Sunday, Jan. 29th, noon Pacific time~ BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNERS: Edie, Pegg, Bethany, Jen, Wendy, and Kelly!! Yes, I doubled the winners because y'all left so many wonderful comments (confessions!). Thank you and do continue to stop by--we'll be having more of this fun!
Hi. My name is Candace . . . and I have a gingerbread habit.
Seriously. I always suspected it. From way back, when I first empathized with that fox in that Gingerbread Man story. A warm-from-the-oven spice cookie (riding on your back as you cross a river), who wouldn't be tempted? Totally understandable. Especially with that cookie's smug teasing: "Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me . . ."
Yeah well. Fox couldn't resist. And me either. I make 'em, frost them, personalize them for guests. Which all falls quite legitimately under the heading of Holiday Festivities. Innocent, generous, possibly even admirable. But . . . (cue the musical dark interlude)
Digging around in the depths of the garage freezer to find the zip lock with the last spice man hints at a serious gingerbread habit. If a person actually "hid" it there herself, furthers the suspicion. That she found it and ate it still frozen: proof.
There, I've greeted the new year with a clean slate. (And ziplock). Phew, what a relief. I feel better already.
So . . . I thought I'd extend that same good feeling to YOU as well.
C'mon, let's have some silly fun:
What was your holiday 2011 goody temptation?
You know you had one . . . right? Chocolate? Peppermint mochas? Pumpkin cheesecake?
Share it here, now. And . . .
I'll put your name in a drawing for a book giveaway: A signed and personalized copy of any one of my Mercy Hospital books (Critical Care, Disaster Status, Code Triage) OR a copy of Chicken Soup Best Stories of Faith OR a "surprise" inspirational fiction novel of my choice (from my grab bag of great authors). You don't need to specify your choice now, we'll do that after the drawing.
I'll randomly draw the three winning names on Sunday, January 29th. Be sure to leave your e-mail address so that I can contact you if your name is drawn.
(As a recovering gingerbread addict), I look forward to hearing your comments.
Meanwhile, back to a new year regime of exercise, lower carbs . . . the occasional cinnamon laced coffee. No gingerbread man on my back. No sir.
Til at least a week after Thanksgiving.
56 comments:
I made wedding cookies & love them with coffee or tea, due to bad weather I had a tin of them leftover so I froze them thinking that would make it harder on me to eat too many, well like you that didn't work & I ended up eating them frozen too. You're right I do feel better since sharing that.:)
Wilma
wilmamet6(at)gmail(dot)com
Chocolate covered peanut butter balls or maybe its the chocolate covered whoopie pies or wait maybe its just simply chocolate covered anything :)
Jen
jking23@kent.edu
LOL, Wilma--it does feel better to come clean on a goody temptation!
And (oh yeah!) in my opinion wedding cookies (or russian tea cakes as we sometimes call them) might even taste better frozen. Not that I've tried that . . . And I also like that they are small enough to pop in your mouth whole. Not that I'd do that . . .
Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Jen, ooh chocolate and PB. I made these incredible (and easy) goodies this year: honey wheat pretzel sticks dipped in a melted mix of chocolate and peanut butter. Scrumptious!
Thanks for sharing.
My weakness each year is my home made fudge. I use the excuse that I need to taste test each batch I make so I can actually eat it, with a good reason. Occassionally i will share the fudge pot with my husband, that's only if he is home when I make it.
Carol
catlady@Hoefs.biz
Brenda: chocolate pie. Absolutely. Can't be any leftovers.
Though (wink) frozen might be fun . .
My grandma again this year made Cherry Almond Tarts...and I couldn't stop going back for just one more and then one more:-) My uncle said (around a mouth full) that's its a little taste of heaven!:-)
She also made the saltine cracker candy with chocolate & caramel!!!!...I think I dreamed of eating that in my sleep!! So yummy!!!
Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Cheese Pie, Pumpkin, Pumpkin anything pumpkin!!!!
Lourdes11743[at]gmail[dot]com
Carol: fudge, of course!
I laughed at your comment about your hubby--imagining mine sitting here with a cookie dough bowl, spoon,beaters . . . and a smile.
Ashley: omigoodness, sounds like "heaven" indeed. On both counts. Yummy, yummy. Thank you for sharing!
Lourdes: I totally agree about pumpkin. I even wrote a Pumpkin Spice Latte into the second book in my new series (Rescue Team).
Thank you for joining us here!
candace! how fun! we have a gingerbread seasonal addiction at my house too! homemade gingerbread dough is sinfully delicious, and a warm-from-the-oven cookie beats cake any day of the week. i frost them too, but haven't thought about personalizing them too much...mainly just traditional lines. but very fun to see we have this in common. :)
blessings to you this year!
jeannie
the character therapist
Reese's Pieces!! They are in the snack machine at work and are my guilty pleasure. I am trying to stop eating them. But whenever I see them in the machine I hear them calling me - Ann, Ann, you know you want us.
