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Monday, November 29, 2010

Cookie Swap! by Lauren Chattman

I saw advertisements for Cookie Swap! at the Book Expo this past May and knew it was one that I would be highly interested in utilizing during the holiday season. Cookies?! Yes, please. Thanks to Workman Publishing, I had an opportunity to read (and, ahem, bake) my way through it.

What makes Cookie Swap! a complete delight when it comes to discussing cookie swaps and learning new cookie recipes?

Written by Lauren Chattman, I love that she approaches this book by explaining the joys, the glories and the community that cookie swaps can unite and bring together. This book wasn't written by someone who has never done a cookie swap before and has many good, practical tips for how to pull off a successful cookie swap. By the way, thought it 'tis the season to be baking and giving, Chattman doesn't limit the ideas of cookie swaps to the holiday season only. She offers ideas, tips and suggestions for how to have a cookie swap for a baby or bridal shower, a birthday party, a summer gathering or a "just-for-the-fun-of-it" type of event.

Chattman offers numerous planning tips for how to host such a party and I particularly valued her advice in this department. Her advice is common sense, but it is stuff that I wouldn't necessary have thought through on my own (i..e, how to figure out how many cookies to ask people to bring, how to lay them out and plan ahead for take-home containers, etc.) With full colored photographs and full page spreads of photos, it is easy to catch her drift.

This book is not only about how to plan a cookie swap party however. Oh no, my friends! In this book you will find a terrific number of cookie recipes, ranging from your traditional peanut butter sort to more imaginative varieties like the gingerbread chocolate chip cookie or the chocolate and peppermint bark cookies. (Note of warning: if you make the chocolate and peppermint bark cookies, you will want to eat more than one. Don't ask me how I know this!) There are recipes for sandwich cookies, bars and even crackers.

Another excellent thing to note about this book is that she offers freezer tips as well for each recipe, telling you at what point you can freeze the dough and how long each recipe will save for without going "stale." I really like those notes in particular.

Cookie Swap! is a cookie baking treasure chest and I think it's a wealth of fabulous information.

Therefore I am tremendously pleased to announce that Workman Publishing offered a giveaway copy to one of my readers here at Reading to Know. Would you care to win? (Pshaw! How could you say no?) Simply leave a comment below. This contest is open to U.S. Residents only and will be open through this coming Sunday, December 5th.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER (as selected by random.org) is #4 - Olive's mum. CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you Workman Publishing! And to the rest of you - Merry Christmas and HAPPY BAKING this season!

37 comments:

Annette W. said...

I was invited to my first cookie swap this year! (later in December)

I'm in!

And I blogged about your week of giveaways!

Jennifer said...

I ♥ cookies!

Thanks for the chance.

transformedgeneration[at]hotmail[dot]com

Anne said...

I love hosting cookie swaps! So much fun with friends and yummy recipes to learn! Would love more tips and ideas!

Olive's mum said...

I would love to win. I need this boo :-)

BubblesandMoney said...

this sounds like a fantastic book. I love to make cookies with my children and then give lots of them away!

Dani said...

Sounds great ... my inlaws are starting what they hope will be a traditional cookie swap each year.

Annette W. said...

I blogged too!

Amy R said...

Sounds like a great book ... my Bible Study group has a cookie swap for Christmas!

Sky said...

What fun!

Sherry said...

We love cookie-baking around here! This one sounds like it's full of fun ideas.

cre8sld@comcast.net

jen said...

Such fun giveaways-
thanks!

artandjen at juno dot com

Krista said...

I am going to a cookie swap in 3 weeks... this would be nice if it could get here in time! ;)
Can you believe I've never been to one before?

Gerry Dee said...

Fun and something I could use!

Lisa said...

I've never done a cookie swap before, but, um, I love cookies. :)

Heather VanTimmeren said...

Yum! I've participated in cookie swaps before, and I'd love to see the ideas and recipes in this book!

debbie said...

I would love to have this. I would like to try some new recipes this year.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker said...

I've always wanted to host a cookie swap--this would help!

Bluerose said...

I would love to be entered! :)

bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

Alison said...

I plan on baking and decorating Christmas cookies with M this year. I've never been a cooking baker so it should be interesting! Maybe this book would be helpful to me. ;-)

justpeachy36 said...

I love baking, especially during the holiday season.

Please enter me in the giveaway.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

apple blossom said...

my teenager loves baking cookies. she'd love it if I won this thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Pamela said...

Lover of books--any genre! Even write some of my own. :-)

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

Oh, I could've used this to prepare for a cookie swap this coming weekend! I love to bake (and eat, unfortunately) cookies, so sign me up!

Angel said...

This looks like such a fun book!

Kaizen Fashion Project said...

I would LOVE to win! Thanks!

heatheranne99 at gmail dot com

Kaizen Fashion Project said...

Blogged about your week of giveaways!
http://vintagefabulous.blogspot.com/2010/12/book-review-of-christmas-giveaways-at.html

Extra entry!

heatheranne99 at gmail dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I love cookies, so I know I would enjoy this book. I've never participated in a cookie swap, maybe it's time.

seriousreader at live dot com

MaureenT said...

I bake all the time, but have never participated in a cookie swap. Thanks for this giveaway!


alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Kelly Massman said...

I would love to win! Thanks!
kmassmanATgmailDOTcom

MaMa said...

Please enter me! I'd love to host a cookie swap this year & this book would really be nice to have. Thanks for hosting!
Lisa
mistyfuji (at) yahoo (dot) com

Unknown said...

This sounds awesome, I'm baking a bunch of cookies for church and this book would come in handy! Thanks for the chance into this giveaway.

unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail.com

Katie said...

Sounds like a great book for holiday baking!

schroederkatie at comcast dot net

holdenj said...

This looks like a really useful tool for mass cookie exchanges! Some co-workers have already begun experimenting with new recipes and all have been good so far! Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

I'd love to try some of these recipes.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Cathy W said...

Sounds yummy!

Charlotte Kay said...

I LOVE to bake!
Please enter me in this giveaway!
Thanks so much,
Charlotte
chakasa58 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would so love to win this! it would help out with our cookie making this year
trishbazin(at)yahoo.com

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