Speaking of cookies, do you exchange with neighbors, bake only for family, or

JUST CLICK ON THE NAME OF THE COOKIE AND BAM, THE RECIPE IS THERE. GOOD TO KEEP HANDY FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

Creme DE Menthe Chocolate Squares

Cream Wafers

Crescent Cookies

Crispy Crunchies

Date Nut Balls

Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies

Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies

Disgustingly Rich Brownies

Doodles

Double chocolate chip cookies

Double-Chocolate Crinkles

Eatmore Cookies

Eggnog Cookies

Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies

Elves Quick Fudge Brownies

Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

Emily's Best Brownies

Famous Oatmeal Cookies

Firemen Cookies

Fluffy Shortbread Cookies

Forgotten Cookies

Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies

Fruit Cake Cookies

My all time fave.....chocolate and peanutbutter no bake cookies. To die for!!!! nm
nm
exchange it for something you DO like..sm
see, this is why I don't like the Christmas holiday...so many expectations and so many disappointments. So much hoopla for nothing in return. Some people got nothing for Christmas *Me*, so how would you like THAT?
we don't exchange gifts either
We stopped exchanging gifts about 30 years ago. When my husband and I first approached the subject, we met with some resistance, but we stood our ground and said we would not be buying gifts. My husband is the oldest in a family of 7. By the time they all married and had children, the number could have been quite staggering to buy for. I was a surprise baby, my sisters being greater than 11 years older than I am, so when they began their families I was too young to buy anything to buy for them and so never started doing so. Now both of our families agree the holidays are much more enjoyable without the stress of the gift buying, worrying about what to get, how much, will the like it, can I afford it, etc., etc. The true gift of Christmas is the love we feel for our families and all we ask is time with them, and everyone agrees on this. We usually bake or take small treats to the families are who have misfortune of spending Christmas at the Ronald McDonald House in our city due to the illness of a child. Often the other kids in the family (the healthy ones) get lost in the shuffle of caring for a child with cancer. There is no gift one can give as great as giving and bringing joy to a family in such a situation. Anyway, my point is that there may be others in the family who will feel the same way, that it is just too stressful, and you may find that they will appreciate the holidays much more if the gift stress is taken out of the equation.
I should add here, I do buy something for my own children but usually one or two things and my grandchildren because, after all, Santa still comes (!) and I do think Christmas gift giving is for children. Watching my little ones open is a gift a truly a fun thing to do and makes me happy. I do ask my kids not to buy for me or my husband because they have young families and can't afford the extra money. I have always told them I would rather they spend time with me any day then go out and buy a gift.
No, but that's because I didn't exchange,

We exchange names, so we don't have to give many, but
this year DH and I drew my parents. Since it is a couple's draw, it gives you the freedom to spend $100 on the couple or $50 for each. Well we got nice sheets in the color they wanted, from the store they wanted, got mom a pretty silky nightgown and robe she could pack easily, and got Dad the digital tire gauge with the big readout he wanted. So they each had one to open and then a couple gift. They seemed pleased, especially about the sheets.
christmas gift exchange again sm

Our family has always picked names for Christmas and bought only for that person. The limit is supposed to be $25. You know how hard it is to just spend $25 especially on someone that basically has everything. In the past this had just included the adults in their 40s and 50s. Of course one felt obligated to buy the teenagers and younger children something. I'm single with no kids. Last year I spent close to $200 on Christmas. I really couldn't afford it last year, absolutely cannot afford that this year.

This year my SIL presented the idea of a low cost gift or gift card (my mother hates gift cards) and playing the game of picking a number, then picking a gift, etc. Well my other brother and his wife, who are well off, and my mother decided they didn't want to do that and also now want to include the teenagers and young adults (20s) in the gift exchange. I told my mom I don't want to participate. I can't afford it. "Its only $25 they say. Aren't you making any money?" Well its never "just" $25 and what can I buy a teenager that has everything for $25? They turned up their noses on the small gifts I gave them in the past. I also don't want others to spend more than $25 on me when I could only afford $25. I already feel inferior about my financial status in comparison to my siblings and I feel the best thing for me is to not participate. What's the problem? I really loathe Christmas anymore. No one really appreciates any gifts they are given and I don't want to participate anymore. I guess I'm antisocial. Why can't we just have a family dinner and forget about the gifts? Thanks for letting me vent.

