Sunday, November 22, 2015

Christmas in Christmas Town -- Guest Vicki Delany #bookgiveaway

Today we welcome Vicki Delany to the blog, with a very special treat---and a giveaway! Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of REST YE MURDERED GENTLEMEN, the first in her new Year-Round Christmas Mysteries, out now!

It wouldn’t be Christmas without cookies.

The town of Rudolph New York is the setting for Vicki Delany’s new series, the Year Round Christmas mysteries. The first book, Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen, was released this month. Rudolph wants to be known as America’s Christmas Town and to the delight of the townsfolk a reporter for a big European travel magazine is in town to write an article on them. Excitement is high at the semi-annual (yes, they have two a year) post-Santa Claus parade reception in the town hall. The party is being catered by Vicky Casey, owner and chief baker of Victoria’s Bake Shoppe.  Vicky’s gingerbread is rapidly becoming a Rudolph institution as is her ginger cake and hot chocolate with ginger tonic. Also prominent at the party are Vicky’s special Molasses Spice cookies. 
Too bad someone slipped poison into the special cookie Vicky made for the special guest ... 

Vicki Delany’s Molasses spice cookies (poison not included)


·         2 cups all-purpose flour
·         1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
·         1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
·         1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
·         1/2 teaspoon salt
·         1 1/2 cups sugar
·         3/4 cup (6 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
·         1 large egg
·         1/4 cup molasses


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.


With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until a dough forms.




Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tablespoon. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat.



Arrange balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges of cookies are just firm, 10 to 15 minutes (cookies can be baked two sheets at a time, but they will not crackle uniformly). Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely.



Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers. Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen is her twentieth book, and the first in the Year Round Christmas cozy series from Berkley Prime Crime. Under the pen name of Eva Gates, she is the national bestselling author of the Lighthouse Library series, the latest of which is Booked for Trouble.  Vicki lives in Prince Edward County Ontario, and she is the current president of the Crime Writers of Canada.

Find Vicki at www.vickidelany.com. Twitter @vickidelany or Facebook: evagatesauthor

Vicki is offering a copy of REST YE MURDERED GENTLEMEN to one lucky reader (US  or Canadian addresses only). Please leave a comment by midnight, Monday, November 23, to enter. Vicki would love to know what your favorite holiday baking is. 

119 comments:

  1. I love making and eating all kinds of Christmas goodies! Even fruitcake!!

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    1. In case an email address is needed.
      mtrver@gmail.com

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  2. My holiday baking is cookies or cinnamon sugar pecans. I am always available to taste test when my friends try new recipes! Thanks for the chance!
    angelhwk68@yahoo.com

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    1. Sugared nuts are always great. And so easy to make. And to eat!

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  4. I enjoy baking desserts: pies, cakes, and snicker doodles. Thank you for the cookie recipe and for the giveaway.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. I love baking cookies for the holidays. Every year I try and collect new cookie recipes. Thanks for the giveaway. poohwine1217@gmail.com

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  6. Welcome, Vicki! Love the cookie recipe and the book sounds fabulous. My favorite baking recipe is for White Chocolate Blondies; but I make variations of blondies for every holiday (Pumpkin Blondies coming up for Thanksgiving). EMS591@aol.com

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  7. I just bought this book yesterday! Can't wait to read it!

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  8. I am the only one in my family who does not like fruitcake, and yet for some reason I am the only one who knows how to make it! My siblings insist that I bake each of them a fruitcake every year as they prefer mine to any other (I think it must be the Grand Marnier I use to soak the cakes), so this is my favorite holiday baking task because my family enjoys the results so much.

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    1. Cee, feel free to experiment on that recipe with me! I love fruitcake and Grand Marnier -- the combo sounds fabulous!

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  9. I would love to live in Rudolph as I am a year round Christmas lover.

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  10. Molasses Spice Cookies sound wonderful. I fear I am a cookieholic! Congrats on your delightful new series, Vicki!

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  12. A cookieholic. WHat a great word. Thanks, Krista.

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  13. I love cozies with bakeries in them. I really love this cookie rcipe, I have some molasses in my pantry and just might have to make them today since it is cold out and a good day to bake, looking forward to this new series. I love the Lighthouse Library series. dr(dot)oldsmobileaticloud(dot)com

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    1. These cookies also keep and store very well. I mail them to my daughter in BC and they survive the trip just fine.

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  14. I love molasses cookies!! (My waistline does not!) Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen is the next in line on my bookshelf! Looking forward to it!

