day. I think this sounds fabulous and I accept your challenge Paula.

You might not be an overachieving first-born like myself so you might want to just do each days challenge and this will be wonderful too. If you are kidded for being the Grinch, then maybe this is just the challenge you need to recognize there is still so much good, caring, and joy left in this world. If you are thinking, "I don't do this kind of stuff. It's good for you but not me." then I challenge you to try at least one day and see how a smile creeps onto your face when you're not looking because you made someone else's day.

*There is a direct link to Paula's blog by clicking her picture, so you can "subscribe" to receive her blog directly in your inbox. Both challenges posted above are directly linked to Paula's blog too so you can read her insight and

Enjoy the days leading up to Christmas...
do you have a tradition in your home you would like to share?

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Forward>>

Keeping it Real...One Sister's Journey

A Blog for the "Cookie Exchange" ~ Part II

My Favorite: Betty Crocker Candy Cane Cookies

Will you share your favorite Christmas cookie recipe below?
If you have a link for a photo - feel free to include it.

A Blog for the "Cookie Exchange" - Part I

Do you partake in a cookie exchange during the holidays?
Is there something you do different or would like to add?
Leave a comment below.

TOP's Tuesday: A day at Baldwinsville Baptist

Has God ever forced you out of your comfort zone? How?

"Christmas Kindness Challenge" - Will you join Paula and me?

Categories

Archives

No Photographs, for any reason, from this site may be used without written permission from Lisa M Buske. Thank you for respecting this.

Writing with Buske

Keeping it Real...One Sister's Journey

A Blog for the "Cookie Exchange" ~ Part II

My Favorite: Betty Crocker Candy Cane Cookies

Will you share your favorite Christmas cookie recipe below?If you have a link for a photo - feel free to include it.

A Blog for the "Cookie Exchange" - Part I

Do you partake in a cookie exchange during the holidays?Is there something you do different or would like to add?Leave a comment below.

TOP's Tuesday: A day at Baldwinsville Baptist

Has God ever forced you out of your comfort zone? How?

"Christmas Kindness Challenge" - Will you join Paula and me?

Categories

Archives

No Photographs, for any reason, from this site may be used without written permission from Lisa M Buske. Thank you for respecting this.

Writing with Buske

Will you share your favorite Christmas cookie recipe below?
If you have a link for a photo - feel free to include it.

Do you partake in a cookie exchange during the holidays?
Is there something you do different or would like to add?
Leave a comment below.