How to tell a friend not to exchange gifts?
I have a very dear friend who lives on the opposite coast from me. We have exchanged birthday and Christmas gifts since I moved 10 years ago. Any ideas on a kind way to tell her I no longer want to do this? She *seems* to enjoy it, but I am not certain. I no longer know what her decorating needs/wants are anymore, and even though we meet somewhere once a year for vacation, I really do not have a grasp on her fashion preferences (vacation = shorts and T-shirts). And vice versa. Plus it can cost quite a bit mailing a box of gifts. I value time with my friend--in person and on the phone or e-mailing--and do not want to hurt her feelings in any way. So, what do you think?
Need ideas for a GUY and GIRL gift for x-mas exchange
anywhere from $25-70...any ideas would be appreciated...
My son had a white elephant gift exchange
at his youth Christmas party. He got a can of beenie-weenies. He was like "Totally cool". LOL!
my mom too used wax paper to bake for 40 yrs
.
Should I bake my stuffing now? sm
I have to work TK, so I'm doing as much ahead as possible. I assembled the stuffing last night (cornbread stuffing, no meat, just the usual ingredients). Will it 'keep' better if I bake it now and rewarm on TK or is it safe to wait until Thursday? Thanks.
I wish I had the time to bake
I'm lucky if I get the bake and slice cookies that we decorate.
Search Bake-able paints...
Here is one site with some info Carol Duvall.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_painting_other/article/0,,HGTV_3284_1371184,00.html

What is your pattern name on back? I bought a magnolia pattern several years ago, actually paied $72 for an 8 piece setting from ABC Distributing. Gold trim with wine and hunter green stripe on outside with pinecones, magnolias and Berries, Magnolia pattern from Tienshan China. Curious if it is same set. Later I meb my best friend of 10 years now. We are so much alike and were stunned to know that we had the same set of china. Identical pattern. The only difference was that hers had a gold, wine and then deep blue band where mine was green. Hers also cost several hundred dollars and was a Savannah pattern or something of the like. What if you got a solid color gravey boat other than white, to match the set and maybe trimmed it with gold. Would still like to know that pattern.
Bake like a regular potato
They are good if you make them just like a regular baked potato too and just add butter, salt, and pepper. My husband also grilled them in foil this summer with butter and just a touch of brown sugar and they were great. I do not like the canned, fresh are MUCH better and less sweet from the start. I also saw a recipe for sweet potato chips in the oven. I haven't tried it yet and can't remember where I found the recipe but I'm sure you can Google it.
Bake a ham and pour pineapple during sm
the last 20 minutes of baking, or donate it to a food bank.
Any people from New Orleans that bake pecan pie?
The reason I ask this is my new housekeeper brought me a pecan pie about 2 or 3 days ago. I love pecan, ate if all my life but I could never eat anything else she or her partner fix- I was told they had baked 30 something pies the day she brought this one over. I ate some last night and liked to have died- my tongue is red and beefy like, sore even, raised taste buds, some whitish and then on the mucous membranes right inside my mouth it make bump like places there. Anyone who is from there- can you tell me perhaps an ingredient that goes into them other than the normal, that being the syrup, nuts, flavoring, etc. I feel sorry for the other people who paid for these. Tried to find Benadryl last night as thought maybe this could quiet these problems down. Thanks!
Actually, we bake cornish hens with wild rice.
Glaze is made with melted butter, brown sugar, worcestershire sauce.
Cheesy pork chop and potato bake-- YUM!
Although, b-fast does sound mighty good. I am preggo, and eggs sound good absolutey any tme!!
Can someone tell me what temperature you bake cod fillets at in the oven and for how long. It is
about 1-1/2 pounds. I have a hard time with fish knowing when it is done. Do you put it on a baking sheet. I want just plain old fish just butter and lemon on it.
Anyone bake & decorate cakes a lot? Can you give me some tips? sm

I am working on a 12 inch round extra deep cake and another deep 8 inch top layer. Does anyone have advice on making sure deep layer cakes cook evenly?

