The idea for a cookie exchange developed over the last month or so in this thread as some longing for the Christmas goodies occurred and there was intriguing mention of chocolate chip and raisin cookies. We haven't done it before, so I'm completely open to suggestions for guidelines. I'm thinking it could work like the following.
1. Person A sends cookies to B. 2. B posts happily that cookies have arrived. 3. The Home Office sends B the address of C. 4. B sends cookies to C, and it starts over again.
If there are more than, say, ten people who sign up, there could be multiple cookie tracks. The advantage of this is that it would not be one major event - not everyone would mailing their cookies at once, since it is not for any particular occasion. Also, from an entirely organizational standpoint, it's nice because EVERYONE knows who is supposed to be mailing next - spotlight on the current link in the chain. Best of all, people can sign up on an ongoing basis - no need for everyone to sign up at once.
I think some guidelines should be as follows:
1. At least one dozen cookies. Most recipes make two dozen, so you can make a batch and eat half (please tell me that's not just me), and still have enough to mail out. 2. Homemade, I think, as a general guideline. Exceptions made as warranted, but homemade is the default.
When you sign up, include any dietary considerations such as allergies or an intense fear of oatmeal. There's the dietary consideration of "This is not on my diet," but I think that comes with the territory of it being a cookie exchange. Nothing here will be allowed on a diet. Yay for hedonism!
To sign up, send name and address to HatrackGiftExchange@gmail.com. If you know what kind of cookies you are going to make, include that too, for the heck of it. If this happens, maybe Person A could send out cookies later this week?
Maybe we can use this thread to discuss our love of cookies in general.
Anyone interested? The committee is at your service. Sign up now!
[ February 01, 2006, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I think I will be making pumpkin cookies. They taste nothing like pumpkin pie, but they are moist and yummy and very different - I love them. You can put anything in them, but my favorite is white chocolate chips. I keep making the cookies in the hopes that I will get tired of them and so won't need to make them anymore. I don't know why that's not working - it worked for listening to Hey Ya!.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I like cookies. But I can't bake. And I don't think it would go over well in my household if I started sending poorly baked cookies to people I don't know. Maybe another time.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
hehe, I just finished baking molasses crinkles!
count me in.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
::sends everyone spyware::
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
@ Icarus
I'm in.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
MMmmmmm. . . Molasses crinkles! [drool] [/Homer voice]
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Email sent.
No allergies, but if any come to my house with raisins they'll be MINE! All MINE! HA HA HA HAAAA! (Chris hates raisins).
I'll leave it up to the sender whether that's a good thing or not. Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
I want cookies!!!!
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I'll think about this... I truly want mega super chocolate cookies so chocolate to the point of the extreme.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I'm in. Like KarlEd, if the cookies I get have raisins my spouse won't eat them. He doesn't like nuts either. I love both.
I'm sending out my famous and most favorite cookie, the moist, tender snickerdoodle.
Posted by Coccinelle (Member # 5832) on :
I'm going to play. Mostly because I love getting packages in the mail and I need an excuse to make cookies
I don't know what type I'll make. I do know it won't be chocolate chip. They never turn out right.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
I'm in and will probably make my Grandma-in-law's (is that a term even?)pretty shortbreads that are yummy in an addictive way.
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
quote:I'm going to play. Mostly because I love getting packages in the mail and I need an excuse to make cookies.
My feelings exactly.
Now, is the receiver going to know who's sending cookies to them? As in, can we make sure that they'll like what we send. I know dislikes are supposed to be added here, but- there's lots out there that might end up in a cookie without being mentioned..
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
I want the snickerdoodles.
Beren can attest to my cookie making skills. I make nummy peanut butter cookies, delightful oatmeal raisin cookies, choco chip cookies, and once upon a time I even made pumpkin cookies.
*grins*
*slides scale into a hidden spot*
Posted by mimsies (Member # 7418) on :
I would like o join in. I am allergic to walnuts and pecans.
Before joining weightwatchers I was well known for my oatmeal raisin or oatmeal chocolate chip cookies around the church.
Oh and those pumpkin cookies sound great...
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
I just sent my e-mail, so I'm in.
Whoever gets my cookies will probably be getting Jubilee Jumbles, which my grandma taught me how to make when I was about three years old. They're a very, very good cake-like frosted drop cookies. But beware; people have been known to get addicted to them.
Now, did Shan say peanut butter cookies? I love peanut butter cookies.
Oh, and KarlEd, you can have my share of the world's raisins, since I'm allergic to them.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
"C" is for cookie That's good enough for me "C" is for cookie That's good enough for me "C" is for cookie That's good enough for me Cookie, cookie, cookie starts with "C"
*giggle*
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I wanna be in, but it so wouldn't work here, so.... I'm gonna request again... Can we please, please, pretty please with huge chunks of chocolate on top post the cookie recipes?
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I'm willing to send out the first dozen or two. I can get them out by Friday. And I'll post the recipe here as soon as I send them. Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
I want to play, but the cookies I make are either those store bought ones that are all ready for the oven, or are low fat choclate chip peacan banana oatmeal cookies. When I say low fat, I mean low fat. Not totally diet like, but well, they have no butter or oil. I've only dared share them with a close friend and got the reply "interesting" (except he was Malaysian and doesn't like cookies anyway, so I didn't know how to take it)... And I always use home ground flower... not baking flower.
I like em...
I make really good decadant browies and penuche, but I don't think the brownies can be mailed as they have cream cheese in them.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
oohhh - the low fat ones sound very intriguing!
Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
I'm in. It sounds like fun.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
I would totally do this if I had the equipment for baking. Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
quote:Originally posted by Shan: oohhh - the low fat ones sound very intriguing!
Ok, I'm signing up on the chance that someone might like them.
