Hi Robin,

Yesterday was my 8th Annual Cookie Exchange. Much of my success comes from all of your advice, newsletters, website and now your fabulous book! This year we had 16 bakers with 4 of them being ‘newbies ‘and the others have been in from the beginning! Each baker brings a ½ dozen cookies per guest plus a platter of 16 for tasting so this year everyone baked 9 ½ dozen cookies (what troopers they are!)

We had a brunch which included 2 breakfast casseroles, fresh bagels and a variety of cream cheeses, ham and cheese tortilla roll-ups, Mimosas, homemade Christmas Wassail, juice & coffee. And of course some of our best cookies ever!

This year, for the first time, I banished all of my usual ‘cookie rules’ except that they had to be homemade. We did an ornament exchange & played a couple of fun & easy games.

The girls are quite content to just eat & visit but games are so much fun. My Mom made the aprons for me based on a design I sent her…aren’t they adorable? I already have some great ideas for next year & as always everyone is looking forward to it…even our ‘non bakers’.

Thanks for your consideration on posting my letter & photos!

Happy New Year!

Debbi Grassia



Photos:

1. Cookies & Mimosas

2. Soft Sugar Cookies, Ricotta Cheese Cookies, Raspberry Linzer, White Chocolate & Cranberry Biscotti




3. The “Creative Display Winner” w/Coconut Chocolate Chippies & Raspberry Filled Chocolate Ravioli Cookies

4. First & second place for displays. The aprons were custom made by my Mom!

5. The Cookie Bakers!

6. Me (far right back) with more Cookie Bakers!