ENTRIES FROM OUR FRIENDS!

We have received two entries so far from our baking friends. Get in on the action and show us your cookies! You could win a gift card!

Daniel Duke made these Gingerbread Cookies from Company'sComing:  Cooking at Home. Daniel shared his cookies with his mailman and bus drivers.

Wyatt Boyd had loads of fun baking Chocolate Reindeer Cookies. The recipe is from Cookies for Christmas that he borrowed from the Middleton library.

Show us your cookies!

Cookie entry from 2011

The Twelve Days of Cookies is winding down-- the 12th day is  Tuesday, December 22. We want to see what you have been baking! If you'd like to win a $35 Gift Card, show us your cookies! Bake cookies from a recipe you found in one of our books, send us a photo, and you could win!

All the details are right here, so start baking. Making cookies with your child is fine way to work on math and literacy skills while having a lot of fun. No kids? Cookies make a fine gift for a friend or neighbour. So, what are you waiting for? Show. Us. Your. COOKIES!!!

...this could be yours.

PS! Want to see all the cookie pictures from all the years? Head over to our Facebook page, where we have a photo album of ALL THE COOKIES!

Time to think about cookies

That's right folks, time to start looking for a good cookie recipe, because The Twelve Days of Cookies returns! Started four years ago as a way to spread good cheer, let folks know about our great cookbook collection, and to show off our baking prowess, this annual event has become something to look forward to here on our blog! We even won the 2014 APLA Library Advocacy Award for this project.

So, start perusing our cookbook collection for a great cookie recipe. Here on the blog, from December 7 - 22, we will post a new cookie recipe each day (weekdays only) and the branch location where you could sample the staff-baked cookies (if you get there in time!). We'll also have our contest again: You bake cookies with a recipe found in a library-owned cookbook, and you could win a gift card! We are adding a social media component to the contest this year, so stay tuned.

Waiting for Cookies

We know it is hard to wait for cookies. So does Cookie Monster. Here's a little something to watch while you wait for the last two entries in this year's 12 Days of Cookies. And while you wait, why not SHOW US YOUR COOKIES!

Entries from YOU!

Today we received two entries from our patrons. You too can get in on the fun! This LINK will give you all the details.

And now, without further ado, here are the Cherry Almond Cookies, baked by Kate (and a very charming helper) in Middleton. They are from the book Best of Country Cookies. 

And here are Butterscotch Cookies from the book 201 Cookies, baked by Daniel in Kentville.

Keep baking, folks, we want to see your cookies!

12 Days of Cookies Returns!

The cookies return! Once again, we will feature cookies on our blog for 12 days (Monday-Friday). You can see the photos of our cookies, get new recipes, and maybe find a new favourite to add to your baking repertoire.

This baking bonanza has been so popular that we couldn't stop -- in fact, our cookie recipes  have been some of the most viewed posts ever on our blog. We even won the APLA Library Advocacy Award for our cookie efforts! However, this year we have a bit of a staff shortage, and so instead of sending our cookies to each branch, we will just be baking and sharing our recipes. Some of our bakers will be sharing their cookies at their local libraries, so stay tuned each day for cookie updates! 


We invite you to join in-- we'll even award a gift card to one of our lucky patron bakers. We've loved your photos from years past, so we can't wait to see what you create this year. Here's how you can get in on the cookie fun. We've sent extra cookbooks out to all or our branches, so find one at your local library, and let the baking begin! 

Our staff cookie recipes will be posted here and on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest beginning December 1.

More Cookies from our patrons

These cute little bakers substituted crushed candy canes for chocolate chips in their gluten-free cookies. Their recipe is from the book Deliciously g-free : food so flavorful they'll never believe it's gluten-free by Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Cookies from you!

We've got another entry- these little bakers made Cheery Cherry Cookies from the book Taste of Home: Mom's Best Meals. Show us YOUR cookies! Details on how to enter here.

Cookie Contest Entry

Just had to share these gingerbread reindeer, our first entry in the 12 Days of Cookies contest.  They are a gingerbread man turned upside down! Look at the expressions on their faces. These were baked by Tammy & her 6-year old son.  You too can enter the contest. Details here!

The Gingerbread Men recipe is from the book The Gourmet Cookie Book The Single Best Recipe From Each Year 1941-2009

12 Days of Cookies returns!

Our third annual 12 Days of Cookies event returns! Our staff will be baking cookies and sharing them with the branches. Staff members sign on to bake a cookie recipe from a book they found in the library, and share the photo, recipe, book title, and the cookies with our patrons. We've had some great cookies pass by our desk in the past two years, so we are fairly certain that we are up to the challenge once again.

It all begins on December 2. Each day (Monday-Friday) we will post a new cookie on this blog, Facebook, and Twitter. AND, this just in, we'll also be on Pinterest, so if you are a Pinterest fan, you can follow along there, too. The last cookie day is December 17. Since we have 12 branches, each location (including our Bookmobile!) will get to host a batch of cookies. Check in each day to find out where the cookies will be and to see how delicious they look (and to plan which branch you will be visiting).

