text:
Nestle sent me two of these cookies kits so I have one to give away to a lucky reader. Leave me a comment here and tell me your favorite baking tradition and I'll choose a random winner on Saturday. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize before an alternate winner is chosen.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Bake Some Love
Nestle sent me two of these cookies kits so I have one to give away to a lucky reader. Leave me a comment here and tell me your favorite baking tradition and I'll choose a random winner on Saturday. Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize before an alternate winner is chosen.
188 comments:
- LaLa said...
Hi Dawn! I love these contests :) A baking tradition here at my house is that I need to use the mixer twice in anything that we "mix" up. The reason.....so that there is enough of the mixer handles for everyone to lick the frosting off of when we are done. I am a mom of three, but do I get the fourth mixer handle?? Nope, that belongs to daddy and the kids make sure he gets it. That's okay kidlets, because mommy gets the bowl ALL to herself :)
- February 10, 2011 at 12:06 AM
- ~ Elly ~ said...
ohhh my mom and I used to bake all the time together. I remember Christmas baking and making loaf after loaf after loaf of poppy seed bread...ohhh and trying to perfect the ever elusive brown sugar pie! Mmmm. Baking.
- February 10, 2011 at 12:15 AM
- Tami said...
My favorite baking tradition is baking christmas cookies with the kiddos. They absolutely LOVE that time of year and look forward to it all year long!!!
email@example.com - February 10, 2011 at 12:30 AM
- Sherry said...
I like how Brooklyn's "hair" matches her sprinkles. We make mini-pizzas at our house. Not really baking (as in cookies etc), but the kids love it. My 6 year old wanted do his all by himself last week. It took him at least 20minutes. He put each piece of mozzarella on individually. I couldn't help but smile.
- February 10, 2011 at 12:33 AM
- Mary said...
I love making Mexican Wedding cakes at Christmas time ... my 22 year old daughter has taken over the tradition this past year. So nice to pass down these traditions...
- February 10, 2011 at 12:40 AM
- dhaynes said...
My grandchildren and I always make cookies, for Christmas, Easter, Halloween and decorate them any way they like. We sometimes buy the unfrosted baked cookies and then they decorate them with different frostings and sprinkles. We've been doing this for many many years and my oldest is 15 and still enjoys doing it with us!
Diane Haynes - February 10, 2011 at 12:59 AM
- Unknown said...
To be honest, any kind of baking is my favorite. Everything from cake, cupcakes, to cookies, cheesecake (and I don't even like cheesecake).
I do love making all the peanut butter balls and pfeffernessus for Christmas. Or the sugar cookies and having the kids cut them and decorate them. Makes me feel connected to my kids.
Did I mention I love to bake? Wish I could make cakes like you can tho. - February 10, 2011 at 1:17 AM
- Vanessa said...
My girls and I have made cookies for the car loop attendants last year and this year, to thank them for standing out in the rain, the cold, and the heat to keep everyone safe and sane!
- February 10, 2011 at 1:17 AM
Baking Christmas cookies with the kids.
- February 10, 2011 at 1:27 AM
- beth said...
My daughter loves to make brownies. It's an easy thing for her to do and my husband appreciates the results!!
- February 10, 2011 at 1:32 AM
What if I don't have a baking tradition but just want a really big cookie?!
- February 10, 2011 at 1:44 AM
- My Wonderful Little Life said...
I love baking Christmas cookies for santa:)
- February 10, 2011 at 2:18 AM
- 4boyz4me said...
We love to bake here. I grew up baking bread with my mom as often as possible. 12yrs ago, I took the Wilton classes and have been baking and decorating the cakes for my kiddos and their friends every since. I have over 50 cake pans decorating my kitchen and now laundry room walls. Now my 9yr old is enjoying cooking and baking everything from scratch and is the only 9yr old I know of who was excited that Santa brought him a zester in his stocking. So yeah, something like this would be a huge hit at our house. Pretty please!!!
- February 10, 2011 at 3:00 AM
Oh I can't cook for nuts, so ours is a non back tradition. We make chocolate balls at Christmas. Condensed milk, cocoa, crushed biscuits and coconut. Can't get much easier than that.
I stir and roll the mix into balls and Miss 9 rolls the balls in extra coconut, refrigerate. Then it's a waiting game until they're firm enough to eat... and if Daddy is lucky he might get a few before we both inhale them all.
Love the look of that cookie dawn, YUM!
Belinda in Brisbane Australia. - February 10, 2011 at 3:01 AM
- Amy R said...
Valentine cookies and cupcakes are right up there.
- February 10, 2011 at 5:16 AM
- KDS said...
My favorite baking tradition...when someone else does the baking!
- February 10, 2011 at 5:46 AM
- AJIGnAJAGsMama said...
The women in my family have always participated in a Christmas Bake Day. We go at it kind of like Black Friday shopping. We meet at 6 a.m. for breakfast, then gather at Grandma's house and bake until 9 or 10 p.m. Sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, no bakes, hard candy, divinity, buckeyes, peanut butter cookies, chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, and probably some other goodies thrown in there too. We did this every year without fail for the past decade. This past Christmas was our first without Grandma, the first with my mom living in a different state, and the first when my daughter was very mobile instead of just a lump in someone's arms, so Bake Day didn't happen this past Christmas. But I'm going to do my own little bake day this year. Gotta carry on the tradition.
- February 10, 2011 at 6:27 AM
- Always, Hannah said...
Our family loves to make brownies but we wouldn't turn down a cookie!
- February 10, 2011 at 6:37 AM
- Judy said...
We don't have a tradition, per se. The kids just love to bake with me. Their favorite is getting to crack the eggs. I have gotten to be a pro at getting shells out of egg goop.
- February 10, 2011 at 6:43 AM
- Donna said...
Chocolate chip cookies or homemade bread on rainy days. (But I live in the middle east now, and imported chocolate chips are over $5 a bag here - so I aim to make more bread and fewer cookies these days.)
- February 10, 2011 at 6:43 AM
- Mynde said...
Oooooh baby!I love some home made goodies!!! (and if I have to turn on my oven- they are considered home made.)
- February 10, 2011 at 6:50 AM
- Swartzmomto3 said...
I love to bake just about anything! Cookies are one of my favorites cause it brings a smile to everyone's face!
- February 10, 2011 at 7:01 AM
- Jen5253 said...
Awwww! I love that she used so many sprinkles!! How did it taste?
I know that my little girl would also love to help make cookies! Thanks for such a great giveaway!
Our tradition is to make chocolate peanut butter oatmeal no-bake cookies at Christmas. I know that I could make them year-round, but I just never seem to remember that recipe. I always seem to peel off one or two before they've hardened, and burn my fingers and tongue as a result. LOL! - February 10, 2011 at 7:08 AM
- kirine said...
The "cookie conveyor". We were broke at the time. However, I did manage to squeak in a treat every now and then. I would buy the big batches of Tollhouse premade dough and line the kids up. As I scooped out the dough, I passed it to one child who rounded it up (made for prettier cookies) and then put it on the pan. Then that kid would go to the end of the line for the next one to get a scoop of dough. By the end of it, we had some sticky hands, lots of fun, and yummy cookies. Also, the kids did NOT fight at all in the middle of this.
I got told by my 14 year old son the other day how he missed the cookie conveyor. - February 10, 2011 at 7:09 AM
- Leonor Melo said...