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  15. I bake my moms jelly cookie recipe every year. I also try a new recipe each year.

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  16. Would love to win a copy of Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen. Thanks for the cookie recipe.

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  17. I make a ginger cookie that is different. I'll have to try yours. suefoster109@netzero.net

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  19. enjoy cozies with recipes. pwtish171@gmail.com

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  20. Recipe sounds yummy, book sounds even better! No bake peanut butter date balls is a must-make if I want my family happy.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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  21. We used to bake with the kids when they were little and our waistlines were smaller. These days our girls' do the baking with THEIR little ones. We are sent care packages to make sure we don't lose weight. LOL

    I'd love to add a copy of Rest Ye Murdered Gentleman to my personal home library.

    NoraAdrienne (at) gmail (dot) com

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  22. Oh my! Your asking me to pick a favorite holiday baking is? That's a difficult one. I'll just name some that I make every year: Brown Sugar cut out Sugar Cookies, Gingersnaps, Snickerdoodles, Reese's Peanut Butter Treats, Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies. dbahn@iw.net

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  23. We make homemade sugar cookies and everyone gets to use the cookie cutters and decorate them their own way. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book!! darholley1@aol.com

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    1. I love cut-out and decorated cookies, but these days maybe I'm getting a bit lazy!

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  24. Hello!
    I love all kinds of cookies... the more stuff the better!
    Kelly Braun
    Gaelicark@gmail.com

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  25. Hello!
    I love all kinds of cookies... the more stuff the better!
    Kelly Braun
    Gaelicark@gmail.com

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  26. Just the cookie I was looking for! Thanks for the recipe, am going to try this today. And thanks for the giveaway. I want to live in that town (without the murders, of course).
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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  27. Persimmon cookies are my favorite for holidays only because that's when they are ripe. lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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    1. Persimmon cookies?!!? Oh, my -- I think I'm in love!

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  28. I'm not baking very many things for Christmas this year--but I think I will try your cookie recipe.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  29. Recipe sounds great but the book sounds even better. Thanks for the chance to win
    doward1952@yahoo.com

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  30. My all time fave is walnut fudge........Hope to get the book!! rachaelabrams317@gmail,com

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  31. I love sugar cookies! Your recipe sounds great!
    Have been really wanting this book!!!
    littleone AT shaw
    DOT ca

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  32. Della at deepotter@peoplepc.com My grams used to make a molasses cookie that was chewy and spicy we loved them. Been ages since I'd even thought of that. Thanks for the memories and I am looking forward to giving them a try. Just showed the recipe to my daughter and she is all for it. Thanks.. And for the offer of the book as well. Looks most interesting and would love to read it.

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    1. Sorry. Almost forgot. Our thing was to make sugar cookies, Peanut Butter Fudge and Divinity and visit the assisted living and nursing homes in the area on Christmas Eve. It was a family thing for many years. The stories we heard. Such wonderful memories they had. We loved their stories. Some were heart breaking. Most were grand adventures. Della

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    2. What a lovely thing to do. And such great memories for you

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  33. This is very similar to my soft ginger cookies. It's my favorite during the holidays.
    bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

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  34. Nancy R in Ottawa - Hi Vicki, loved the book; gave a copy to my sister, who will read it on the plane next week as she heads for Christmas and winter in the Bahamas. Loved the cookie recipe too - it reminds me of the molasses cookies made by my mother in law in rural Nova Scotia (she put raisins in hers). Thanks for both the good reading and good eating!

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    1. Forgot to mention my favourite holiday baking - it's the traditional Plum Pudding made every year by my mother, now almost 93. Served warm, flaming with brandy, and either sugary hard sauce or creamy rum sauce.

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  35. Love Christmas stories and this one sounds great!
    jawdance@yahoo.com

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  36. Love making cookies. Would love to get a chance to read this book. I love reading Christmas novels.
    b5sycop@nefcom.net
    b5sycop at nefcom.net dot com

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  37. Growing up my mom made pies: apple for us kids and guests, and mincemeat (Yuck!) for my dad. She always made beautiful fluted edges and a holiday crust design on top. When I hosted my first Christmas gathering, I sent everyone home with a gift bag of homemade bagels and flavored cream cheeses... Fun! New to Christmas-themed cozies...this one is a "must read!" kat8762@aol.com

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    1. I LOVE mincemeat pies and tarts. I usually make a batch every year.

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  38. Love the cookies and the book would be a treasure. Thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  39. I love making sugar cookies!