Does anyone have any tips on decorating with fondant? Particularly getting things like long stripes to stay fairly solid when placing, and how to get fondant roses to keep their shape. I'd really appreciate it - thanks!

Family is great but I am never back in my hometown where family is... So I always have extended fami
You can always pick your friends your stuck with your family. An Xmas for me is where my husband and kids come home to. It is what you make it!
od'd on cookies
My uncle makes Kiflis, Hungarian powdered sugar nut cookies, and I ate about 2 dozen within the past week...I only get them once a year, though. Told MD we can't check the cholesterol until Feb. now!!!
cookies
I would make sugar cookies with Christmas cut outs and the kids would put frosting and spinkles on them. They really loved it.
Summer. Friends or family? Family. Tired or Awake?
x
Now he wants to do N-shaped cookies nm
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Sugar Cookies

Is anyone out there a good baker? Looking for a good recipe for the B I G sugar cookies, not those small ones you can buy, slice and bake at the store. I think some also call them sour cream cookies . . . not sure. They are about 3 inches round and maybe 1/2 inch high. You can top them with icing or sprinkles or colored sugars. Thanks in advance.

Sugar cookies
Thank you! I will try this very soon. Sounds Yummy!!!!
Lofthouse cookies (NM)
x
cookies...quite a list..

This will get you in an early holiday mood.... and if you don't bake...send the list to someone as a big hint!!!

JUST CLICK ON THE NAME OF THE COOKIE AND BAM, THE RECIPE IS THERE. GOOD TO KEEP HANDY FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

1-2-3 Cookies

7 Layer Cookies

Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies

Almond Crescent Shortbread

Amish Sugar Cookies

Andies Candies Cookies

Angel Crisps

Angenets

Applesauce Cookies

Apricot Fold-Overs

Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles

Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems

Bakeless Dream Cookies

Banana Drop Cookies

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World

Biscotti

Biscotti

Blueberry Cookies

Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies

Bronwnies

Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies

Brownie Delight

Brownies

Buccaneer Snowballs

Buried Cherry Cookies

Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls

Butterballs

Butterscotch Haystacks

C.O.P. Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies

Caramel Shortbread

Cheesecake Brownies

Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks

Chewies Chewy Noels

Chinese Chews/Haystacks

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Meltaways

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

Chocolate Christmas Trees

Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares

Chocolate Crinkles

Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake)

Chocolate Snowball Cookies

Chocolate Streusel Bars

Chocolate Sundae Cookies

Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars

Choco-Scotch Crunchies

Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe

Christmas Crackers

Christmas Crunch Bars

Christmas Ginger Snaps

Christmas Macaroons

Christmas Mice Cookies

Christmas Shaped Cookies

Church Window Cookies

Coconut Cookies

Congo Squares

Cookie in a Jar

Corn Flakes Cookies

Cornflake Christmas Wreaths

Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal)

Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling

Creme DE Menthe Chocolate Squares

Cream Wafers

Crescent Cookies

Crispy Crunchies

Date Nut Balls

Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies

Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies

Disgustingly Rich Brownies

Doodles

Double chocolate chip cookies

Double-Chocolate Crinkles

Eatmore Cookies

Eggnog Cookies

Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies

Elves Quick Fudge Brownies

Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

Emily's Best Brownies

Famous Oatmeal Cookies

Firemen Cookies

Fluffy Shortbread Cookies

Forgotten Cookies

Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies

Fruit Cake Cookies

Christmas cookies, etal.....

Sorry, Have to click on www.northpole.com

wrapping cookies cheap.
Are they being mailed?? If so, wrap them in plastic wrap and then foil and put them in Pringle's Potato Chip tins. This works great for care packages going to Iraq.
Doesn't that just frost your cookies?
Frosted mine, anyway.