Baking for birthday cakes, for sure.
Even if it means baking and frosting from scratch 4 different cakes -this year:one chocolate, one marble, one carrot and one orange - in a 2 weeks span ;) - February 10, 2011 at 7:09 AM
- Bettina Slottved said...
Hm ... don't know if I qualify since I am in Denmark. But anyhoo, I love to bake. I have just started making pumpernickel bread and love the fresh homemade smell. Other than that, letting the girls lick the bowl.
- February 10, 2011 at 7:10 AM
- Samantha said...
My kids (5 and 3)and their friends do monthly cooking "classes" where we do basic learning in the kitchen I love spending time in the kitchen with my boys!
- February 10, 2011 at 7:14 AM
- Sarah said...
[not an entry for contest] - just wanted to say Brooklyn looks so grown up in that pic...and I love her pink hair extension! :)
- February 10, 2011 at 7:19 AM
- Unknown said...
My husband is our cookie baker. My daughter got an Easy Bake for christmas. My husband made a HUGE batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, froze in small lumps so that they could be put in the easy bake for future use without buying all the premade mixes...guess how many actually made it to the easy bake, versus some unsuspecting stomach? HAHA!
- February 10, 2011 at 7:22 AM
- Unknown said...
My mom and I bake tons and tons of cookies and pies and various candy at Christmas time. Several years we have gone on cruises, but my kids always insist we bake cookies to take on the ship as it is "tradition" for us to bake. I may be almost 4-0 but I still need my "mommy time"!!!
- February 10, 2011 at 7:22 AM
- Bailey's Leaf said...
You must know that I'm experiencing hormonalness and would/could but should not eat the entire thing all myself.
My blog post for yesterday was "Just hand over the chocolate and no one will get hurt." Um, yes. Cookies and chocolate would be grand! - February 10, 2011 at 7:32 AM
- Unknown said...
I bake all the time! My kids and I sit down before birthdays, holidays, school parties, etc with my favorite cupcake book and they get to pick which cupcake to try this time. On baking day, I measure everything out and the kids (when I tell them it's time) get to put the ingredients into the mixer. My son (age 4) puts the liners in the cupcake pans, and my oldest daughter (7) is pretty good at scooping the batter into the pans. My youngest (2) is good at taste testing!!
- February 10, 2011 at 7:36 AM
- -T- said...
My favorite baking tradition is holiday cookie making. We bake them for just about any holiday you can think of; it's something that all of us can do together and we all enjoy it!
- February 10, 2011 at 7:38 AM
- Shannon said...
My kids and I like to eat baked goods too. We enjoy the time together while baking cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and cake. My youngest would sit on the counter and put stuff in the mixer for me. The time together is perfect with a "sweet" reward at the end!
- February 10, 2011 at 7:55 AM
- Jen@Scrapingirl said...
My favorite baking tradition is going to my mom's house and acting like I don't know what I'm doing, so she'll do all the work. :) But really, I'm not acting....
- February 10, 2011 at 7:56 AM
- Jennifer said...
My favorite baking tradition is making various types of cookies around Christmas time. I make Cherry Winks, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Sugar cookies and more!
- February 10, 2011 at 8:00 AM
- Renee said...
We like baking sugar cookies at Christmas time even though they always turn out horrible and I swear that I'll never do it again! I'm always looking for an excuse to bake cookies (other than sugar)...would love this giveaway!!
- February 10, 2011 at 8:02 AM
- elanit said...
I try to bake challah every Thursday evening. I have a 13-month old daughter and when I get home from work, I put her in her high chair with some cheerios and turn her towards me and the counter-top so she can see what I'm doing. I narrate everything-- what goes next, how I'm measuring the ingredients, etc. Thankfully I use a bread machine because there's no way she would last through the entire kneading process, but at least this is a start. I am hoping that as she grows up, she'll want to be more involved and bake this with me every week. Maybe by then, I'll stop using the bread machine and we can knead the dough together. :)
(Also just want to say that I recently discovered your blog and now can't get enough of it. Sending good wishes your way...) - February 10, 2011 at 8:08 AM
- Laura~peach~ said...
i am just learning to bake... i am 43 gah... i am a late bloomer ok... but i love making breads of all kinds the one people seem to love most is cinnamon buns... lovely gooey yummy sickeningly sweet billion calorie cinnamon buns... and i am getting better with cookies... mine are usually a bit on the well done side as in they get really hard so... dunking in coffee or milk is a must.
I would love to win :) love these give aways. - February 10, 2011 at 8:24 AM
- barbt said...
I love it when my 11 year old son says "Mom, can we make brownies?" He's now able to make them all on his own, which makes me so happy to see him take an interest in baking - something I love to do!
- February 10, 2011 at 8:31 AM
- Unknown said...
I took cake decorating lessons but it was actually my son that wanted to go. He's 13 and wants to be a pastry chef. Our tradition is that I bake the cakes and make the icing and he decorates the cakes. He's actually sold a few for friends birthdays! We have tons of fun :)
- February 10, 2011 at 8:36 AM
Our baking is very laid-back & easy--nothing complicated or lengthy! My girls pull a chair up to the counter to help add things--I will measure, they will add or break eggs for me (and I fish out chunks of shell!). Mostly I just love the looks on their faces as they watch the process and delight in making something :). My husband likes to buy a brownie or cake mix, write their name on it, and make it appear from the cupboard as if it came that way! "Oh, look what *I* found! And it has *your* name on it!!". The girls wonder how did Betty Crocker know their name?!? It's hilarious :).
- February 10, 2011 at 8:38 AM
- Sara said...
My daughter always triesto snitch too!
- February 10, 2011 at 8:39 AM
I used to bake cookies with my grandma. We used to make her ginger crinkles all the time.
The first time I made cookies without adult supervision, my friend and I put in 1/4 cup of salt instead of 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Nothing like chocolate chip cookie play doh!
Karen - February 10, 2011 at 8:40 AM
- Christy said...
My favorite tradition is making Christmas cookies with my kids. My girls love to decorate anything we make with sprinkles.
http://christypedersen.blogspot.com/ - February 10, 2011 at 8:42 AM
- Eileen said...
My baking tradition is to bake often!
Eileen - February 10, 2011 at 8:43 AM
- Unknown said...
My daughter and I don't really have much for traditions but we love to bake together and see what fun stuff we can create
- February 10, 2011 at 8:43 AM
- Jen said...
Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cakes for Christmas morning! My kids and I love to make these together. What better than "cake" with lots of butter on it for breakfast on one of the best days of the year?!?
- February 10, 2011 at 8:49 AM
- Kimberly said...
I bake A LOT. It's a stress-reliever for me. I have 4 kids. This means a lot of stress. Therefore, I bake A LOT.
As far as traditions go, I guess my favorite is Christmas cookies. The kids especially like cut-outs and this year my (then) 3-year-old put the sprinkles on...one.at.a.time. Fun! - February 10, 2011 at 8:54 AM
- dramamama said...
Every fall I make Anadama bread from scratch. It's a lot of work, but it makes the house smell SOOO good and everyone loves it!
- February 10, 2011 at 8:58 AM
- Our Unique Family said...
I love baking with my boys! Every holiday we bake together..it is a time to talk with them about what is going on with them. We have a good time together laughing and talking!