Ann
streetcrew@comcast.net
This year, my goody temptation was old-fashioned molasses cookies. Sugar-coated, soft and chewy, ginger/clove/cinnamon-spiced yumminess with a bite. Mmmmm. Think I'll make a batch now!
Goody temptation?! As always, anything CHOCOLATE! Cookies, cakes, pies, candy (or maybe that should be Kandi ~ hee hee). I put cocoa in my coffee to make my mochas. Dip pretzels in to chocolate. My friend, Beth, even makes chocolate covered potato chips and they are delicious! Word of warning ~ you need to use the thick, kettle cooked type or they don't hold up under the weight.
I have to say that this past Christmas, however, I had a second "temptation"... Cookies! I felt like Cookie Monster and had to keep checking to see if I was turning blue!
Kandi
kandimamaof5@yahoo.com
Chocolate anything!! especially peppermint hot chocolate!!
Beth Gillihan
rbgillihan@gmail.com
My weakness is Russian tea cakes. I wish you never mentioned this challenge. Now I can't stop thinking about their buttery, walnutty, powdered sugary flavor. Sigh.
Chocolate peppermint fudge. I only make it at Christmas time because... well... I *can't* leave it alone!
twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com
I have been on a mini Heath Bar kick. I suck the chocolate off, then love the toffee! I can literally go through the bag full. But I also have a Wintergreen Lifesavers fetish on the side!
Edie Creel
creelcamping@yahoo.com
I only indulged twice. Two favorites: 1) Eggnog Fatboy ice cream sandwiches, 2) the best ever decadent bowl of ice cream - eggnog, pumpkin and chocolate cappuccino. Sprinkle with a little freshly grated cinnamon and nutmeg, top with a dollop of whipped cream (okay it was a serious squirt from the can). I dipped shortbread cookies in the bowl. I'm so into using my workout DVDs now.:)
Ah yes, Russian Tea Cookies though I usually make them with pecans rather than walnuts.
And Peppermint Mochas. I tried to mostly order the skinny version, but it didn't taste anywhere near as good.
My worst offense though has been in the last two weeks. Tina Radcliffe posted a recipe for an Italian cookie called Likamias. It's chocolate and coconut and oatmeal and so easy to make. Sadly I'm addicted.
If you want to be too, here's her recipe -
http://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/search/label/Tina%20M.%20Radcliffe
omigoodness, I'm going to have to pass around a platter of steamed kale and some mineral water--and have us all drop down and do 50 pushups! (wink)
I'm having SO much fun reading your answers. LOVE it!
Jeannie, SO great to see you here--and totally tickled that we share the gingerbread weakness. I even keep an artsy
faux gingerbreadman hanging on my kitchen wall. Because it looks great against the red paint and, well . . . because it's gingerbread! :-)
Ann: Oh yeah, there's that chocolate and PB combo rearing its head again!
Diana: MMM. I think we agree that molasses cookies and gingerbread are kissing cousins.
Kandi: LOL, turning blue! I had to cover my eyes about Beth's chocolate potato chips--totally tempting!
Megan: Agree on Russian Tea Cakes. And when you (forget and) try to talk around a mouthful, powdered sugar spritzes into the air. Not that I've experienced that. ;-)
Pegg: chocolate and peppermint--true classic. I guess Starbucks gets that.
Edie: You made me laugh out loud!
/sigh/ Chocolate chip cookies and/or dough [don't look at me like that Candy!].
Frozen?
I've never done that.
/steps away from the lightning rod/
carolmoncado at gmail dot com
MsElle: Okay, we can NEVER hang out. Completely unsafe. Not only is your indulgence complete nirvana, BUT you speak foodie.
Shortbread to soak up the leftovers?
I. Am. Drooling.
Pass me that DVD.
Mary C: Oh yes, please. I'm a fool for coconut. And a link, too--oh dear. Gotta check it out.
Thank you for sharing!
Carol: you are pure (wonderful, talented, oh so funny)nosh-tempting
evil. ;-)
chocolate of course, but my favorite this year was the old family recipe from my mom, 'potatoe candy ' or depression candy. I added mint flavoring and dipped in chocolate. my kids thought I made a homemade mounds bar. I have some saved so if I win the book they will go good with it.
Bonnieboo29@hotmail.com
And you are sweetness personified, my friend.
Can I take YOU home with me instead of one of the books?
eventing_splash@hotmail.com
Welllll....since I had the flu over Christmas, my cravings had to do with sleep and lots of drugs. Haha...not. Typically though: anything chocolate.
Fudge, of course, is the favorite and this year I made Peanut Butter Fudge along with the chocolate. The Peanut Butter Fudge turned out to be the favorite here instead. Amazing. I also made Pralines and they were so good. Too much temptation around the holidays and now the job of taking off the pounds again.
Marguerite
This year I made chocolate chip cookies instead of the traditional Christmas cookies because our son was visiting from LA and they are his favorite. I found myself nibbling on them whenever I had a chance. We ate them all so now I want make a batch and mail some to him.
I was in a candy making mood this year. I made about 5 types of fudge. My favorite had to be the white cherry almond fudge. Not too sweet, not to tart and WAY to yummy!