I like them. They just aren't your everyday grocery store cookies.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I wanna play too! I almost missed this thread from having UHA this week (unexplained hatrack absence). I'm sending the email in now.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Ok, so how do you type cook*e?
My post got banned!
Anyway, I echo Quid - give us the recipes for those who can't send biscuits!
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Okay, guys - are bar cookies okay? Or do they have to be individual, drop cookies? Because I'm got some great bar cookie recipes and they're much quicker and easier for a person like me who never knows when she's going to be sick one day or not. The good news is, I'm sick from something none of you can catch, so my cookies should be safe. Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
I want to play. But I don't see who I e-mail.
I'm pretty easy, except I despise all dried fruit except craisins.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Oh, I'd think bar cookies would be perfectly fine.
I sent in my message last night, so I'm officially in. I'll probably make either a snickerdoodleish oatmeal cookie that I like a lot, a peanutbutter-oatmeal-chocolate chip cookie that I'm fond of, or possibly a relatively healthy (but unfortunately quite fragile) cookie that I've only seen called "Shivananda cookies" for some reason.
Hm. Or gingersnaps might be fun. Anyway, lots of options.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Bar cookies are definitely okay.
To play, send name, handle, and address to hatrackgiftexchange@gmail.com. Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Belle, of course! Bar cookies totally count.
I'm in for an almond rugelach-type cookie, 1/2 dipped in dark chocolate unless my recipient doesn't like chocolate.
I have no allergies or dislikes as far as cookies go, but I will confess to being a butter nut.
------------- Edited to add: will send gmail. Also glad to see Noemon up and about. And, lastly, I'm a practicing my biscotti, so there are plenty of those to go around, too. Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
Hmmmm... I'm tempted. I'm just afraid to give katharina my address. I fear holy and unyielding vengance.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Hey CT! Yeah, I woke up feeling better than good this morning, remarkably. It's amazing how much good a full night of sleep can do a person. I really thought I was coming down with something awful yesterday evening.
I'm curious about those rugelach type cookies. I don't believe I've ever had cookies of that type before.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
I started a cookie recipe thread to post recipes on for those who aren't able to participate due to health, lifestyle, religious or distance reasons...(and because I like recipes ) so please post your recipes.
edit: I didn't know bar recipes count, perhaps Naniamo bars or Hello Dollies (which both have coconut in them which I leave out for me but I'd put them in to send if the person likes?)...hmmm, so much to think about...
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
I'm in! I'll be making chocolate chip cookies from the recipe on the back of the Nestle chocolate chip package. They're yummy! Plus I think I make them pretty well.
What would be a good thing to mail the cookies in? I'm also concerned about the chocolate melting and the cookies becoming a gooey mess. Any ideas on how I could prevent this?
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
What if we wanted to send brownies instead of cookies? I make amazing* brownies.
*I'd originally typed "killer," but then I realized that would be bad. Really bad. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I think in the other thread, there were suggestions made to keep the cookies fresh.
1. Wrap them in plastic, either in a bag or in Saranwrap. 2. Place in a disposable tuppaware container. The local grocery store probably has some in the $1 aisle. 3. Freeze them. That way the first day or so of mail will be spent getting back to room temperature, and that will make them taste fresh longer. Posted by BGgurl (Member # 8541) on :
I feel very, very stupid for asking this
My cookie recipe (it's actually the same one Amanecer is using) calls for packed brown sugar. All I can find is light brown sugar, so is there a way I can use that instead of the packed brown sugar? This is only my second real baking experience, so bear with me.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Wow! We have twenty people signed up already. I think we'll make two tracks, then, and people can mail out cookies about every seven days. If a few more people sign up, we can start another track. It won't all happen at once - if we do it as described above, it's possible that you won't get cookies for several weeks. Is that okay with everyone? I'm thinking of this as more of an ongoing project, and the cookies could be unexpected. Before I send someone's name out, I'll consult and make sure it is a good time for cookieing to occur. That eliminates the surprise, but I think it's better. What do y'all think?
I'm thining the first cookieing could occur by the end of this week. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
BG gurl, the light brown sugar will be just fine. To make it packed, press the sugar inside the cup and keep filling and pressing until the measuring cup is full. A cup of packed brown sugar is considerably more than a cup of loose brown sugar, so the recipe is geared for the packed measurements.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
BGgurl, packed brown sugar just means that you pack it when you measure it. In other words, you cram as much into the cup measurer that you can, it should NOT be measured loosely (like white flour is). Did that make sense?
Light brown sugar is the best for cookies of this sort, so I think you're good. Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Yeah, what she said. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
That's why I prefer recipes that are based on weight, not volume. So much more accurate. But then, that's another of my OCDs. Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
In and signed up. Someone who eats nuts is going to be very lucky!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I want CT to be my cookie baker! I'm going with the known hedonist. Those recipes she described sound heavenly!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Oh, and whoever asked, brownies sound totally scrumptious! I think that definitely counts!
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I'm in then. My person gets brownies. Secret recipe brownies. Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Full disclosure of ingredients might be a good idea, though, in case of allergies, dietary restrictions, or religious prohibitions. What do you guys think?
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Send a copy of the recipe in the package with the cookies? Sure!
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Oh, my family would kill me. Would it be okay if I sent a list of ingredients instead of the actual recipe?
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
quote:Originally posted by Celaeno: I'm in then. My person gets brownies. Secret recipe brownies.
Are they SPECIAL brownies?
I'd love to do this, but I'm baking challenged. If I can enslave someone else for a day to help, it's doable. Or if the person doesn't mind Pillsbury place 'n' bake white chocolate macadamia nut which may or may not be slightly overcooked.
-pH
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Of course they are!
...just not the kind you mean. Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I'm ready to begin! Tell me the address of my cookie recipient!