- February 10, 2011 at 9:04 AM
- Pam said...
One of my favorite baking traditions is/was teaching my kids how to bake and letting them create many yummy treats to share!
- February 10, 2011 at 9:06 AM
Into each love LOTS of sprinkles must fall. So sweet. I just love being in the kitchen baking and cooking anything with my kids. It's one of the rare times they're not fighting! Well, as long as the recipe calls for TWO of everything to be dropped in... Thanks for the chance.
- February 10, 2011 at 9:07 AM
- Donna's blog said...
In college my roommate and I loved having flour fights. Our kitchen was covered ceiling to floor in flour by the time we were done. There were even footprints leading to the bedrooms. This friend and I have recently reconnected. I can't wait to get together with her and have flour fights including my kids!
-Donna W. - February 10, 2011 at 9:10 AM
- wendy said...
Awesome and funny!! and giving away free stuff, who could hate that. I used to bake with my mom, and now my daughter bakes with her all the time, I just like to reap the rewards!
- February 10, 2011 at 9:12 AM
- Michigan Mama to 2 said...
Holy sprinkles Batman.
My favorite baking tradition, Christmas cookies at my mom's house. Then the mess is there, not at my house. - February 10, 2011 at 9:13 AM
- Unknown said...
I bake a huge batch of Snickerdoodles (German cinnamon/sugar cookies) for my cookie swap every Christmas, and since not many people have either heard of them or make them themselves, it makes my cookies the most-looked-forward to of the swap. It's a nice feeling!
Since my kids came along, I decided that a fun way to spend a snow day was to bake homemade chocolate-chip cookies, as both an activity and a treat with their cocoa when they come in from playing outside. In the past few years, it's been a real treat. This year, however, we've already had six blizzards and two sets of two snow days IN A ROW (with a total of six so far), so we've been making cookies galore. When I finally had to get dressed for work the other morning, my pants didn't button. Oh well; at least I'm making memories with my boys! - February 10, 2011 at 9:17 AM
- Kiote Agorist said...
Sunday is baking day around here. I haul out the flour, and the eggs, and the butter, and there's always at least one loaf of bread rising on the oven. Oatmeal cookies are a must, sometimes with bits of fruit, sometimes with chocolate. It's the only way some people in the family get any fiber at all. Sometimes when I'm feeling decadent brownies happen, but it's always a time to relax, enjoy the house smelling good, and get ready to have nutritious food all week.
- February 10, 2011 at 9:28 AM
- Robin said...
OOH!!OOH!! ME, me, me!!!! **Wildly waving my hand** Pick Me! Pick ME!
LOL! My daughter would love something like that. She's 10 and just getting in to baking. What fun this would be for her. - February 10, 2011 at 9:34 AM
- Carrie M. said...
I LOVE baking cookies with my kids. For their birthday's I make a big Cookie Cake and decorate with FUDGE icing...YUMMY!!
- February 10, 2011 at 9:43 AM
- Dana from Alabama said...
This looks so easy! I would love to win your prize!
- February 10, 2011 at 9:51 AM
- jesmerchek+kids=pure craziness said...
Since my son has multiple food allergies, we bake a lot. He loves to make granola bars and pretzels. As long as he can get his hands messy, he is a happy camper!
- February 10, 2011 at 9:52 AM
- Pattij said...
We LOVE to make cookies for all of the holidays with the different cookie cutters to match. And decorating them is the best part!
- February 10, 2011 at 9:53 AM
- Livingmydreams said...
How fun!
Our favorite baking tradition around here is Christmas baking with the kids. Then we package them all up and take to friends and family as gifts! - February 10, 2011 at 9:58 AM
- Sammi said...
I love to bake cookies with my family.
firstname.lastname@example.com - February 10, 2011 at 10:00 AM
- Mom in MN said...
I am not a baker by any stretch of the imagination! We did do cut-out sugar cookies for Christmas for the first time last year though and we will definitely do it again this year!
- February 10, 2011 at 10:07 AM
- Garima said...
Wow Wow wOW... Everything does look good with sprinkles! I recently tried baking a batch of cup cakes with my daughter, it was a lot of fun.... heres hoping that we get to bake these cookies soon!
- February 10, 2011 at 10:16 AM
- Kelly said...
Our baking tradition is birthday cupcakes. The kids pick a theme and we run with it. We've had Harry Potter inspired ones, lady bug, Ariel, Tinkerbell, sushi, even ardvark (remember Steel Magnolias?). My kids love to come up with outrageous ideas and then figure out how to execute them together.
- February 10, 2011 at 10:18 AM
- Tawny said...
My favorite is rolling out the dough to cut out sugar cookies - one year with the kids covered in flour and up to their elbows in cookie cutters, it turned into the perfect Christmas card picture!
- February 10, 2011 at 10:31 AM
- BBG said...
I decided to start a tradition of baking cupcakes with my 2-year old son. He helped crack the eggs into a bowl and I measured all the other ingredients into small bowls. Once we had everything measured out he dumped all the separate ingredients into the large mixing bowl. Just as I was getting ready to tell him the next step he promptly told me "I go watch football with daddy." So I was left to finish and do all the extra dishes that were created from putting everything into little bowls. It was worth it though when we the cupcakes were done and everyone was eating them he kept saying "Mommy and J make cupcakes. I wanna do again." And so the tradition has begun!
~wendy~ - February 10, 2011 at 10:48 AM
- Sylvia said...
My life right now isn't so much about baking (four kids 6 and under) but my kids love to help me in the kitchen. Right now my 2 year old son makes dinner with me almost every night. If something needs to be poured or stirred, he's on it!
- February 10, 2011 at 10:48 AM
- Wendy said...
My husband & I didn't save the top of our wedding cake. Who really wants to eat year-old cake, anyway? We ordered a replica for our first anniversary. Now, I bake us a cake every year for our anniversary instead. I tool a Wilton decorating class, just so I'd have a clue what I was doing!
- February 10, 2011 at 10:48 AM
- KarenKal said...
I love baking with my kids. They make a mess but it's still tons of fun. Their favorite thing to help with is waffles. Can't go wrong with egg shells in a waffle mix. :) Thank goodness I don't eat what they make.
- February 10, 2011 at 10:55 AM
- Valerie said...
I have to say I don't know if I was much of a baker before having kids - now it's fun to have a little helper (ok, not always sanitary - but fun). Our favorite baking tradition is to work together to decorate cookies for the current holiday.
- February 10, 2011 at 10:55 AM
- Unknown said...
I don't have any baking traditions other than I HAVE to make a cheesecake at Thanksgiving. Other than that, the baking has been turned over to my youngest daughter who really loves it and prefers that I stay out of her way. LOL
- February 10, 2011 at 10:57 AM
- Kelly F said...
Aww, what a fun little cookie-making tin! My favorite baking traditions are usually centered around the holiday season, which is making me think I should probably come up with a Valentine's Day baking tradition... ;)
- February 10, 2011 at 11:05 AM
- Melissa said...
Cute tin! And I love Brooklyn's hair. How did you do it? My 7yo daughter just asked for a pink strip in her hair.
- February 10, 2011 at 11:08 AM
- Unknown said...
My DD and I's favorite baking tradition is at Christmas time we will make ginger bread men, women, trees, etc, and then frost them with cookie frosting and decorate them with different candies and sprinkles! Then we give them away to family, friends, and teachers to show our apperication for what they do for us!
