Ciao, amici! Are you in the holiday spirit yet? I am. My daughter and her husband are coming home for Christmas, and I can’t wait to see them. Of course I’m making all her favorites (especially since she’s eating for two this year), so I started my baking a bit early.
I wish I had thought of this sooner, but I’m going to throw the idea out to you and see if you’re interested.
As I’m baking this weekend, I’m going to take photos of the steps as I go, then (of course) I’ll take a picture of the final product. Next Thursday, December 16, I will post on my blog the recipe and photos. If you’d like to join in, leave a comment below. On Thursday, you post your recipe and photos on your site. Message me the link in advance so I can have a master page with links to all our posts.
It’s not quite as good as a real cookie exchange would be, but we can all end up with a bunch of new recipes to try. Bonus if you share a story or tradition with your post.
Like I said, I’m sorry I didn’t think of this sooner. But I hope you think it’s a fun idea and want to join in. If I’m the only one, I’ll still post my recipe for you. And if we get a lot of participation, we could make this a yearly thing. Thoughts on that?
Anyway, those of you who are interested, say so below. I’ll start the master list.
Happy baking! Grazie!
Staci Troilo 
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Hi Staci,
Here’s my link. Will there be a separate post for tomorrow?
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Hi Staci, I am late to this party, but I can still do a post tomorrow. I need to start my Gingerbread house baking and can do some extra gingerbread men as well. It sounds like a lot of fun.
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Yay! I’d love that. I have the post ready to go. I just need your link. (And I ask that you link back to the master post.) I’ll message you about it. Thanks!
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Hi Staci, Here is my link: https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/robbies-inspiration-how-to-make-gingerbread-and-a-gingerbread-house/. I only managed to bake this afternoon. Thanks for the fun idea.
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I already grabbed it and added you. 🙂
The gingerbread looks delicious. Thanks so much for participating!
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Thank you, Staci. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.
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Thanks, Robbie. Same to you and yours!
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Sounds like so much fun, Staci, but I won’t be baking my almond biscotti till Monday, Dec. 20th. Today marks my final 2021 post on the Kill Zone, so I’m trying to do the same on my blog to free up time to prepare for the annual Christmas Eve celebration at our house. Looking forward to your Cookie Exchange post!
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Document your process with photos. You can participate next year. (I hope we do it again next year.)
I’m wrapping up for the year soon, too. Have a fabulous holiday!
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Thanks. Will do. Happy Holidays!!!
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A wonderful idea, Staci. I don’t bake (I’m such a grinch) but I’ll enjoy the virtual cookies. 🙂 Have fun with the family and Happy Holidays.
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You’re not the Grinch. You’re more like Little Cindy Lou Who. You’re just going to enjoy the season with the ones you love. Nothing wrong with that!
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LOL. Nope… Ms. Grinch. Every year, I can’t wait for January!
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Ugh. I dread January. And February. And at least half of March.
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Ha ha ha. That’s my best writing time. No distractions. 🙂
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I do get more writing done then. But everything else is so depressing.
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Great news! Congratulations to you, and also your daughter. Thank you in advance for sharing your baking experiences! Have a beautiful weekend, Staci! xx Michael
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Thanks, Michael. We all needed some good news, and adding a baby to the family is the best news I can think of.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Many thanks for sharing.
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How exciting that your daughter is eating for two!! Congratulations, Staci! My excitements were not too long ago so I remember each of the two of my daughter’s experiences.
My husband used to have a sweet tooth until his blood sugar level passed the borderline of pre-diabetic. He is super disciplined and takes only one or two bites of sweet/carb. I would like to experiment with one or two recipes and may take the cookies to the grandkids when I visit them for Christmas. I’ll let you know if I do. If I don’t bake, I’ll check out the other recipes.
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We do have to be careful about health issues. I admit I cheat quite a bit on the holidays. And with one of my kids coming home, I’m going a little overboard. Good for your husband for staying so careful.
If you do bake for the grand-kiddos, I’d love to include you. Just let me know.
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My mom was advanced diabetic. She lived to 90. I was with my sister in Vancouver, BC. The doctor in Hong Kong called my sister and asked if we wanted her foot to be amputated because the would didn’t heal. We just asked the doctor to increase the morphine for her. My husband knows the story.
I’ll let you know tomorrow. I think I found all the ingredients needed.
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I’m sorry about your mother. Those decisions are never easy.
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She had Alzheimer’s disease for years, probably didn’t know what happened. It was a hard decision for us.
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Hi Staci, I’ve learned something new to make chewy cookies. I’ll be baking next week and join you on the 16th.
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Yay! So glad you’re joining us!
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I’ll make the cookies today or tomorrow! It would be fun. Do you want me to post it on Thursday? I forgot your instruction.
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Yes, please. Post on Thursday. And if you send me your link in advance, I’ll have it on the master list when it goes live.
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I got the photos. Just need to finish writing the steps, and should be ready by tomorrow late afternoon around 5:00 p.m. PST. I’ll send you the link.
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I finally formatted my post yesterday, though I baked the cookies on the weekend. Can’t wait to see yours (and everyone else’s)!