The serial nature of this event means people can continue to sign up on an ongoing basis. People who take longer than, oh, say... a week between receiving and giving get tongues stuck out at them! After two weeks, they forfeit and their link of the chain is closed by a volunteer initiator.
People who have received but not sent, who passed their two week deadline, for whatever reason, can repent and rejoin the fold by becoming the initator that closes a gap in another broken chain, or founds a new chain. Each chain should contain roughly 10 people. If everything goes as planned, everyone should receive and send 1 batch of cookies roughly every 2 - 3 months.
How does all that sound? Does that sound workable? Proposals for additional or modified rules are welcome!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Oh, and if you want to drop out, just be sure to do it before receiving or after sending your latest batch. Dropping out between receiving and sending is frowned upon. Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
It actually would be fun for each time a chain loops around, if we cross up the chains somehow. You know? Wouldn't it be cool if we have a different recipient and cookie-maker each time around? I don't quite see how that can be accomplished easily, but I'll think on it some more.
Katie, are you the HQ? Does this sound to you like a good way to do things?
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Thinking about this whole thing, I'm a little bit worried that the chains may die out rather quickly. People get sick, or have family emergencies, or whatever. Or (if they're like me) procrastinate and forget.
What if we use a model that's regenerative? Like for each batch you receive you send 2 batches out? Then the cookie swap could grow from small beginnings to eventually engulf the world! What do you think? Would we eventually be drowning in cookies if we try something like that? The way I picture it, it could continue to expand indefinitely. Why should we set our sights low? Cookie Nation! Cookie World! Cookie Universe!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
quote:Originally posted by Celaeno: Oh, my family would kill me. Would it be okay if I sent a list of ingredients instead of the actual recipe?
Sure!
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
I think the 1-in, 2-out, idea would make an intriguing experience, but I wouldn't want to hold anyone else to it unless there's a lot of interest. (Don't want to discourage anyone from participating due to cost or complexity).
Anyway, I think the chains should definitely be shuffled. An easy-ish way to do this would be to make them dynamically. Let's say we have 30 participants. You make three chains, but only put say, 5 people in each chain. When someone receives cookies, they come off a chain and go in a holding tank and someone else comes out of the "pool" (of waiting players) to take their place in that chain. When the pool is empty, the "holding tank" becomes the new pool, and the empty pool becomes the new holding tank.
I like this idea because: 1. It is a sort of self-randomizing system. 2. New players can be added at any time. Just drop them into the pool to picked at random when a slot opens in a chain. 3. Moderators don't have to worry about constructing new chains or artificially shuffling names. Just pull from the pool and drop in the tank.
One con might be that because it is random, some people will wait longer between receiving cookies batches than others, but I think that will happen any time you shuffle lists. Under this system, though, this could be minimized by keeping the tank and pool organized as lists, first in - first out. If we have at least three chains then the general tendency will be for the person from chain "a" to go in the tank next to a person from chain "b" or "c", etc.
Also, I don't mind the random wait. I'm not interested in knowing when my cookies are due. I want to be surprised one day with cookies, and a name of someone to pass the fun on to. And having said that, while I'd like to receive from and send to someone new each time, I'm not gonna cry if I get the same name twice. If this lasts a while, I'm sure it will get shuffled well enough. And I wouldn't want this to be a chore for the moderators.
BTW who's on the cookie committee besides Katie?
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Who wants to be? Karl, could you be? I love the idea of the random shuffling. I was waiting to see how many people sign up, and we are already over 20, so several tracks and a systemized method of assignation is a good idea.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
I certainly can be, and I would be happy to if I'm needed to make this work. (On the other hand, it sorta sucks for the committee members since they will always know when cookies are coming.) (But on the other other hand they get to put themselves in line behind the best bakers )
So sure, I'm in. What do you want me to do?
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I'll send an e-mail.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Yes, that's a great idea! Everyone goes onto a master list, and each time they receive cookies, they go to the end of the list, and new people also go to the end of the list, then addresses are assigned to the latest round of cookie bakers starting at the front of the list. That works wonderfully! And it should work out to be fairly random in terms of which bakers are paired with which bakees each time through. I love it!
Maybe the 2-in-one-out paradigm should be reserved for people who enjoy generating more chains, on a voluntary basis, as Karl Ed proposed. I like that idea, and I'll volunteer to be one of those. I get a real kick out of baking cookies and mailing them out, as my friends can tell you. Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I'm slightly confused as to the dynamics of this whole chain thing (I'm sure re-reading it would help...), so I'll just say this: I'll send out any reasonable number of cookies. And a list of ingredients, because mine is a secret recipe. I also don't mind going right away.
PS - I love cookies in all shapes and sizes.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
*head asplodes* I just want someone to tell me who to send cookies to.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I think the official exchange will still be one to one. If people want to send out more than one package, they can e-mail the home office when they get their person for more addresses, and somehow it should be made clear that there are official cookie recipients and bonus cookie recipients, and the bonus can go on but do not have to, because their turn will come to be official cookie recipients.
And I still haven't written KarlEd. I'm sorry - I haven't forgotten. It's been a busy day. I will do so today.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Oh, Katie, what I meant was this. The founder of each chain is in a special position, because everyone afterwards forms a link where they receive then give. The founder gives that first batch with no return, because even if it ever makes it back around (and there will be many cases in which it won't) then they'll want to continue the chain so they'll naturally carry on and send out the next batch.
The reward, then, for starting a chain, is intangible. It's the happy feeling you get from knowing you started something good, that may continue, and bring other people happiness. I think everyone should be allowed to found any number of chains that they want, For this reason. But if these new chains by defnition stop after just one link, then there's no point. The feeling of having started something cool is gone. Does that make sense?
I'm just tossing these ideas out to see what people want to do. We will find out, by actually doing it, what works and what doesn't. And we'll know after a few rounds if the ground rules need to be modified. I do think, given the vicissitudes of life, that we will need some mechanism for generating new chains and repairing broken chains. But we can deal with that when the time comes.