- February 10, 2011 at 11:10 AM
- Jodee said...
I love to bake, but just like you, it's mostly for the finished product :) We have a tradition that every year in early December all the girls (daughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters) get together with my mom and bake for the Christmas season. We take home pounds and pounds of Christmas goodies for the rest of December. Then come the New Year's resolutions to lose the pounds and pounds....
- February 10, 2011 at 11:28 AM
- Rebecca M. said...
Whenever my kids are stressed, or one of them had a bad day, I pull out the mixer and we start to bake. We never use a recipe per se, instead we just pull out the basics like flour, eggs, butter, etc and anything else we can find. I then let the kids decide what we will make. Sometimes it's been cookies with gummy bears and marshmallows, other times banana chocolate chip oatmeal raisin muffins. Baking together helps to open the line of communication between my kids and I, and I find they share more with me around the mixer than they do face to face.
- February 10, 2011 at 11:33 AM
- Midwest Mom said...
I have many baking traditions for each holiday but this time of year..Valentine's require truffles and heart shaped cookies..one side dipped in chocolate!
- February 10, 2011 at 11:33 AM
- SHarris said...
When I'm too tired to bake batches of cookies, I've been known to press all the dough into pie pans and bake big cookies.
- February 10, 2011 at 11:40 AM
- Patty said...
We have a new baking tradition in our house. My mother-in-law lost her battle with cancer this past August, and she used to make the most delicious sugar cookies. Not only were they delicious, but they were beautifully decorated - works of art, really. Since we lost her, my 4 year old son and I decided to make cookies using her special recipe, and decorate them this year. He also loves the sprinkles! We made 2 batches of about 6 dozen each, and shared with our family and friends. And my son shared the sprinkles with our kitchen floor. This way, we remember Grandma Deb when we eat those cookies (and we'll need to make up another batch for Valentine's Day!), and when I continue to mop up sprinkles, 2 months later...
- February 10, 2011 at 11:49 AM
- stephanie said...
The morning of a birthday in our house I make pancakes for breakfast. The birthday person gets a pancake in the shape of the number they are turning. My kids really look forward to when they get a "5" pancake or an "8" pancake!
Stephanie A. - February 10, 2011 at 11:50 AM
- Bekah said...
Baking Christmas cookies with my kids. It's the one time of year where we have time to all be in the kitchen, relax, and enjoy baking! I look forward to it every year!!
- February 10, 2011 at 11:52 AM
- The Cohen's said...
Well, I bake probably once a week, but our favorite baking tradition is just sugar cookies. I make the cookies, then make a bunch of different colors of frosting or icing, and set out a plate of different sprinkles and let my son go for it. ;) He loves it, and I don't feel bad if he eats his creation (unlike play-do).
- February 10, 2011 at 12:01 PM
- Dawn said...
We love to bake all year long. We love cookies :-) Usually the 2 youngest kids love to help the most. The older 2 just want to know when they are done.
- February 10, 2011 at 12:01 PM
- Missy said...
Christmas cookies!! My daughters and I bake a number of Christmas cookies every year.
- February 10, 2011 at 12:13 PM
- Unknown said...
I love to bake with my daughter! It's a fun and gives us time to do something together.
- February 10, 2011 at 12:52 PM
- Mary Anne said...
Dawn, you're awesome!
I love making cookies from scratch. Creaming sugar with butter and shortening with a big wooden spoon is so comforting to me. My husband makes fun of me and uses a hand mixer when he makes cookies, but it just isn't the SAME!!!! - February 10, 2011 at 12:55 PM
- Unknown said...
In addition to lots of different Christmas traditions with cookies, we also enjoy backing cakes and cookies throughout the year. I don't do many things from scratch but we have multiple recipes that we use from boxes, mixes, and even the refrigerator dough. I always baked brownies from scratch as a kid. The box mixes are almost as good.
- February 10, 2011 at 1:01 PM
- Melissa said...
We do Christmas cookies each year, and as messy as they are, we could never skip them. Thank you!
- February 10, 2011 at 1:05 PM
- Vivian M said...
Every weekend, we bake, and our little one loves to lick the mixer spoon and the spatula. Her favorite is banana bread. :o)
- February 10, 2011 at 1:11 PM
- V1nce said...
Our baking tradition is staying the heck out of the way of my brother's wife while she makes Xmas cookies and then eat them!
If we're quick we can nab some hot ones! - February 10, 2011 at 1:14 PM
- Dayna said...
I don't know that it's necessarily a tradition, but I haven't made cookies by myself in years. I usually have at least two helpers who take turns adding ingredients.
- February 10, 2011 at 1:24 PM
- Natasha said...
I do most of my baking at Xmas time and it is mostly whatever the kids ask for, some long standing recipes and some new stuff to try. So a hodge-podge with exception of this one tradition, that is not directly baking in itself, but a result of my baking... It all started with a pear tart that required 2 tbs of brandy <- you get the idea, right?
I enjoy your blog! - February 10, 2011 at 1:24 PM
Favorite traditions start way back with MY mom. Every since I was small I can remember standing at the counter on a stool, mixing cookie doe with her. Now MY Grandchildren stand on that same stool to mix cookies with me!
- February 10, 2011 at 1:30 PM
- Colleen said...
We would have "Bake-a-Thons" where we would spend and entire day or weekend sometimes baking for our holiday presents. Often times it was 10 or 12 kinds of cookies, 2 or 3 breads and muffins. I dont bake on that scale now...but ahh those were the days!!
- February 10, 2011 at 1:37 PM
- Jen said...
I love making fresh bread. The whole house smells so yummy!
- February 10, 2011 at 1:38 PM
- Unknown said...
I remember my mom making pies and using the dough scraps to make cinnamon sugar pie crust cookies. My sister and I loved Thanksgiving and Christmas for those pie crust cookies. :)
- February 10, 2011 at 1:43 PM
- Brooke said...
I just love to bake! Cookies and brownies especially... I also never make individual choc chip cookies, just spread them in the pan!
- February 10, 2011 at 1:56 PM
- dwalz said...
This looks fabulous! I'll have to buy one of these. I always bake with my boys. However, my oldest son does not like chocolate (clearly they mixed him up with another child in the hospital but he's cute so I've kept him) so when I make chocolate chips cookies I have to either keep some chip-less or use white chocolate that he believes is vanilla.
- February 10, 2011 at 1:58 PM
- emiliy said...
A big baking tradition starts the weekend after Thanksgiving every year. My grandma used to ask for all of the grandkids to come over to her house and we would all sit around and bake traditional Italian Christmas cookies together. When she passed, my dad took on the tradition for us. I'm nearly 30 now, but I still love baking Christmas cookies with my dad after Thanksgiving.
- February 10, 2011 at 2:10 PM
- Unknown said...
My favorite tradition is making spiced nuts with my Mom during the holidays! I also love to make the chocolate roses you taught us to make!
- February 10, 2011 at 2:19 PM
- Pam said...
We love to bake, but cookies are probably are favorite thing to make. Cuz who does't like cookies, right?!
- February 10, 2011 at 2:24 PM
- Kimberly said...
:) My kids beg me every morning to make cookies while running around with spoons screaming "cookie dough! cookie dough!" (the little ones are 3 and 4) Then they hop up on the counter with thier sppons and wait (impatiently) for me to make some majic with my trusty KitchenAid! We have a big family of 6, so a batch of cookies gets eaten every day! Thanks for the chance to win some love!
