Reminder: Cookies Across America this Saturday!

I wanted to remind y'all that Cookies Across America is this Saturday, December 10. It's a day for families across our country to hold cookie exchanges, or just bake cookies on your own to share with others in your community!  Wrap them up and drop them off with someone you know who may be having a tough time financially this year, or perhaps an elderly neighbor or relative.  That plate of cookies will bring so much happiness!

Another option is to either buy or collect baking ingredients to donate to a local church or community food pantry so those who can't afford to bake this year, will have the opportunity to do so. (I stocked up on Nestle Chocolate Chips, brown sugar and Crisco baking spray to donate to our local church food pantry!)  Can you imagine not being able to afford the ingredients to bake with your kiddos? I know many families have super-tight budgets, and buying extras like cookie ingredients just isn't an option this time of year.  Consider buying an extra of each ingredient for your favorite cookie when you shop today or tomorrow, and then drop them off at a food bank or pantry ~ you will be a blessing to someone!

Here's another really yummy cookie recipe to try - it's another one that would be great to share with others!
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Jumbo-Dark-Chocolate-Cookies.  Don't they look delicious?!  Nothing better than dark chocolate, ooey-gooey cookies!

Once you decide how many cookies you can make to share, like the Cookies Across America facebook page, and fill out the pledge widget (under the Learn More tab).
Let's all try and make the holidays a little brighter for those less fortunate in our communities ~ a simple gift of homemade cookies will help lift their spirits and fill their tummies, too! Hope you all are able to participate!

Disclosure: As a Taste of Home Power Panel member, I received a package from Nestle containing an apron and coupons for free Nestle products to try these recipes and share information about Cookies Across America. No monetary compensation was received.

Cookies Across America ~ Taste of Home & Allrecipes.com!

Taste of Home magazine is one of my favorites because they have great recipes, a wonderful website and an online community of other cooks who love to share their recipes! Their cooking school is awesome too! I'm proud to be one of Taste of Home's Field Editors and a participant in Cookies Across America!! Have you heard about it? No? Well, here is the scoop!

Cookie lovers unite! Whether it's baking and sharing cookies with the needy or donating cookie ingredients to a food bank, you can make a difference in your community this Christmas.   On December 10, 2011, join Taste of Home, Allrecipes, and Nestlé®, and bakers across America as we all help to spread a little Christmas cookie cheer!  Here are a few ways to get involved:

Host a cookie exchange!  Invite a few friends over, and have a decorating party! Then share those fabulous cookies with each other, but don't forget to wrap some up to donate to a local family, your police or fire station, a family shelter or children's hospital, etc. (Just call to make sure they accept homemade items, first) A plate of homemade cookies is sure to brighten their day!

Organize a food drive:  When most of us donate items to food banks, we usually share staples for meals.  Baking ingredients aren't often at the top of our list of items to donate.  This time of year, those ingredients are a welcome addition to food pantries.  Baking is something many families like to do together, but some just don't have the money to buy the necessary ingredients, like flour, sugar, shortening, vanilla, etc.  You can collect these items from friends and family, then donate to a local church's food pantry, a family shelter, Ronald McDonald house, Retirement home, or other community agency or shelter.

Here is a link to the printable recipe for Nestle Toll House Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies that Katie made for us today.   They are crazy-delicious.  This is a great recipe to make, share/donate! Need more inspiration?  There are tons of other yummy cookie recipes to be found on Taste of Home's website!

Are you going to join us for Cookies Across America? I hope so!! It's such a wonderful way to share the holiday spirit!  PRETTY PLEASE, leave a comment below if you plan to be a part of this and tell me which you wan to do - a cookie exchange or a food drive - in your community.  I'm doing a food drive for my local church's food pantry, or a local homeless shelter - whichever has a greater need.  I want to know how many of my friends here will answer the call to be a part of this wonderful event to spread cookies and happiness across our country!!

One of my favorite sayings is "When you put good into the world, so much more good comes from it" and this is a fun and easy way to put some good out there!! 

xoxo,

How to make Apple Nachos

Being a new Taste of Home field editor is something I take very seriously - I'm trying many new recipes each month when I get the magazine, and sharing the ones I love the best! I truly love this magazine - I have either subscribed to it or borrowed it at the library or from family for years. The recipes are always amazing. This one is no different - it's a fun and unique way to get your kiddos to eat their fruit! I know that kids and grownups alike will enjoy these "nachos"!!

Of course, y'all know I always mix things up, so we will leave the peanuts off because D isn't going to eat apples with peanuts! Otherwise, I'll probably follow the recipe exactly. So here's the link to the recipe - hope you enjoy it!!

Taste of Home ~ Apple Nachos

What are you making for Halloween noshing? Share your favorite recipe with us by leaving a link in your comment! : ) Happy Haunting, y'all!

Just found out I'm a TOH Field Editor!

I LOVE it. And I am SO honored - I received an invitation to be one of their Field Editors for Georgia today!! I can't wait to be a part of their magazine, it is one of the best out their for delicious recipes, helpful hints, menus and more!! I am excited to find out more tomorrow when I log in to the website and find out what I'll be doing! Yipppppeeeeeee!!!