In the meantime if I can help, either in administration or just by founding a chain or two or three, a stand ready to do whatever's needed.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
WooHoo, I got my cookieee addresses! Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
I certainly wouldn't mind sending out to more than one recipient. The recipe I plan on making usually makes somewhere between 5 and 6 dozen cookies, and we certainly don't need that many around here. Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
*bump for my own benefits*
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Okay, at least two chains have been founded as of today! Sign up, all ye who love cookies! I hope everyone enjoys what I sent them. I included a card for people to sign and pass along the chain. I thought it would be cool to be able to see all the links in the chain.
cooooooooooooooooooooooooooookies!
Posted by Minerva (Member # 2991) on :
Is there anyone who keeps kosher who would be interested in being part of a mini-chain?
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Tatiana, how did you ship your cookies?
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Noemon, I did it U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail. It should take 2 to 3 days to arrive.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Minerva, is it something that's possible for a non-Jew to do? I would be willing to do whatever was needed to keep kosher, if you'll teach me how. There's something specially sacred to me about religious observances that aren't my own. Maybe it's just that we lose the sense of how special and holy our own are, through long familiarity? Anway, if this LDS girl can qualify, I'd be willing to do whatever was needed. Let me know.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
quote:There's something specially sacred to me about religious observances that aren't my own. Maybe it's just that we lose the sense of how special and holy our own are, through long familiarity?
Just wanted to pop in to say I think that's a beautiful thought. A philosophy like that could change the world. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I agree. Posted by Minerva (Member # 2991) on :
Wow Tatiana. That's an extremely generous offer.
Normally, I would say no, but for cookies it might actually be possible to do it without too much of a hassle. Let me think about it.
I am really blown away that a non-Jew would be willing to do this. There are few enough Jews that are willing.
Posted by Minerva (Member # 2991) on :
And then, of course, all of the ingredients would need to be kosher. For cookies, that probably wouldn't be too restrictive (kosher gelatin, no lard, etc).
Posted by Minerva (Member # 2991) on :
And for my third post: How to make kosher cookies in a non-kosher kitchen so, if you really wanted to, i'd say: 1) buy all kosher ingrediants 2) go to a dollar store and grab a mixing bowl, measuring cups/spoons, something to stir it with, cookie cutters and a rolling pin; buy an aluminum disposable cookie sheet 3) put down some wax paper or somthing to roll the dough out on 4) run your oven on the self-clean cycle 5) bake away!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
The U with the circle around it means kosher?
My White Lily flour has that! The Land of Lakes unsalted butter has a U with a circle around it, and a D. So are both of those good? Let me go check sugar, eggs, vanilla, etc.
Do I need to start with new packages of all the ingredients?
I bake the cookies on parchment paper, so that they never actually touch the cookie sheet. Would that count as kosher?
My Domino sugar has a K with a circle around it, and a P outside the circle, but no U circle thingy.
Can you unravel for me the meaning of these symbols?
[ February 02, 2006, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: Tatiana ]
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Here is everything that touches the food.
1. Measuring cups and spoons 2. Mixing bowl 3. Mixer Paddle Attachment (for Kitchen Aid) 4. Stirring spatula 5. Disher (like a small ice cream scoop) 6. Tupperware type containers to ship. 7. Parchment paper (disposable)
So if I buy all new implements then tovel them, then run my oven through the self-cleaning cycle, then buy all kosher ingredients, then bake the cookies, they'll be kosher? That's not too hard. Does the mixer itself need to have anything done to it? Or just the parts that touch food?
Once the implements are okay, does putting them in the dishwasher, then storing on a shelf, compromise their okay-ness for use next time? What do I need to do to maintain their status?
One more question. Can you describe to me how to "make the brachah al tevillat keilim"? Is it a prayer?
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I just realized I forgot to include the recipes in the cookies I sent out!
Here they are:
Famous Oatmeal Cookies
1.5 cups unsalted butter (three sticks) 1 cup granulated sugar 2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed 2 eggs 1/2 cup water 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups self rising flour 6 cups oats (1 of those cylindrical cardboard boxes) (don't get instant, quick, or minute oats, just plain old Quaker oats)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream butter, gradually add sugars, then eggs, water and vanilla. Beat until creamy, scraping down sides as required. Add flour slowly until well-mixed. Stir in oats. Dish with a medium-sized disher onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake about 12 minutes. Allow to cool before removing from the paper.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and cocoa powder, mix well, get any lumps out. In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk sugar, butter, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract together until smooth. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients, pour in the wet ones. Mix together just until barely combined. Do not mix until smooth. Dish into buttered muffin pans with a medium-large disher. Cups should be full. Change oven temp to 400 degrees F when you put them in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes or until done.
[ February 03, 2006, 05:09 AM: Message edited by: Tatiana ]
Posted by Minerva (Member # 2991) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tatiana: Here is everything that touches the food.
1. Measuring cups and spoons 2. Mixing bowl 3. Mixer Paddle Attachment (for Kitchen Aid) 4. Stirring spatula 5. Disher (like a small ice cream scoop) 6. Tupperware type containers to ship. 7. Parchment paper (disposable)
So if I buy all new implements then tovel them, then run my oven through the self-cleaning cycle, then buy all kosher ingredients, then bake the cookies, they'll be kosher? That's not too hard. Does the mixer itself need to have anything done to it? Or just the parts that touch food?
Once the implements are okay, does putting them in the dishwasher, then storing on a shelf, compromise their okay-ness for use next time? What do I need to do to maintain their status?
One more question. Can you describe to me how to "make the brachah al tevillat keilim"? Is it a prayer?