Kimberly - February 10, 2011 at 2:45 PM
My grandma and I used to bake all the time together, never needed a "reason". As an Adult, I love to bake. When we were in Wisconsin in the winter I baked because it made me happy, made me think of my grandma. I'm blessed enough to still have her even after the scare of a life time the last week. Now, I bake with my kids making all sorts of goodies. I'm known and "cookie" mom by the band kids because I make goodies for them to take for their marching comp's. Baking for me is a little bit of sunshine.
- February 10, 2011 at 2:51 PM
- lovinsanta said...
I dislike cooking but LOVE LOVE LOVE to bake. Each year my sister and I get together for a long weekend in December, and make upwards of 100 dz cookies. We give these to the workers at my husbands plant, and hers to those she works for and nothing better than sweet treats :)
Thanks for the opportunity! I have a feeling it is safe to say Brooklyn loves PINK :) Sooo cute! - February 10, 2011 at 2:54 PM
- Nancy said...
Our baking tradition: I ask my 12 y.o step son if he wants to help me make cookies. His eyes light up as he says, yes. I ask him to get out the mixing bowl, spoon, eggs, etc and he stares blankly at me. I get out the mixing bowl and tell him to get the eggs out of the fridge. He opens the fridge and stares blankly into it. I remind him to move his head AND eyeballs, and he finds it. Amazing talents this kid has! I ask him to get the vanilla out of the pantry (as I am finishing getting out everything else). He asks what the vanilla looks like and I respond by asking him why he is in the honors program at school. By now my toddler is in the kitchen wrapped around my legs screaming, "Hold you! Hold you!" I pick her up and hold her while trying to find the recipe in the cookbook. I instruct my stepson to read the instructions and turn on the oven. He stares at the cookbook for 5 minutes while I stop to pick up the baby and change his poopy diaper and clothes, with my toddler wrapped around my legs screaming, "Hold me! Hold me!" I return the the kitchen (scrub my hands) and help my step son measure and mix the dry ingredients while holding the toddler and putting the baby in the exersaucer. The baby screams, I pick him up, tell my stepson that I am sure he can read the recipe and make the cookies himself. I retreat to the playroom with the little ones while stepson finishes the cookies. This means checking with me every. single. step. of. the. recipe... The cookies finally get into the oven (45 minutes later) and stepson disappears. I put the baby on the floor of the kitchen with tupperware to play with, and hold the toddler while cleaning the kitchen (that looks like a cyclone hit it) one-handed. If I put her down she either screams, "Hold me!" while clutching my leg, or she "helps" by pushing the baby over every time he tries to move. I pull the cookies out of the oven, pour myself a glass of wine, and I eat the yummy (if slightly salty) chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. The toddler runs off to get her big brother and they get to eat cookies too!
I am glad you and Brooklyn had so much fun! - February 10, 2011 at 2:55 PM
- Unknown said...
I don't make very many things from scratch, but I do make homemade, cut-out sugar cookies for holidays. The Halloween ones are my favorite--ghosts, bats, and pumpkins. It's less stressful doing them at Halloween than at Christmas time when there are so many other things going on.
- February 10, 2011 at 3:15 PM
- Lise said...
I used to bake more when the kids were home, now, it is nice to purchase prepared dough and just bake away!!
- February 10, 2011 at 3:24 PM
I don't know if this is a good tradition, but whenever I stress out, I start baking things. When life gets crazy, I know I can make some muffins and they will turn out okay. It's be nice to bake something for FUN. :)
- February 10, 2011 at 3:26 PM
- Unknown said...
Hi! My baking tradition is that I have my hubby and boys (2,4 & 6) mix up all the dough, and then I bake it all. We also make sure to bring Grandma and Grandpa a sample from each of the boys.
- February 10, 2011 at 3:27 PM
- Elleah said...
My favorite baking tradition has always been baking molasses cookies with my sister + Mom and then getting to ice them and put sprinkles on them. Yum!
- February 10, 2011 at 3:30 PM
- Jen said...
A recent tradition is baking peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. My kids LOVE them (and so do I). They are SUPER easy and quick to make. It only takes about 15 minutes from start to cookie-eating! YUM!
- February 10, 2011 at 3:31 PM
- Mindy said...
Yum! Always tell people that my kids make cookies in 2 varieties: cavities or extra cavities!
- February 10, 2011 at 3:32 PM
- Purple Quilter Queen said...
Cookies - Yum-O! Love how Brooklyn matched her hair to the sprinkles!! My favorite baking tradition was making chocolate chip cookies with my grandmother Mamie! And her chocolate pies! I'm now 40 and just about have perfected it. Cool giveaway. Thanks! Jenn
- February 10, 2011 at 3:32 PM
- Chris said...
I love baking cookies from scratch. Chocolate chip or fragile crispy sugar cookies...doesn't matter. I just love it. I also bake when it's snowing or I'm housebound. Then I normally make cakes. Gotta love some good carrot cake! Chris in PA
- February 10, 2011 at 3:47 PM
- Hope said...
We love chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin pie.
- February 10, 2011 at 4:05 PM
- Robin M said...
My kids and I love baking but most of all I love your blog and look forward to reading it everyday.
- February 10, 2011 at 4:36 PM
- Steph said...
Every Christmas we bake cupcakes together and I have the kids decorate themselves. They pile on the frosting of all colors and I get to eat half a bowl of unbaked cake batter -- and that's my favorite part. :)
- February 10, 2011 at 4:50 PM
- Unknown said...
Baking Christmas cookies with the kids! One of my daughters has recently decided to try and bake more things on her own. She is always thrilled when she gets yummy results!
- February 10, 2011 at 4:58 PM
- Pasadena Mom said...
We love to bake here, too. Chocolate and butterscotch chip cookies are the favorite but sometimes in the name of "health" we'll make oatmeal. I really like the pan cookie idea - all the love, half the fuss. I think we might try that one soon!
- February 10, 2011 at 5:21 PM
- ponderthis said...
It's not really a tradition but I take my 2 girls to go see there Nana, Blah Blah, and Yoyo every week. I always bring some kind of baked treat for every one to enjoy. I don't think the week would be the same without seeing the grandparents and eating a yummy snack.
- February 10, 2011 at 5:29 PM
- Unknown said...
We don't have any baking traditions yet, but I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to start some! She's 10 months now...
- February 10, 2011 at 5:39 PM
My kids and I make the same yummy things every Christmas. White chocolate covered trail mix, peanut butter cookies ("I wanna do the criss-cross!!"), chocolate fudge and buckeyes! If you live in Ohio, you gotta have buckeyes!
- February 10, 2011 at 6:20 PM
- Keri Garrett said...
With the addition of great-grandkids, our family decided to start doing gingerbread houses at Christmas. Now, a group my family members gets together every year to bake all of the gingerbread house pieces from scratch. It's a loud, messy, long, involved process, but we wouldn't skip it for anything!
- February 10, 2011 at 6:30 PM
We love baking here! Just made cupcakes about an hour ago.. like my butt needs them lol! I remember baking with my mom when I was little.. I always wanted to make cupcakes and ice them. I'd ice one and be on my way.. my daughter now returns the favor ;)
- February 10, 2011 at 7:03 PM
- Meredith said...