I made an apple pie in a skillet and it was yummy! Had a hard time staying away from it, especially when I put ice cream on top!
NS
njsaenz@austin.rr.com
My daughters and I made chocolate covered peanut butter/mint balls... so hard to save for Christmas!
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Mine is close to yours, Candace! I bake ginger cookies from my Grandmother Horton's recipe and send them to my grandchildren in a shirtbox - just like she did! But, and I suspect the same of grandma - I have to tape up those boxes right away or I'll be stealing the grandbaby's cookies before they get mailed!
Love your medical series!
My sister makes these treats that are ritz crackers with peanut butter in the middle then dipped in chocolate!! They are fantastic and totally call my name from the fridge... Lol
Laura.grue@yahoo.com
No Bake Cookies, OMG they are the bestest! (And most things chocolate) One of my friends at work makes the on a fairly regular basis at home. She always brings some to share. Now I have been supplying her with peanut butter when I need a fix. I don't have time to make them and she can just whip them up in no time. She even has the recipe memorized. Gotta love her.
Kelly
ksballen@iupui.edu
My favorite sinful passion is my dear brother's pumpkin cheesecake which we enjoy at Thanksgiving and Christmas!
M and M's! I love them morning , noon, and night.
Martha T.
CRPrairie1@imonmail.com
Amanda: So hope you're recovered from the flu--no fun whatsoever. I prescribe chocolate doses.
Marguerite: I'm smiling about your pralines--they are the hero of Trauma Plan's very favorite and there's a sweet scene with he and our heroine enjoying some Texas pralines.
Lueyes: hard to beat chocolate chip cookies. Add a beloved son: priceless!
Bonnie: Your "depression candy" sounds intriguing--I love Mounds bars.
Sharon: White cherry almond fudge?! Sounds WAY too addictive!
NS: Apple pie in a skillet--yummy and fewer dishes to wash. A win win!
Merry: You've taken chocolate and PB a step further with mint. Mmmm
Rebecca: You have made gingerbread even more wonderful by combing it with your grandmother's tradition. I love that--and hope my grand daughter (who is already baking with me at age 2) does the same!
Laura, Kelly: totally drooling here. I love peanut butter. And (chuckling) I also love to give my characters food quirks/cravings as well. In the second book of my new series (Rescue Team, writing it now), my heroine seeks out the comfort of one of my favorite indulgent snacks: English muffin topped with PB, cream cheese, and a nice dollop of orange marmalade.
I am a serious carmel addict. Love it any way I can get it. Cookies, candy, ice cream are are better with carmel. Homemade or store bought doesn't matter, all are delish.
Michelle
inspiremichelle@yahoo.com
A couple things before I answer your original questions...
First, the "pass the kale' comment. After my recent experience, no thanks! ;)
Second, is the pic of the fridge yours? I was trying to decipher what was in it to see what cooking tips (lol) I could learn!
Now for your answer... this was the first year I made buckeyes. Love them! Not a good idea! Another favorite is puppy chow made with white or dark chocolate. Dangerous because all I need is a handful! HA 10 handfuls later.....
Last, a family tradition is a cookie called sandies. It is a dry chocolate chip cookie ball rolled in powdered sugar. YUM and different! Only at Christmas!!
Big soft ginger cookies. Oh my...they are soft, so perfect...I love them!!!
cbus.blogger@gmail.com
It's hard to believe, but my holiday indulgence is...FRUITCAKE! It's true!
Hi My name is Milinh and I have a chocolate chip baking obsession. I love to make chocolate chip brownies with dutch process cocoa..chocolate chip cookies..hot cocoa..chocolate pudding cake... chocolate chip banana bread...I don't actually eat it.. I just like to make it and bring it to work for my co-workers.. It's the thrill of the bake that I love so much... :)Unfortunately my co-workers and I are on a weight loss challenge this new year so no more baking... :(
I made frosted peanut butter brownies. Oh my stars! These are heavenly. I shared them with our Sunday School class and they were a big hit. I had some left and I put them in a bag in the fridge for my husband...they keep calling my name...what is a gal to do?!
The mixed nut bars were another hit among our Sunday School class. They were oh so yummy! I had to get these completely out of the house! They are that enticing!
Blessings!
Judy
judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
I'm in love with Andy's Mint Chocolate Pie...it is absolutely amazing!<3
-Christine
Chrissy14329@yahoo.com
any and all Christmas cookies... they were in the freezer and I kept sneaking them :-)
marcus802001(at)yahoo(dot)com
Fudge, fudge, fudge
wsmarple@gmail.com
cheesecake, M&M's, fudge(fudge, fudge) cookies,caramel, chocolate chip banana bread . . . I think I've gained 5 pounds reading your goody confessions! Stand by . . . I'll be drawing names for our winners today.
I've placed your names on little slips of paper, put them in my crystal bowl, swished--said a quick prayer--and drew these winning names. (SIX because there were so many great posts). Congratulations to:
EDIE, PEGG, BETHANY, JEN, WENDY, AND KELLY!
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