For me, just buying new implements is fine (there are varying levels of kashrus, so this might not be fine for everyone. But almost everyone, I would say). Cleaning the oven is necessary to make it kosher. And of course, the kosher ingredients are necessary.
The mixer blade depends on what it is made of.
If you wash the implements separately and make sure they don't touch anything else that touches food, then they will still be fine.
The bracha is a prayer (a blessing). There is no need for you make it. But just in case you are wondering, it's basically what you say when you immerse the implements to purify them. It translates to something like, "Blessed are you our G-d, king of creation, who has made us righteous with your commandments and given us these laws about purifying objects."
As for knowing whether food is kosher, you are right to look at the little marks (called hekshers). The K basically doesn't mean anything. It's the company saying that they think it's kosher, not any authority. Any other mark is fine for me (again, differing standards for different people). The eggs are always kosher. The D is for dairy. The P is parve which means no meat or dairy.
Wow...this really sounds like a huge pain when you write it all out.
Anyway, if you still feel up to it, awesome. If not, I totally understand!
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Tatiana, do you mind if I (or you if you'd rather) copy and paste your recipes to the "Cookie recipe thread"?
The recipes look great btw, I can't wait to send/receive some of my own! YUM!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
sweetaboo, I don't mind at all. I think I posted the oatmeal one somewhere already, so it might have been there.
Minerva, it's not a pain at all! I find it fascinating to learn about, and it makes me feel very happy to do it. The mixer blade is made of porcelain and looks like this.
If I run a separate load of dishes through the dishwasher with just these new implements, and store them separately so they don't touch any other food prep items, then they stay okay? I want to be sure I do this right.
Thanks for telling me the meaning of the marks. This is so interesting to me. So things marked with a K in a circle aren't acceptable, but things marked with the U in a circle are? Do I need to start with unopened packages of all the ingredients?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
K in a circle is the O-K and would be fine. A plain K is not. The P is NEVER for Parve! P means kosher for Passover. Parve is always written out. (So you may see an O-U P D on milk chocolate that is kosher for Passover, f'rinstance.)
There is no need for you to tovel anything. Toveling has nothing to do with kosher.
Dishwashers are problematic.
Also, and I hesitate to bring this up, but I think ak should be aware that one of the restrictions on kosher food (which not everyone who keeps kosher is concerned with, but I certainly am) is that the food must be cooked by a Jew. What that effectively means for an electric (or electric-start gas) oven/stove is that it must have been turned on by a Jew. A gas stove/oven with a pilot is simpler -- just the pilot must have been lit by a Jew. (Do you have any idea how hard it is to buy ranges with a pilot these days?!?)
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
rivka, will a Reform Jew count for oven-starting, or must it be an Orthodox Jew?
I can wash the implements by hand if that helps.
Also, I may mix by hand depending on how things work out. I want to do everything right. The person mixing does not have to be a Jew, I hope?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote: rivka, will a Reform Jew count for oven-starting, or must it be an Orthodox Jew?
Debatable (although if the Reform Jew keeps all the laws of Shabbos, then not even debatable anymore), but probably either.
quote:I can wash the implements by hand if that helps.
Probably better, yes.
quote:Also, I may mix by hand depending on how things work out. I want to do everything right. The person mixing does not have to be a Jew, I hope?
Nope.
BTW, I want to repeat what Minerva said. This is extremely generous of you. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
This is so cool! I love the education we're getting here, so thank you, rivka and Minerva, and thank you, Tatiana, for being willing to do this. Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
It's going to be a few weeks before I can start, since I'm starting a new job and my disposable income for things like new implements will go way up soon.
I'm really excited about doing it, and I'm loving the education I'm getting, too! I'm thinking now of how I can find someone Jewish in my neighborhood who won't mind coming by to start the oven. This may end up making me some new local friends! I know there are lots of Jewish people nearby. There's an orthodox synagogue within about 3 miles, and the Levite Jewish Community Center is one mile up the street. Maybe I'll make a flyer "LDS girl wanting to bake kosher cookies needs a Jew willing to stop by and turn my oven on. Must keep all the laws of shabbos."
Does that sound offensive or rude in any way?
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I think it sounds like it would make a great story, kind of like Amelie. Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I'd answer a flyer like that! And I'd want to get to know the kind of person who would make a flyer like that.
(All the flyers in my neighborhood seem to advertise yard sales that happened a few weeks ago.)
And even though I know what LDS is, maybe the Shabbos Jews you are looking for don't. Maybe "Mormon girl" would be clearer?
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Tante, good idea! I'll make it say "LDS (Mormon) girl..." You're right that people around here aren't too familiar with my religion. This is going to be fun!
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I used to do this for a Jewish friend of mine and my first husband's. I would prepare supper, and he would come and turn on the stove for us.
As I recall, the dishwashing machine was an issue because using non-kosher items in it could "contaminate" it. But I seem to remember that some sources though it okay to use as long as the loads were separate, and others had an interpretation that required completely separate dishwashers for meat and dairy.
Fascinating.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Domino Sugar has the O-K, while my flour and butter have the O-U. Do all Jews consider either/both the O-K and/or the O-U acceptable?
So eggs are always acceptable. Is tap water acceptable, or should I buy bottled water that's marked with a symbol?
I need to check at the store on the vanilla extract and oats, but if those two items are clear, then I am ready to go! I know exactly what I need to do. This is great!
I'm clearing out a special shelf for the new bowls and implements so they won't touch anything else. I'll put down parchment paper on the countertop where I'm working, and I'll run the oven through the self-cleaning cycle the night before. Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I accept both O-K and O-U as acceptable, as do most of the Kosher Jews that I know. Eggs are fine, unless they have a blood spot on the yolk. For that reason, Kosher Jews will crack each egg separately into a glass to check it for blood spots before adding it to the rest of the recipe.
I worked as a dishwasher for a summer camp for Jewish children. Many, many years ago.