    This sounds like a wonderful book!!!

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  40. The molasses spice cookie recipe sounds so good. Actually all the recipes do but that one sounds the best to me. I like how you noted poison not included LOL
    l.bergh@sbcglobal.net

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  41. This looks like a recipe for the cookie exchange!! Yummy! Thanks!

    davisel1830@hotmail.com

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  42. So many wonderful memories of holiday baking and eating! Thanks to Vicki for prompting the stories, and getting our mouths watering for cookies AND a new book!

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  43. The Molasses spice is delectable. Yum. What a delightful book too. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  44. I love making chocolate chip cookies with about everything but the kitchen sink in them--they are yummy! My family always requests my pumpkin cheesecake with bourbon and pecans ~ bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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  45. Thanks! I love Christmas stories and murder mysteries so it is a perfect match!
    -Aspen
    a.incashola@yahoo.com

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  46. Hi//Thank you for the wonderful recipe and so glad that you write murder mysteries also . It sounds just so good just like the cookies! ptclayton2@aol.com

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  47. The recipe sounds wonderful, and much like my mom's delicious molasses cookies. The book also sounds like a treat. As for a favorite holiday recipe, it is my mother-in-law's wonderful squash rolls which we still make for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanks for the fun chance to win!

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  48. Pies, biscuits, rolls, especially if someone else does the work!
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  49. For me it is not a cold weather holiday without peanutbutter thumbprint cookies with original Hershey kisses.

    wismomworks@gmail .com

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  50. I love baking sugar cookies and decorating them with my grandchildren. :)
    Thank you for the chance to win a copy of Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen.
    peggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net

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  51. One of those cookies, or maybe two or three, would taste perfect with the tea I'm drinking.

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  52. Molasses is a favorite of mine. I don't think many people today cook with it which is sad because they are missing out on a yummy taste.

    I love making cutout sugar cookies with my grandchildren using the cookie cutters passed down to my from my wonderful mother-in-law. Many of the cutters were handmade by my father-in-law. A real treasure!

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    1. How lucky you are to have hand made and handed down cookie cutters. My mom is still going strong, and still baking.

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  53. I am looking forward to reading this! I always loved participating in cookie swaps when my girls were younger. Also love making chex mix and honey chex mix. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Scouts579 (at) aol (dot) com

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  54. I love all types of holiday cakes and pies.

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  55. Is there a bad cookie? Love to make, share and eat all kinds!
    pattymarsh31@gmail.com

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  56. That sounds like an awesome book for my library! Thank you for the chance to win.

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  57. My favorite holiday baking is watching my husband bake. I don't cook so he does all the cooking. He makes a wonderful homemade chocolate pie ever year and fresh pumpkin pie.
    Jhdwayne(at)peoplepc(dot)com

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  58. Making walnut cookies with my sister and enjoying them with a good cup of coffee by the fireplace.
    diannekc8@gmail.com

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  59. I like to make chocolate pound cake. And I'd love to win your book.
    Karlene
    rebarger@bellsouth.net

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  60. I love reading mystery series. I look forward to starting this one. I start my holiday baking with pumpkin bread and then I try at least one new recipe each year. As family tastes and health restrictions change so do my recipes.

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    1. It's always nice to try something new, but I find at Christmas I like to stick with the old favourites!

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  61. I make a pumpkin pie cake for Thanksgiving every year. My family loves it. I make sugar cookies for the grandkids to decorate for Christmas. I like to make a variety of cookies such as gingerbread, oatmeal spice cookies cause these are my favorite. Your recipe looks delicious! This is one I will have to make. crossxjo (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  62. Pat (patdupuy@yahoo.com)November 22, 2015 at 4:19 PM

    Pralined pecans are yummy. I also like a bar cookie that is essentially shortbread with a lemon curd on top. I look forward to reading your new series.

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  63. I've been on the road, and am just chiming in now. Thanks so much everyone for your lovely Christmas baking memories.

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  64. My husband is the baker and I love the Christmas cookies he makes! Thanks for the chance to win!
    karen (dot) Kenyon (at) rogers (dot) com

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  65. I love baking gingerbread houses for my family to assemble and decorate with royal icing and lots of assorted candies. It's just not Christmas without them!

    dblaser(at)windstream(dot)net

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  66. Spritz cookies are my very favorite!

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

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    1. That's what I used to make with my mom when I was a girl, and then with my own children. Haven't made them now for a few years. I just might again. Thanks for the reminder.