Love B's hair! I have some pink hair too, and it so much fun to wear! Enjoy your treats.
- February 10, 2011 at 7:32 PM
- Carmen said...
That cookie looks very yummy! I love baking cookies from a recipe that my mom used to make when I was little. Hopefully some day, my kids will bake the same cookies for their kids.
- February 10, 2011 at 7:47 PM
- Jen3917 said...
Every year at Christmastime, my family celebrates "Christmas Cookie Day." My mom, sister, best-friend, and I would spend the entire day baking (and eating) cookies. Now that I'm married, I celebrate the same "holiday" with my sisters-in-law. I look forward to the day that I can share it with my own children!
- February 10, 2011 at 7:57 PM
- Cherokee said...
I don't bake much at all, but my one tradition is to make my grandmothers chocolate pies every Thanksgiving and Christmas, and at my husbands birthday. I'll also make her homemade dinner rolls a couple times a month. I'll occasionally make cheesecakes
- February 10, 2011 at 8:01 PM
- {Alynn} said...
My girls ALWAYS have to add "the love" when we bake. Nothing makes my heart warmer (besides a hot chocolate brownie!) than to see them lean waaaay over that bowl and wiggle their fat little fingers over the dough.
You've been in my thoughts and prayers! - February 10, 2011 at 8:25 PM
- Bug said...
In our house, we bake up an "edible advent". We make 12 different desserts and box them up and open them one at a time as a countdown for the 12 days of Christmas. In addition, the leftovers that we don't box up for our countdown are put onto plates and handed out to neighbors.
- February 10, 2011 at 8:59 PM
- Geev said...
My daughter told her aunt that her middle name is "Sprinkles"!! . . . my favorite baking tradition is home made bread. My mom used to make loaves on saturday and she'd divide the dough between us four kids and teach us how to knead the dough (push with the heal of your hand and roll over). A week ago I was making donuts and my 4 year old daughter wanted to help. I stood behind her like my mom did with me and taught her how to push with her hands and roll the dough under neath. It was one of those moments that I'll forever remember (only the sun will be shinning on my clean kitchen counters bouncing onto my spotless kitchen floor; birds will be singing at my window and the doe and bunnies will watch us through the floral trellis around my sliding door) :)
- February 10, 2011 at 9:23 PM
- annemarie said...
I love to bake cookies on Sunday evening so that we have goodies to tide us through the week!!
- February 10, 2011 at 9:30 PM
- kimbalaya said...
When my daughter was 4, all of her stuffed animals and her rocking horse were all named Sprinkles. :)
Our favorite tradition is getting together with our homeschool group a couple weeks before Christmas. Everyone brings a dozen cookies and a batch of white frosting. We tint the frosting all different colors so there's a whole rainbow to choose from, and let the kids have at it. We have tons of sprinkles, jimmies, candies and frosting everywhere before we're done! - February 10, 2011 at 9:33 PM
- Linda said...
oh yum...our baking traditions usually are at Christmas but we could start a new one for Valentine's Day too!! What a cute and sweet (pun intended) idea! It looks like you and Brooklyn had a wonderful time baking! Love her matching pink hair...
- February 10, 2011 at 9:37 PM
- Tamra B said...
I know it's trite, but I love baking Christmas cookies with the kids. They love eating the dough and frosting. They don't end up with very many finished cookiesl
- February 10, 2011 at 9:40 PM
- Linda N said...
Looks like you had some fun and ended up with a yummy treat all at the same time. Good times.
- February 10, 2011 at 9:40 PM
- Southern Girl said...
Every Christmas my mom and I spend a couple of days baking all sorts of goodies to give to my dad's colleagues. I look forward to it every year just to spend the time with her. :)
- February 10, 2011 at 9:54 PM
- pednurse said...
Yum! Cookies! Our favorite baking tradition is to bake & decorate a birthday cake for Jesus every Christmas. The kids get to decorate the entire thing all by themselves. It's fun to watch how their styles (and skills!) have changed over time. :)
- February 10, 2011 at 10:18 PM
- angie said...
My boys (ages 17 and 12) love making blueberry muffins with me. We love them fresh out of the oven with lots of butter. Before much longer, it will just be me and the youngest son baking together. *sniff*
- February 10, 2011 at 11:34 PM
- Holly said...
My favorite baking tradition is homemade sticky buns for birthday breakfast.
- February 10, 2011 at 11:47 PM
- Shanny said...
I hate baking. But when I do bake..my kids asked me "Why are you baking" with bugged eyes. Goal is to bake more often for all 5 kiddos.
- February 10, 2011 at 11:48 PM
- Cristen said...
I love to bake some times it takes to much time to do so... My son is home schooled so we do cooking and baking on a regular time table. This would be great!
- February 11, 2011 at 12:15 AM
- Losing Brownies said...
My mom is probably the worst baker ever. My dad made the mistake of taking over one Christmas because she was so frustrated with her burned cookies. He did such a great job, my mom gifted him the job of baking each year. Now at every Christmas time my dad has a baking marathon where he tries to get it all done in the matter of three days. It's quite the job because he probably makes about 100-300 dozen cookies for gifts and parties.
- February 11, 2011 at 12:50 AM
- Kami said...
My favorite thing about baking cookies is that my very clever British SIL doesn't know the difference between when I make them from scratch and when I did as you did with your cookie tin. I got really good at making them both ways and she couldn't tell. And I will never tell! :)
- February 11, 2011 at 1:31 AM
I'm designated as the pie baker for all family gatherings. I love it. Ironically, I can't bake a cookie from scratch to save my life. Thank goodness for pre-made! It makes it easier for my son to help too. He's not old enough to make pies with me...yet. :-)
- February 11, 2011 at 2:05 AM
- CraftyTweetie said...
Baking is such a wonderful activity to do with kids of all ages. It's not only educational but also fun for all involved. (Shhhh! Just don't tell 'em, tho, that they're doing math, reading, and using measurments while having fun! LOL!) Plus using semi-homemade baking kits like the one you and Brooklyn did makes it much easier for little kids who aren't known for their patience (or neatness!) I have fond memories of baking with my mom and grandmother. My grandmother use to make the best oatmeal raisen cookies. We'd always cut open large brown paper bags and lay them out on the kitchen counters to let the piles and piles of cookies cool on. And of course I always got to lick the beaters clean. Yummy! :) In more recent times, my now 8 yr. old niece loved to bake and cook with her grandma and auntie (Moi!), altho sometimes the concoctions she'd dream up were ... ummmm ... let's just say "interesting"! LOL!
- February 11, 2011 at 2:07 AM
- The Big-Bellied Beauty said...
My baking memory is with my dad, and its one I hope to pass onto my daughter. My dad never bakes, except for his famous zucchini bread. It is the best bread in the world and he only makes it at Christmas. He would bring me out a chair to stand on and hand me a spoon. And I would mix and mix and mix until my arm felt like it was going to fall off. I would call him over to look at the batter and he always told me it was perfect, just like me. He would pour the batter into the pan and then would hand me the spoon and bowl to "wash" (I licked them clean). My dad now has a stool for my daughter to stand on while we "wash" the dishes.
- February 11, 2011 at 4:22 AM
- Ruth said...