There were different colored dishes for foods that included dairy, versus other foods. They were kept completely separate at all times.
We had to wash the dishes by color. Before starting on a new color, we ran the dishwasher through a cycle unloaded, and cleaned/sanitized all the surfaces.
The singing in the hall was really neat. *smiles*
Tatiana -- what a lovely thing you are doing!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Awesome! I actually always crack each egg separately into a glass bowl to check it for anything unsavory before adding it to the rest of the recipe. I do that because my mother's mother taught my mother to do that and because she taught me. I would reject a blood spot, or if the yolk looks discolored in any way, or if the whites are too cloudy, or if there's anything else that looks odd or unsavory about it. I actually think this custom in my family is left over from the days when they kept free-range chickens, and eggs were fertilized, so that it was always possible to find a partially developed embryo inside.
But I'm glad to hear tap water is okay. Our water in Birmingham wins all sorts of awards, though I'm sure that doesn't necessarily affect its kosher status.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Shan, KarlEd, Minerva, quid, and rivka, thanks for your praise, but I hardly deserve it! This is great fun for me to learn about these things, and it's a real privilege to participate in this way.
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
Tatiana, I'm speechless.
Well, not exactly. I'm just amazed. I like learning about other cultures, too, particularly Judaism - there seem to be some similarities between it and Mormonism, and I like what I learn from them. But I usually do it from books ... or conversations ... or from going with them to see how they do things. Not from jumping in on my own and cleaning out a shelf and buying all new utensils and having to put up a flier to get a Jew to come turn on my oven at just the right time ... I'm amazed. Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I feel the strong connection with Judaism as well, mainly, I suppose, because we are both covenant peoples. But the fact that it's a little difficult (not really all that much) just makes it more fun. It makes my kitchen feel special and pure to me, that I can do this, because it's kosher. It just feels like a great privilege!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tatiana: Shan, KarlEd, Minerva, quid, and rivka, thanks for your praise, but I hardly deserve it! This is great fun for me to learn about these things, and it's a real privilege to participate in this way.
I know that's how you feel. That's part of what makes it so special. And you can't stop me. Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
YAY!!! I just got a huge box with some very delicious oatmeal cookies and delicious-looking muffins (I'll confirm their deliciousness tomorrow morning . Thank you Tatiana!!!!!
Oh Keeper of the Cookie Chain! I am ready for my name and address!
Oh, and Tatiana, your packaging was incredible. I think they could have air-dropped the box onto my front porch and still not have broken a cookie. Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Oh, and John Van Pelt in here now working on the mural, so he'll get a taste of your incredibleness, too. Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
What is going on with the cookie exchange? I had forgotten all about it until I got mine today (Thanks, Tatiana, the muffins are absolutely amazing! My thighs hate you!) but I don't know where to go from here. Who am I sending cookies to now?
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
The Home Office will be sending out the next recipient of cookies to the present cookiers this afternoon.
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
Oh, wonderful! And.. do they have to be shipped priority mail or will regular mail suffice?
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I have no idea between the two. I think regular mail is fine - that's within a week, right? I'd pack the cookies extra tight, to make sure they stay fresh as long as possible.
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
Sounds good to me.
**Oh, is there a way to buy stamps, or whatever it takes, from home, or is the post office the only way to send stuff..?**
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
quote:Originally posted by KarlEd: ... your packaging was incredible. I think they could have air-dropped the box onto my front porch and still not have broken a cookie.
Hah! Ask my friends how many packages of battered crumbs they received before I perfected my packing techniques.
I hope you guys like them! I had a great time doing it!
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
quote:**Oh, is there a way to buy stamps, or whatever it takes, from home, or is the post office the only way to send stuff..?**
USPS.com lets you purchase and print postage from your home, and schedule a pick-up.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
aiua, if you want to go UPS, they'll do a pickup from your house. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but they publish their rates, and you have to weigh the box. They're very fast but usually slightly higher than the post office.
At the post office they will weigh it for you and it's usually the cheapest way, but as far as I know you have to take the box to the nearest post office yourself. I don't think the postal delivery person will pick up packages. Does anyone else know for sure? You might try looking on their respective websites. UPSU.S.P.S.
Ah, thanks, eros! Faster and more accurate both! Posted by John Van Pelt (Member # 5767) on :
quote:I hope you guys like them! I had a great time doing it!
What a world. From my paintbrush to KarlEd's ceiling, from Tatiana's oven to my tummy. The real-life connections that happen through Hatrack are stupendous. Thank you Tatiana for the delicious cookies and Karl for sharing (he shares everything).
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
OK, I made my cookies last night. I'm sending them out after work today. Tatiana, I'm recycling your packaging. Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
cookies sent. Should arrive by Monday.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
KarlEd, I'm glad it came in useful. I hope you signed the card and passed it along too! Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
Cookies sent! I just realized that this wasn't supposed to be a secret thing like the gift exchange... Oh, well.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
By next week I should be able to open for business Tatiana's Kosher Kookie Kitchen. Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
*laughs*
Tatiana, that's awesome!
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tatiana: KarlEd, I'm glad it came in useful. I hope you signed the card and passed it along too!
Yep, card is signed and included.
Posted by mimsies (Member # 7418) on :
Thanks!
I got some yummy peanut butter cookies today!
I'd forgotten about it until I got them today!
Just waiting formy turn to send some out...
-Mimsies
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Yay! Glad they got there safely. I used The Rabbit's super-simple PB cookie recipe and thought they turned out pretty tasty. In fact, I might make some again tonight.
Did you find something else in the packaging?
Posted by mimsies (Member # 7418) on :
I found the card to send on, and am working hard on not losing it, so I can send it on...
I also found a pretty. It looks like a hair tie, or ornament , or could work as a book mark too. My son covets it, so I said we can share it. Now that you mention it, does it have a specific purpose, or can I hang it above the bed?