Of course, we want you to get in on the action as well. Just bake a batch of cookies from a recipe you found in a book from the library, and send us the photo. You will be entered to win a gift card. Details on how to enter can be found here. This is a fun way to discover a new cookie recipe, and you can get the kids in on it for a literacy lesson as well. Reading the ingredients together is a great way to add literacy to a fun family activity; measuring adds a bit of math to the activity. Being creative with your cookie decorating and photography is a great way to express yourself and add a bit of the arts into your holidays. Let us see your artistic side!

So, get to the library and find a cookbook, and get baking! We can't wait to see the cookies roll in.

Cookies from you

These adorable cookies were made by an adorable baker. Chocolate Reindeer from the book Cookies for Christmas by Jill Darling. Don't forget, you too can enter to win a gift card. Entries must be in by midnight Tuesday, December 18!  Details HERE.

Day 10: Chocolate-Tipped Butter Cookies

If you are near the Windsor Library this afternoon, stop in and try these Chocolate-Tipped Butter Cookies which were baked by Charlotte Janes, our Head of Systems & Administration here at library headquarters. And don't forget, you still have a few days left to get in on the fun! Here are the details.

Chocolate-Tipped Butter Cookies  from the book Taste of Home's Complete Guide to Baking by Julie Schnittka

1 cup plus 3 T. butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' suger
2 cups of flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

In a large bowl cream 1 cup butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy.  Add flour and vanilla; mis well.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Shape 1/4 cupfuls of dough into 1/2 inch thick logs.  Cut logs into 2 1/2 inch pieces; place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned.  Remove to wire racks to cool.

In a heavy saucepan or microwave, melt chocolate and remaining butter; stir until smooth.  Dip one end of each cookie into chocolate, then dip into nuts.  Place on waxed paper at room temperature until set.  Yield about 5 dozen.

"a little twist on a shortbread cookie"
Charlotte

Cookies from you!

These little guys helped Mom bake Ginger Snaps from the book Rise and Dine Canada by Marcy Claman. Remember, you too can enter to win gift cards! Click HERE to find out how!

Baking together is a great Family Literacy activity that involves both reading and math. Grab a cookbook and join the fun!

Day 1: Whipped Shortbread

Welcome to the 12 Days of Cookies! Today is the first day for our 2012 cookie extravaganza, and we bring to you cookies made by Sue & Gail from the Rosa M. Harvey Middleton & Area Library. According to Sue, these are tried and true and will melt in your mouth.Their cookies are making their way to the Berwick Library today, so stop in and have a taste! Don't forget, you can play, too! Click here to see how your cookies could win you a gift card.

The recipe, from Company's Coming: Most Loved Cookies by Jean Pare

Whipped Shortbread

1 cup butter (not margarine), softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch

18 Maraschino cherries, halved and blotted dry (optional)

Beat butter and sugar in a medium bowl for about 5 minutes until light and creamy.

Combine flour and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add to butter mixture in 2 additions, mixing well after each addition until no dry flour remains.

Drop, using 1 Tbsp. for each, about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

If desired, put 1 cherry half in the centre of each cookie. Bake in 375 F oven for about 12 minutes until edges are just golden. Let stand on cookie sheets for 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool. Makes about 3 dozen.

"12 Days of Cookies" Returns!

Because we had so much fun with this last year, we are doing it again! The 12 Days of Cookies will return on December 3. For twelve days, we will bake cookies, post our recipes, and share them at our library branches! Watch this space, follow us on Twitter @valleylibs, or check in on Facebook to see the cookies each day and which branch will have the cookies. Last year we found some great new recipes, and this year will likely unearth some sweet treats as well.

Want to join in on our 12 Days of Cookies? Here's how you can participate, and maybe even win a gift card!
Bake a cookie recipe from a book you borrowed from the library, send us the book title and a picture of your cookies, and you’ll be entered into a random draw for gift cards. Selected entries will be posted on our 12 Days of Cookies blog page. All complete entries will be entered into the draw.

To enter, send the following, by email, to this address - 12daysofcookies@gmail.com
Please use the subject “12 Cookies” or your entry may appear as spam.

1) Book title (must be a book that is available through the AVRL libraries)
2) Name of the cookie recipe
3) Photograph of your baked cookies (must be your own photo)
4) Your name, email address, town you live in, and phone number, in case you win!
5) All entries must be received by midnight on December 18, 2012. You may send more than one entry, but your name will be entered only once.

By entering you agree that if your cookies are chosen to appear on our blog page, you allow your first name and town to be posted along with the entry. Personal information will not be used for any purpose other than this contest.

Cookies from YOU!

Gingerbread Cookie Mix in a Jar, baked by Diana in Lawrencetown, from the book Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen.