Saturday, December 18, 2021

Baking Like Crazy: Reindeer Shortbread Bites; Best Brownies Ever; Sablés au Citron; The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies; and Winter Vanilla Chai Cookies with Eggnog Nutmeg Glaze








I've made it to 500 books read and reviewed for the year, and that's where I'm going to stop. I will continue to read, of course, but I'll save the last chapter of everything I'm reading now until the first day of the new year. It's the way I like to start the year.





We are working on our finalist lists for the 2021 Cybils Fiction Picture Book and Board Book Awards.




Last week I posted here at Readerbuzz:










Good Thing #1
I went (masked) with my friend to see Tuna Christmas at the college in my town.

Good Thing #2
I went with friends (masked) on the Tour of Homes in my town.

Good Thing #3
Our book club had a fun Christmas cozy mystery discussion, 
and the books lent themselves to some fun Christmas cozy mystery treats.
(Cozies often seem to be set in bakeries, I think.)

Bonus! Good Thing #4
And I've been baking like crazy! 
Photo above, starting at 10 o'clock, and going clockwise:





I'm happy you joined us here at the Sunday Salon. Sunday Salon is a place to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. It's a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 


Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:

  • What was your week like?
  • Read any good books? Tell us about them.
  • What other bookish things did you do? 
  • What else is going on in your life?


Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

        

My linkup for Sunday Salon is below. 

51 comments:

  1. I finished Cloud Cuckoo Land this week. It started slowly and then pretty much blew me away by the end. Those cookies sure sound and look tasty. No baking for me. I believe my older daughter is making a red velvet cake for Christmas. That will have to suffice.

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    1. I was very happy to read your review of Cloud Cuckoo Land, Dorothy. And the red velvet cake sounds great.

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  2. Congratulations on reading and reviewing 500 books! Your treats sound and look great. I don't bake much during the holidays as my husband is a mail carrier and receives many treats as a thank you during this time of year. Also, I make cookies on a regular basis throughout the year, so I take a break during the holidays. I will look at your recipes for some new cookie ideas! Glad you have been able to get out and enjoy some events. Have a good weekend!

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  3. Your sweet goodies look great. I love baked goods this time of year. I've made a cheesecake, brownies and blueberry muffins.

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  4. WOW Deb - so many books - awesome. Those cookie recipes sound good. We usually have standard chocolate chip, oatmeal and pecan nut balls with powdered sugar. I am also making: mini pecan tarts again as they came out so good at Thanksgiving...and my mother's Pistachio Cake recipe....which we haven't had in about 5 years and my kids love it. Take care Deb and glad you had so much fun this past week.

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    1. I will try mini pecan tarts one of these days. I'd love to try a pistachio cake, too.

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  5. I like the way you think! I've read 61 books and just started a new one today. I can probably finish it long before the end of the year, but I'm already tabulating my stats and don't know if I'll have time to post a review, so I'll hold off on finishing the last chapter until 2022.

    I had to Google "A Tuna Christmas" to see what you were referring to. I'll bet it was nice to go and see it and laugh a bit.

    I've only done a tiny bit of baking this year. I made rugalach for my book group meeting last week. I tried a new recipe by Smitten Kitchen, but will go back to Ina Garten's in the future. Your Sablés au Citron look delicious!

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    1. I didn't realize Tuna Christmas wasn't well known outside of Texas. Interesting.

      I'd sure like to try rugalach.

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  6. Cozy mysteries always make me hungry since it seems like most of them are centered around food! Bakeries, pubs, ice cream shops, cafes, on and on and on...LOL

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  7. What a fun way to start the year! The Tour of Homes sounds like fun! We have them here once a year and I love them! My daughter has been baking for us and, I have to admit, I'm enjoying the experience! :)

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  8. You had a great reading year! I would have loved the cozy mystery discussion. That sounds like such fun. Hope you have a great week.

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    1. I wish you had been there to tell us all more about cozies, Yvonne.

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  9. I am so impressed by your reading numbers! I am just a little bit over 100. Very skimpy, lol.

    I read some really good books this year, though, and this week I read a Diane Chamberlain NetGalley review book: The Last House on the Street. So good!

    I am curious about your Tuna Christmas!

    Enjoy your week...I liked your Good Things.

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  10. Mmm, cookies! Congrats on reading 500 books! I won't even make it to 100 this year, unless I start counting picture books.

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  11. As always, you've had a busy week. You run circles around me. :-) Actually, probably just one circle. :-) Those cookies look amazing.

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  12. Happy holidays! I love that you save the last chapters of books to begin the new year, what a fun tradition.

    Holiday cookies are so scrumptious; we've only made chocolate chip so far, but more will surely happen.

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    1. I usually plan out my first book of the year, but I haven't done that yet. I wonder if I should talk someone into continuing that tradition.

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  13. You'll have to share any pics you got from Tuna Christmas show. I had to take a second glance at the cookies as you're off sharing nature works and I thought I was looking rocks lol Happy Holidays.

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  14. Wow, 500! Congratulations on so many stories!

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  15. Which is more impressive: multiple cookie types or 500 books? You amaze me!

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  16. Wow! Congrats on 500 books AND 5 kinds of cookies!!!!! That is just amazing. I really wish I enjoyed baking because I sure do love to eat baked goods. lol The reindeer bites are extra cute.

    Hope you have a wonderful Christmas week!

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  17. I thought I might do some baking this year, but my motivation has dropped with the lousy year at work I've been having. I'm blown away by 500 books! That is awesome! Have a great holiday!
    Lisa Loves Literature

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  18. 500 Books!!!!! Congratulations!! Now pass me those cookies!!!! LOL I hope you have a fun week!!!

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  19. That is an AMAZING number of books and lovely looking cookies. We have put ourselves back on partial lockdown because the cases in the Cleveland area have skyrocketed and the hospitals are near capacity, so even with masks I wouldn't feel comfortable. In my circle 4 have covid and 2 have been to the hospitals. The worst it's ever been :(

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    1. I'm sorry things are going so horribly wrong there. On and on Covid goes.

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  20. 500 books! I spend too much time online; I have a stack of books right by my sofa, three of which are started and are going nowhere. Now that winter weather is here, it's about time for me to get back to reading. I also checked out the brownie recipe and pinned it. I would definitely use the dark chocolate chips in mine.

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  21. You are so productive and having a wonderful season! I'm impressed! My baking is behind but I plan to really get it in gear tomorrow!

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    1. Your house is amazing. I can't imagine how you can feel like you are behind.

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  22. Gosh your baking goodies look yummy. That One Italian Summer novel looks good. Who doesn't want to visit Italy .... at least in our minds?! Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  23. I saw Tuna Christmas years ago and thought it was so funny. Lucky you.

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  24. I love that you save the last chapter for the New Year. I'm fanatical about finishing everything by the time I go to bed on New Year's Eve! The baking goodies sound delicious. I want to try the Winter Vanilla Chai cookies. Have a wonderful week!

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  25. Congrats on 500 books! I don't know if I could hold off on the last chapter of a book, I know it's only a week but what if it's a really good book. Have a great week and happy holiday!

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  26. The cookies look delicious I’ll be doing most of my cooking on Christmas Eve for Christmas lunchI have quite the list to make!

    Wishing you and yours a fabulous Christmas Deb, may it be merry and bright x

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  27. oh those cookies and baked goodies!!! And we are working on our Cybils finalists list as well ... some more reading left to do and after that, I can take it easy..

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  28. I can attest that the cookies were delicious!

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