I shared the cookies with the kids in the 1st grade class I volunteer in. One of the little boys said "This makes me think of Lembas!" (Elven Way Bread)
Thanks so much!
-Mimsies
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I'm being a really, truly rotten cookie exchanger. I was one of the first people assigned a person to send cookies to, and I just haven't been able to get them made and sent out. :sigh:
I'd understand if y'all want to skip me for now, and let me send out cookies later (like when stupid girl scout cookie sales are over. Driving me nuts, they are!).
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
mimsies, the "pretty" is a book-thong, but you can use it however you like. I gave about 50 of them over the Christmas holiday and only a fraction of them are actually being used as bookmarks. The most popular use I've seen so far is as a rear-view mirror dangly in my friend's cars. Go figure. As long as they bring joy, I'm not too picky about how. Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Has anyone received cookies but not gotten a name to send cookies to?
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
I went to my mail box today and a package of cookies had arrived!! This just made my day!
Aiua, these cookies are excellent!! I'd never heard of sour cream cookies before and didn't really know what to expect. They are DELICIOUS!! I'm so glad that you included the recipe, because I will definitely be making these again. Thank you!
I'm ready for my name to help spread the cookie bliss. Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
Oh, I'm so glad you like them! I was kind of worried that I'd put down the wrong address after all!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Okay, Tatiana's Kosher Kookie Kitchen is officially open for business. Cookie Czars, I need a name and address, when you have one. Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Is anyone still doing this? I really want to make my cookies for someone to spread my love.
Oh, and I'd like to get some cookies as well.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Me too! Me too!
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
We have two chains going right now. There are a couple of people who sent incomplete information (like no mailing address) so I haven't put them in a chain yet. (I'll contact the affected parties shortly.)
So far, 4 people have received cookies and two should be receiving them soon. So, short answer is "Yes, people are still doing this."
Tatiana, so far no one who requires Kosher has sent in a participation email. We don't have an address for you Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Oh, Mimsies and Amanecer were the last to report receiving cookies. I sent you both names. Have you sent out cookies yet? (Not rushing, just trying to see where we stand).
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
I've sent you my address KarlEd and am ready to go (I think). Thanks.
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
Thanks to the awesomeness of pfresh85 giving me a ride to the post office, I sent my cookies out today! Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I'm waiting for a name to begin the kosher cookie chain, just in case you have one yet, that is. No rush. Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Just checking, but am I on the list to participate?
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
It seems our cookie Czar and Czarina vacationing in the Crimea.
To join, Celaeno, you just send your name and address (and hatrack sn) to hatrackgiftexchange AT gmail DOT com.
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I thought I did that already, but I never received a response. I'll try again. Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Celaeno - Yes, we have your email. Tatiana - So far no designated Kosher participants.
We have two chains active and a third pending, but that's been pending for a while, so maybe I'll start a new third one.
By the way, has anyone received cookies but not yet gotten a name to send to?
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Amanecer, got them!! The family is enjoying them so much.
Now, who do I do?
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
Yay!! I'm so glad that you liked them! Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
romanylass, your recipient's name has been sent. Please check your email and let me know if there are problems.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Sent today. But forgot the recipe -d'oh!
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
YUM! We love chocolate chip cookies and just in time to make school lunches. What a great treat! Thank you romanylass.
Now I'm ready for a name.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
sweetbaboo, your cookie recipient name has been sent.
Thanks for everyone's patience, especially those of you who started chains. We seem to have one chain that has stalled and one new one starting.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Got it. Thanks KarlEd.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Cool! I hope your kids enjoy them. Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
The new chain will start early next week - I'm going to Florida early tomorrow morning and will be unable to start it up before then.
I haven't even packed yet.
But the important part is that it WILL start. And soon. Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
If chain-stalling is going to be a big problem, then I suggest we consider a two-for-one generation process. This would cause the number of chains to grow over time, and possibly compensate for some broken chains.
Another idea (and maybe you're already doing this) is email to ask each potential recipient, immediately before sending out thier name, if they will be able to continue the chain within 2 weeks of receiving their cookies. If everyone makes a firm commitment right before they get their cookies, hopefully this will keep broken chains to a minimum.
Just some ideas. I expected we'd have to adjust the paramaters a bit according to what works and what doesn't work. I can start some new chains any time you need me to. Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
While I do one, I can quite easily do another if that helps. Just let me know.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Cookies are baking... Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Cookies are sent.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Awesome, sweetbaboo! I am studying reactor physics this week and the two-for-one generation trick is how we keep our chains going inside the core. That compensates for leakage as well as resonance absorption of epithermal neutrons. We might actually want to go supercritical for a while to get the cookie reaction up and running full power.
[ April 12, 2006, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: Tatiana ]
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
sweetbaboo, thank you so much! They're absolutely delicious. I'm selfishly hiding them from my roommate.
I'm ready for my address! I can bake the brownies tomorrow.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
You're welcome. I hope they got there in one piece (or as close to as possible) I tried to do some creative bubble-wrapping. I'm glad that you got them!
Happy Spring!
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
They were mostly intact and so pretty! But hey, even the broken ones tasted good.
(Yes, I have completely and single-handedly finished them off.)
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Celaeno, Your recipient's name has been sent.
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
They're in the oven right now. If I don't mess them up royally, they'll be in the mail tomorrow.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Wow, late night baking binge??
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I'm a college student. We don't sleep.
They're done and will be in the mail this afternoon. Hopefully I won't eat them all first.
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Sent!
To my recipient: I'm so sorry for the excessive tape. I was very worried about it falling apart. Ohh, I hope they keep. If they don't, let me know and I'll try something else.
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I'm a little concerned that my person hasn't received them yet. They should've been there on Tuesday.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I've taken over the cookie list from KarlEd! People, please sign up for cookie chains, let me know if you are willing to found your own chain, if you want to be part of a kosher cookie chain, or if you would enjoy being part of an experimental chain-reaction chain that spawns 2 for 1. That is, for each batch of cookies you receive, you send out two batches. If this works well, we will soon have cookie-goodness spanning the globe.
The email address, once again, is HatrackGiftExchange AT gmail DOT com.
[ May 06, 2006, 05:55 PM: Message edited by: Tatiana ]
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
The emails have gone out this month for the latest round, and we're founding several new chains. So be sure to send your name, address, and cookie preferences/allergies to HatrackGiftExchange AT gmail DOT com, if you want to participate.
Now accepting new founders and new recipients (must be able to commit to sending out next batch within two weeks). If you're not sure whether or not you will have time, then sign up anyway. Each potential recipient is emailed in advance of their name being selected, to be sure it's a good time for them to participate right now. You can always skip one round, and take part in the next. Founders get to choose the name-animal of the chains they found. So far we have the Meerkat Chain, the Dragon Chain, the Fox Chain, and the Chinchilla Chain.
With each chain, there is an associated card, with greetings from the prior links in the chain, along with nickname, date, and city, if they want to include it. This gives a tangible account of the connections along the way.
Come and sign up! It's great fun!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Two new chains have been founded now, The Okapi Chain, and the Cerberus Chain. I think the names (chosen by the founders) are outstanding. Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
There was supposed to be a card? I never got a card.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Celaeno, you didn't get a card because I didn't send one/didn't get one either. I think this is a new thing with the new chains that are being started!?
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Oh, okay. I think a card's a good idea.
And I'm really sad that it appears the chain ended. The person I sent to doesn't even seem to be on Hatrack anymore. I hope she at least received them.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
I think the card is a good idea too, could it make us *almost* real??
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Well, it could make your signature real, at least. Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
The Cerberus Chain is off the ground and running!
(NB: The cookies should arrive by the end of the week. Here's hoping they arrive in one piece! I also hope they taste alright, as I froze them prior to shipping, and I've never frozen them before. )
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
KarlEd Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
sweetbaboo and Celeano, your chain was originally launched with a card. Apparently it didn't make it all the way to you. I'm sorry about that. I thought it would be sort of cool to have a card that reached all the way back to the founder, with greetings from all the links along the way.
Oh, and sweetbaboo, I think people who sign cards and bake cookies gain quite a bit in substance from those activities. At least enough to graduate from a ghost to a poltergeist, for instance. Whether or not it can make you fully real, I'm not certain. I have always thought that just talking to someone frequently and knowing them well online for a year or so was enough to make them real. And if their cookies are very delicious, that would tend to substantiate their claims of reality a great deal, at least in my estimation. Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Since my recepient seems to have disappeared, can I send a new batch to the person after her? Or does that count as cheating...
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
I would like to hop back into the chain again too (you know, for the poltergeist status, if nothing else )
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Celaeno, you certainly may! Do you want to count it as founding a new chain, with animal-naming privileges and the option to start your own founder traditions? Or would you like to count it as continuing the illustrious Dragon Chain, which has such an outstanding history?
Your choice, either way. The Cookie Committee shall email you the name of your recipient momentarily.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
sweetbaboo, you're in the recipient's pool for future rounds. (Oh, and I believe! )
[ May 09, 2006, 09:14 PM: Message edited by: Tatiana ]
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
Tatiana, I'd like to continue the Dragon Chain, I think. Can I start a new card for this one, though? I'm sad that ours got lost.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Yes, Celaeno! I'm glad you're going to keep it going! Do start a new card for it! That would be awesome!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
It was a cool card! It had a picture of the earth on the front, against a black starfield. If anybody along the chain still has it, it would be cool if you could send it back to cookie central, so that it can be forwarded and catch up with its chain. Starting a new one works too, though. Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Carrie, the cookies are wonderful! And I'd never have known you'd frozen them...
Thank you!
I'm ready for the address of the next Cerberus Chain recipient! (though I won't be actually making the cookies for a few days as I have a cold and I don't want to pass that along as well.)
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Awesome! Dragon, you and Celaeno should both have received your recipient's names now. Dragon, yours is still pending confirmation.
Good idea about waiting until the cold passes. Once I baked about 10 dozen cookies to send out to friends and came down with a vicious flu the next day, so I felt I could not in good conscience mail all those germ-warfare cookies to unsuspecting victims, so I was forced to eat them all myself. O:-)
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Huzzah! I'm very very happy they came and that you enjoy them - and that the freezing didn't kill them! I'm visiting PA right now, and my friend practically demands that I keep making them. I've been here for four days and have made two batches already.
Go Cerberus!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
We're almost to the end of the first round, back to the founders. Do you founders want to stay loyal to the chains you founded, or would you rather mix it up a little? In other words, do you want to collect all the chains, eventually, like a charm bracelet? Or do you want to stay true to your same chain and just let it keep getting longer, while rearranging the order? What do you think?
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I baked them last night, but I wasn't watching and they burned.
I'll need to try another batch later.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Even though I just founded a chain, I think we should do the "charm bracelet" idea.
Collect them all, for a limited time only!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Awesome, Carrie! I sort of think so too.
Celaeno, it's so easy to burn cookies! Usually my first sheet is the calibration batch. Then after that, I can usually adjust the timer setting to get them to come out right. Consolation prize is I get to eat the burned (and raw! mmmm!) cookies myself.
[ May 23, 2006, 04:44 AM: Message edited by: Tatiana ]
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
Sorry it's taken me so long, but the Cerberus Chain is back in business - I mailed my cookies today!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
@ Icarus![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
) so please post your recipes.![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
And you can't stop me. ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
)
![[Taunt]](graemlins/taunt.gif)