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  67. Cookies. All kinds except peanut butter. ;)
    pmettert@yahoo.com

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  68. I love making filled cookies for Christmas.

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  69. Oops - and here's my email.
    rsgrandinetti at yahoo dot com

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  70. I love baking pies and cookies for Christmas.
    Lisa
    hseaside5@aim.com

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  71. Cookies of course

    gibsonbk at hiwaay dot net

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  72. Cookies. I love to share them

    kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net

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  73. Thanks for entering our contest everyone and for giving me a hint of what goes on in your Christmas kitchen.

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  74. Not baking much any more, now I read about baking! Looking forward to a new yummy series!

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  75. Thank you for the giveaway! My mom is a fabulous baker and she sends out dozens and dozens of cookies to family and friends this time of year. Everyone loves her apple pie but we usually have to cut a ton of apples because we eat so many of the pieces ourselves. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas! smmolloy1105@yahoo.com

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    1. Thanks Shannon. How great to have a baking Mom. I do too!

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  76. Now that we are in the Holidays I must try some of these wonderful baking recipes on this site. Lovely...and gain five pounds..heh...thanks for the giveaway the books sounds wonderful...Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  77. Absolutely LOVE this cover and title!! Sure the story is even more fun and expressive!! Can't WAIT! Fingers crossed for a win! My fav EASY holiday treat is Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge....I grew up standing over a stove, stirring the pot of sugar/milk with the pot sitting on top of a wire coathanger to keep it from scorching while waiting for it to form a soft ball when dripped into a measuring cup of cold water!! Now, all you have to do is dump, stir, zap, and add the peanut butter and vanilla and you've got gold on a plate!!! Sigh....gotta go make some NOW!

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  79. Absolutely LOVE this cover and title!! Sure the story is even more fun and expressive!! Can't WAIT! Fingers crossed for a win! My fav EASY holiday treat is Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge....I grew up standing over a stove, stirring the pot of sugar/milk with the pot sitting on top of a wire coathanger to keep it from scorching while waiting for it to form a soft ball when dripped into a measuring cup of cold water!! Now, all you have to do is dump, stir, zap, and add the peanut butter and vanilla and you've got gold on a plate!!! Sigh....gotta go make some NOW!

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  81. Absolutely LOVE this cover and title!! Sure the story is even more fun and expressive!! Can't WAIT! Fingers crossed for a win! My fav EASY holiday treat is Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge....I grew up standing over a stove, stirring the pot of sugar/milk with the pot sitting on top of a wire coathanger to keep it from scorching while waiting for it to form a soft ball when dripped into a measuring cup of cold water!! Now, all you have to do is dump, stir, zap, and add the peanut butter and vanilla and you've got gold on a plate!!! Sigh....gotta go make some NOW! Sorry if this gets duplicated....and thanks for the contest!!

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  82. Absolutely LOVE this cover and title!! Sure the story is even more fun and expressive!! Can't WAIT! Fingers crossed for a win! My fav EASY holiday treat is Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge....I grew up standing over a stove, stirring the pot of sugar/milk with the pot sitting on top of a wire coathanger to keep it from scorching while waiting for it to form a soft ball when dripped into a measuring cup of cold water!! Now, all you have to do is dump, stir, zap, and add the peanut butter and vanilla and you've got gold on a plate!!! Sigh....gotta go make some NOW! Sorry if this gets duplicated....and thanks for the contest!!

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  83. For my family the big dessert was pie. My Dad used to be the pie baker!

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  84. My favorite holiday baking is always the special cookies I make with my mom only at Christmas time - church windows, no bakes, pinwheels and russian teacakes! YUMMMM!!!! Thanks for the chance to win. I can't wait to read this book.
    awilcox1182@gmail.com

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  85. Oh, I love molasses cookies, this spiced one will be great for the holidays.
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  86. I love cookies, especially spiced ones. My favorite cookies are Swedish Christmas cookies made with cardamom.
    cindy226@gmail.com

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  87. I make a boiled raisin cake with nutmeg icing. It was a childhood favorite for my father so my aunt gave me her mothers recipe. It has become a Christmas staple because dads birthday is the 23rd. I thought it sounded awful but it's actually delicious!

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  88. And the winner is -- Amanda Wilcox! Congratulations, and thanks to all of you for joining in the fun!

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  89. My birthday was on Monday Nov 23 I will not be cooking for Thanksgiving but going out to dinner with my family. Besides that I'm a lousy baker.
    gloriawalshver@yahoo.com

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