Oh my daughter would love to make a giant pink cookie too!! LOL What is it about Sprinkles?? :)
- February 11, 2011 at 7:23 AM
- Sherry said...
My favorite tradition is that I love baking cookies and making treats at Christmas time so I can fill tins with assortment of goodies and give as gifts. It is more affordable and the recipients seem to appreciate a homemade treat as this.
- February 11, 2011 at 7:54 AM
- Unknown said...
Making sugar cookies at Christmas and decorating them with my boys, just like I used to do with my mom!
- February 11, 2011 at 10:05 AM
- Missi said...
I like letting the kids make small cakes (one cake mix divided into 2 cake pans) & let them ice/decorate "their" cake anyway they like for their dad & me for our birthdays. They enjoy it.
- February 11, 2011 at 10:09 AM
- Unknown said...
I just sent a comment about my son and his Cub Scout bake-off. However, I'm at work (shhhh, don't tell) and my co-worker was signed in on her account. So, now I'm resending this under my account. Thanks, Dawn!!! Have a great weekend!
- February 11, 2011 at 10:37 AM
- Kikilia said...
My favorite baking tradition is making brownies with my daughter.
- February 11, 2011 at 10:44 AM
- Kaye said...
My son (who is 5) LOVES to help me bake and I love for him to. The more and more he becomes a little boy and loves boy things the less we have in common. However, this is time that is ours. Just ours. So I love baking ANYTHING with our little man!
- February 11, 2011 at 11:04 AM
- Ann Marie said...
Baking my mom's old recipes with my kids makes me happy. Seeing my daughter ooh and aah about using a cookie press was amazing.
- February 11, 2011 at 11:43 AM
- Queen of pink in a house of blue said...
Christmas cookies and candy. i have a huge list of things i bake and give as gifts...that is, what doesn't get eaten! ;-)
- February 11, 2011 at 12:02 PM
- Stefanie said...
My favorite baking tradition is eating cut-outs at Christmas! =)
- February 11, 2011 at 12:25 PM
- Nancy said...
Our baking tradition is to make gingerbread men to hang on the Christmas tree. Over time, arms become missing and sometimes heads...teeth prints in their ginger guts. I love it!
- February 11, 2011 at 2:00 PM
- Dana said...
Giant cookie? Sounds good to me :)
- February 11, 2011 at 2:02 PM
- Vicki said...
I don't know that we have a "tradition", but my 3 girls are just like me and we love to eat all things carbohydrate...so we make whatever we feel like at the time. Lots of cookies, but lately we have started making homemade yeast rolls and cinammon rolls. Since my oldest loves to knead, it makes it so much easier on my old, beat-up shoulder and I don't mind making them now.
- February 11, 2011 at 3:18 PM
- Heather said...
We love to bake cookies at our house. Or rather everyone loves for me to bake cookies.
- February 11, 2011 at 3:23 PM
- Heidi F said...
Baking Christmas cookies with my mother and grandmother- using recipes passed down from generations ago. :)
- February 11, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Dawn, you could really bail me out and share your tins with me. I have got to get the wost Mom award. My step-son in stationed in Korea and wants cookies. Well, I have good intentions, but they never seem to bake themselves, orpackage and mail themselves either.
Maybe your tin would cut out a step (or two)?? - February 11, 2011 at 4:06 PM
- jessica said...
Fun! I love to bake with my kids. It's messy, but they love making the things that they can eat!
- February 11, 2011 at 5:24 PM
- heyteach said...
My grandma used to make Krum Kuchen (a coffee cake) every Easter and Christmas. It was a recipe from her mom. Now my oldest son and I make it every year. My grandma is still alive but has Alzheimer's and my family is too far away to spend most holidays together so it makes me happy to carry on a tradition from my childhood with my sons.
- February 11, 2011 at 5:33 PM
- Melanie said...
My favorite tradition is sending my 4 kids to Nana's house to make the required 4 dozen holiday cookies for their school's holiday cookie sale.
- February 11, 2011 at 7:04 PM
- Jennifer Foster said...
My baking traditions mostly are centered around holidays.
But my go to recipe is choc chippers!
XO - February 11, 2011 at 7:21 PM
- Diane said...
Most days I don't have time to bake but I always, always make my kids' bday cakes!
- February 11, 2011 at 9:22 PM
- Buttons in a cup mama said...
My favorite cooking traditions, is baking Chrismtas cookies, while my kid eat all the dough !
- February 11, 2011 at 9:27 PM
- Unknown said...
Our baking tradition is dipping mini Ritz peanut butter cracker sandwiches into melted white chocolate candy melts. Way too addictive.
- February 11, 2011 at 10:14 PM
- sklay723 said...
If a friend has a birthday, my kids help me make a cake for that person before he/she comes over for dinner. It would be such a nice surprise for our guest, but my daughter likes to tell the person AS THEY WALK IN THE DOOR, "Hey, we made a cake for you!!!"
Katie L. - February 11, 2011 at 10:16 PM
- Lexie said...
Looks tasty and easy (which is sometimes good with kids) SPRINKLES and all!
- February 11, 2011 at 10:38 PM
- Krissy said...
Growing up my mom and I would make lemon merangie and coconut cream pies. I would stir the lemon and she would stir she coconut. I remember it seemed like forever for them to thickening up.
- February 11, 2011 at 11:54 PM
- melissa said...
Holy sprinkles Batman : )
- February 12, 2011 at 1:33 AM
- Unknown said...
love it!!!!!
- February 12, 2011 at 3:57 AM
- Blinds said...
Every Christmas eve my mom used to prepare yummy rolls with brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins and tons of butter. In the morning we just pop it in the oven and enjoy. This had become quite the tradition and even though these are so yummy I could eat them daily, we ONLY make them on Christmas. It makes them that much more special!
- February 12, 2011 at 4:31 AM
- Mommy La said...
My favorite time baking I can remember was with my 3yr old. He was so excited when mommy let him make a cake with her. I never forget the smile on his face that day.
- February 12, 2011 at 5:05 AM
- Kris Roach said...
I only have boys, but they have loved cooking and baking with me since they were small. We love to bake cookies to take to school or church...and of course we love to bake cookies just to eat!!!
- February 12, 2011 at 10:47 AM
- Maplefrost said...
Whenever we make our special oatmeal-choco chip cookies, we add an extra egg. It makes it taste better <3.
Ohhh, I really hope I get chosen! :D -Natasha - February 12, 2011 at 2:54 PM
- Unknown said...
Who doesn't love cookies (and cookie dough)? I can sympathize with Brooklyn's attempt...after several rough weeks, a couple of spoonfuls of cookie dough seems to work magic :)
- February 12, 2011 at 5:54 PM
- Davney said...
I'm not sure if this a tradition, but I just LOVE holding my kiddos up on the counter while they watch the mixer mix the dough; it absolutely amazes them for some reason!!
firstname.lastname@example.com - February 12, 2011 at 9:04 PM
- Annie said...
Am I too late? I could really use this - I have been making cake balls all day for my son's teachers on Monday and I need something to make for myself!
- February 13, 2011 at 12:38 AM
- Unknown said...
Our favorite tradition is baking cookies on Christmas Eve and decorating them. Eating as much frosting as actually gets on the cookies is a very important part of this tradition!
- February 13, 2011 at 4:34 PM
- Marly said...
Licking the beaters after. It was one of my favorites and sadly my children look at me weird when I offer them a beater.