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It sounds like you have a wonderful holiday coming up with family. Congrats on the future addition. I love baking and have been doing it all week. Not sure if I will post or not, but I am always looking for new recipes to try.
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Thanks. We’re all excited!
If you change your mind, let me know. Otherwise, there will at least be a few for you to try.
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My problem with baking cookies is that I eat them. All of them. 😉
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I understand that problem!
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😀 I’m glad I’m not the only Cookie Monster!
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Definitely not!
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😀
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So glad you are going to have your family over . . . and congrats on the upcoming addition. 🙂
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Thanks, Mark.
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Your idea already put a smile on my face!
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Glad to hear that! I hope you’ll consider participating.
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What a fun idea, Staci. Since I am getting together with two other authors this Sunday to bake cookies, I should be able to join in the fun!!
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Yay! Have fun baking! And by all means, invite your friends to participate. It would be great to include them.
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I will. Most likely, Rox Burkey will join in.
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I hope so!
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This does sound fun. I’m going to try to have at least one recipe ready. What a great idea, Staci!
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I’m so glad to hear that! Happy baking! And please feel free to extend the invitation to your friends. The more, the merrier. 🎄
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Mine is all set and my link will be:
https://wp.me/p9U47P-4fV
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I’m going to be like most everyone else. I think it’s a wonderful idea, but… I’m still out pirating.
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Tours are time-consuming. Maybe next year. (But this year, I hope you follow along. You might find a cookie or two you’d like to sample at home.)
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I’ll be there, no doubt.
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You wouldn’t be able to see my efforts for the smoke billowing around the kitchen, but great idea! And congrats on your upcoming grandbaby- squeeeee!
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For some reason, I thought you were (as my grandmother would say) “for the kitchen.” I thought you liked cooking and baking. I hope someone brings you cookies. We wouldn’t want to disappoint Santa! In the meantime, you’re certainly welcome to follow the tour. Maybe you’ll find a recipe you’d be willing to attempt.
Thanks for the congratulations. I’m so excited!
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I don’t know that I’ll be able to bake (used to do tons of Christmas cookies), but for sure I’ll be around to look at the recipes. This is a great idea. I hope it becomes an annual event.
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I hope it does, too. If I’d thought of it sooner and given people more time, maybe more people would be interested. Still, I hope the number continues to grow over the next week. And if you decide to bake something, just send me the link!
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Will do! 🙂 Would it count if I let John bake them? LOL (He’s the chief cook around the house these days.)
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Absolutely! Just take pics and write up the post. I’m happy to shine the spotlight on anyone willing to roll up his or her sleeves.
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Sounds like you have some taking part Staci.. and will share in the Blogger weekly going out tomorrow.. a great idea.. xx
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At least a few. Hopefully we can find more. Thanks so much for sharing, Sally. And there’s always room for more if you choose to participate!
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Love this idea, but I’m sort of buried right now. Not sure I’ll find time to bake, but I’m sure interested in your recipes. Congratulations on your daughter’s visit and on your upcoming little one!
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If you change your mind, you know where to find me. Otherwise, enjoy the tour.
Sorry you’re buried right now. I hope your load lessens soon.
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Thank you. I’ll try to squeeze in a batch of cookies. I love them!
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I’m with John, this sounds like a fun idea, but I’m not a baker… I will take a look at all the pictures though 🙂
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If Mrs. Quincy bakes, she’s welcome to take your spot. Otherwise, enjoy the posts!
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it’s not really her thing either 🙂
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I guess it’s store-bought for Santa at your house. (John’s, too.) No shame in that. Santa is an equal-opportunity-cookie-eater. 😀
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store bought, or rely on others 🙂
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If you weren’t on the other side of the state, I’d make a tray for you.
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This is a great idea, Staci. I won’t bake, but I’ll visit! I can’t eat all those cookies alone!
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I wouldn’t be baking as much as I am if my daughter wasn’t coming home. But I’ll make trays for a few friends and neighbors. I don’t want all these sweets in my freezer. Too tempting!
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It sounds like a lot of fun. I won’t be around next Thursday (spending a girls’ day with a friend), but what a clever idea! If it becomes a yearly event, hopefully I can participate next year. I’m not the best baker, but I have a few recipes I manage to pull off, LOL!
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Even if you can’t comment on Thursday, you’re welcome to post and join. Or just follow along and we’ll catch you next year (if this catches on). Have fun with your friend!
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I’m not a baker, but I will certainly look forward to your post. Great idea, Staci. This could be an annual event.
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Mrs. Howell is welcome to take your place! Either way, I do hope you enjoy the exchange.
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Do Costco chocolate chip cookies count?
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🤣
If you want to write instructions on how to get them, I suppose. We’re not all bakers, after all.
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That’s pretty funny.
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Great idea, Staci – count me in!
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Yay!
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I’d love to participate. I have several ideas.
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Great! We’ll have to coordinate. I know we bake many of the same things, and there’s no point in having duplicates if we can avoid it.
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This is so clever, Staci. I’ll have to think about this tasty offer a bit. 😊
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I hope we get a big turnout. And I’d love to have you as part of it. 🙂
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