Every feasible thing except a volcano raining lava down on my house has happened this month to suck every spare penny out of me, and I'm not counting CHRISTMAS (THERE! I said the evil word!) expenses. I just get in from snow shoveling for the gazillionth time and finally got a chance to open the mail. After the electric bill darn near killed me, I open a bill from the prodigal son's university. Son goes to state univ., but not in our state. Here's the cost for 2007/2008:

Out-of-State Tuition: $21,770/year
Mandatory Fees: $2,260/year
Room and Board: $6,204/year
TOTAL: $30,234/year

Books, meal plans, health insurance, etc. not included. He gets lots of financial aid, though.

The bill for spring semester was due a couple of weeks ago and has been paid. I just received another bill, as I do every semester right after tuition is paid, for the following:

Course Fee #1: $15.00
Course Fee #2: $10.00
Photocopying Fee: $15.00

Course fee? Wouldn't you think that $21,700 for tuition ought to cover that? Photocopying fee?? I can buy a whole package of paper at Staples for $7.00. How much paper/ink/electricity does it take to make a photocopy? $15 worth? Over 14,000 students are enrolled there. That's $210,000 charged for photocopying fees/semester, $420,000/year.

How does one get into the photocopying business?

Girl Scout cookies are here!

I love Girl Scout cookies!

They are $4 a box this year. I always tell the little girls they were 50 cents a box when I sold them and they look at me like, okay, old lady, just buy the cookies.

Girl Scout Cookies
My daughter is a Girl Scout so we bought quite a few boxes. I love the thin mint and could probably eat a whole box myself in one day. They're $3.50 here, but every year I swear the cookies get smaller and smaller.
sneakers. Cookies or cake?
x
Chocolate chip cookies! Who needs anything else? -nm

Big difference between family values and family jewels, eh? lol
LOL. I love this show. I think Gene and Shannon and her sister are a riot! What characters. It really is amazing to me the kids seem so laid back and so normal. They seem like great kids.
Does your family still do the early Sunday dinner w/family?
s
Nutmeg muffins, cookies, cake
xx
cookies, home made pizza..sm

Go to the www.pamperedchef.com web site and find your stone under products. They will give recipes.

Is the flat stone? Cookies come out beautiful, Frozen french fries or tater tots, make your own pizza using frozen bread dough.. there are more options if you have the stone with the sides.

peanut butter kiss cookies
I sent you an e-mail. Sorry mine didn't go through:( Good luck and have fun!!
Pack the cookies in more than 1 reusable container with lots of wax
s
Click on the kitchen, Claus' cookbook, then cookies.
s
I know..that is why the inside of my post says staff is getting cookies/candy..nm
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How to find Girl Scout cookies where you live

http://www.girlscoutcookies.org/

The above link will locate you nearest GS Council. If you call them you can either order your cookies directly from here or contact your local council.

Good Luck and Happy Cookie eating.

Bologna sandwich with chocolate chip cookies. ew sm
and of course can't forget my daughter eating green beans with ketchup (they are like French fries mom!)
Their scoops are GREAT. I have perfectly shaped cookies all the time now. (sm)
I have had this scoop about 8 years now and wouldn't give it up for the world.

Also have a stone I use quite a lot. Great to get that crispiness on something without having to fry it in grease.

Their stuff is a little high dollar, but the quality is great and if you have a party yourself you can get quite a bit of stuff for yourself.

At least go and enjoy. I love Pampered Chef parties.

SIL family, us and another family snacked,played
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Any ideas on how to attractively wrap a dozen cookies and/or brownies cheaply?

I have a large quantity of these to do and could use any tips and advice. Thanks.

I wish I had more neighbors like you!...sm
You obviously have a good heart and good intentions. I'm also a sort of paranoid person but not to things like that. Every year, I mail Christmas cards to our families and only get a few. DH's family doesn't ever send out cards. I always say I'm done doing cards, but then what would that prove? That is me and I won't change me. I want my kids to grow up and do the same. Don't change. And I also believe in karma!