- February 13, 2011 at 6:21 PM


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I have been working in FIX for almost 5 years when I started working on FIX I looked upon internet for some good tutorial which could supplement or complement lengthy FIX protocol specification there was nothing at that time so when I started my blog I thought to write about my own experience in FIX as short, clear and concise tutorial format. Since I like question-answer type of knowledge sharing too I have written some blog post on FIX protocol Interview questions you may find it interesting.In today's FIX Protocol tutorial we are going to have a look on FIX protocol session level messages. As you guys may know all FIX messages can be broadly classified in two categories Admin messages also called session level messages and Application messages which include Trade, pre trade and post trades messages.
FIX Protocol Tutorial 2: Basics of FIX Protocol and FIX Engine
FIX is Industry standard protocol for electronic trading , with evolution with computer technology Trading also getting Electronic and now most of the exchanges in the world are fully electronic and concept of trading floor is taken over by computers. In this FIX Protocol tutorial we will see about basics of protocol itself and basics of FIX Engines.FIX protocol is a tag value protocol where every field has a unique tag name and signify something e.g. Price (tag 44) denotes the price of a particular shares , OrderQty denotes quantity of order.
FIX protocol specify different types of messages for different trading purposes e.g. for Sending an Order to exchange they used NewOrderSingle message (MsgType=35) or for Sending a Cancel to exchange they used CancelOrder message (MsgType=F). To read more please see Fundamentals of FIX Engine and FIX Protocol.
FIX Protocol Tutorial 3: Fix Session is not connecting how to diagnose it?
In this blog post of FIX protocol tutorial series I would like to share my experience with FIX connectivity issues around Fix Engines. To exchange message or say to trade electronically clients connect to broker using FIX and for that they use FIX Engine.In FIX connection between two FIX Engines is referred as FIX Session and we normally say whether FIX Session is connected or not connected. FIX Session normally have there start time , end time and EOD time (End of day time) also called Trading Session start time , Trading Session End Time and Trading Session EOD time.
Fix Session Start time is the time when FIX Engine tries to connect each other , to connect successfully both client and broker must have agreed on Fix Session start time and there FIX engine must be running on that time to make them connect to each other. To read more please see FIX Session disconnection in FIX Protocol
FIX Protocol Tutorial 4: Repeating groups in FIX
In this FIX protocol tutorial I am going to share my experience about FIX repeating block or group. This is fundamental concept of FIX protocol and used to carry repeating data. Correct understanding of various available FIX repeating groups e.g. PartyID block, Allocation repeating group etc is very important for writing FIX based software. In this FIX tutorial I will explain about how to parse a repeating group, how to prepare a repeating group and how to understand a repeating groupIn FIX protocol when a group of tags appear multiple time in a FIX message they are called repeating group. These are essential to denote repeating entity in a FIX message e.g. take an example of PartyID repeating group which is used to denote Party trading on ID (India, Korea, Taiwan, China etc) market. I will keep our discussion around this particular repeating group to illustrate different points.
PartyID repeating group is made of following tags:
453 NoPartyIDs
448 PartyID
447 PartyIDSource
452 PartyRole
to read this FIX Protocol tutorial click here
FIX Protocol Tutorial 5: Replaying messages in FIX protocol
Two FIX engines communicate with each other using FIX messages and every FIX messages is assign with unique sequence number denoted by tag 34. Apparently every FIX engine has two sequence numbers Incoming Sequence Number (which FIX engine is expecting from counter party) and Outgoing Sequence Number (which FIX engine is sending to counter party). This sequence numbers along with rules specified in FIX protocol technical specification ensures that no FIX engine should lose any FIX messages in the event of any disconnect.In this FIX Protocol Tutorial we will discuss some scenarios where disconnect between two FIX Engine occurs and how they recover from that situation. Normally disconnect and reconnect can cause replay of messages which would be require from either party e.g. either client or broker based upon who has higher sequence number. To read more please see How to handle replay of FIX Messages in FIX Protocol.
FIX Protocol tutorial 6: Difference between Session Level and Business message Reject
In FIX there are multiple ways of rejecting messages some of them are using an Execution Report (MsgType=8) and ExecType=8 to reject a FIX message if it can not be acceptable by exchange e.g. Sending order for an exchange and link between broker and exchange is down.In this FIX Protocol tutorial, we are going to discuss two ways of rejecting FIX messages, these reject messages represent more serious errors than the previous two and are named Session Level Reject (FIX MsgType 35=3) and Business Message Reject (35=j). to read this FIX Protocol tutorial see here
FIX Protocol Tutorial 7: Difference between FIX 4.2 vs FIX 4.4
FIX Protocol Tutorial 8: Writing your own FIX Engine
This is in continuation of my FIX protocol tutorial series, i am just sharing some of the thoughts that are important to remember while writing FIX engine, though there are a couple of professional third party FIX engines are available you may need to write your own if your firm requires complete control over it. While writing your own FIX engine I would suggest paying attention to certain points which could save lots of time during the maintenance phase1) Decide up to which FIX version you are going to support e.g. FIX 4.0, 4.2, 4.4. As most of the clients still use FIX 4.2 but supporting up to 4.4 would be a good choice.
2) Think about support tools required to check the status of various FIX sessions, changing sequence no, etc. JMX would have been a good choice if you were using Java but the similar solution can be possible with another language.
FIX Protocol Tutorial 9: Common issues on financial information exchange (FIX) Connectivity
So whenever a new client comes on board a new Fix Session will be needed for him who will be identified by host, port and comp ids e.g. SenderCompID and TargetCompID. Before you set up a new financial information exchange (FIX) session in your fix engine you will need to require network connectivity between the client's network and your network, this is usually done by the network team, and for security reasons, some firewalls rules also needs to be setup. While working on this part you may face several network connectivity issue based on what are you choosing e.g. Radianz, VPN or internet.
Once network connection gets established you are ready to connect to client. Now client will send logon request (MsgType=A) with sequence no 1, 1 (At start of day) and with SenderCompID and TargetCompID agreed upon
To read more please see How to troubleshoot FIX Connectivity issues.
I hope you find this FIX Protocol tutorial helpful please let me know on how to improve this and make it more useful.


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2016 is coming to an end, and before we know it 2017 will be here, new and shiny. But what does the new year mean for your business? For some, it can be difficult to keep up with the new trends and stay current on consumers' minds. For others, the new year means new opportunities, new products and new growth.
What do you plan to do to keep up with the trends of 2017? If you're feeling unsure, check out these five suggestions for your business to stay relevant in the new year.
1. Take your SEO to the next level.
2017 is sure to be the year of search engine optimization. Recently, Google has updated their search engine algorithms to focus more heavily on responsive websites and sites which are heavily optimized for search engine rankings.
If your business wants to stay up-to-date and current with consumers in 2017, focus your efforts on being search engine friendly. Potential customers will then be able to find you and easily engage with your business.
2. Get in on the video frenzy.
According to a recent Forbes study, 80% of executives said they were watching more online video today than they were a year ago. Sixty-five percent said they have even visited a vendor's website directly after watching one of their videos.
With the coming updates of technology, experts expect 2017 to explode as the year of the video. Make sure your business is in on the action by using video media to market, inform and promote your products or services.
3. Focus on intersectionality.
If 2016 could be summed up in one word, it would probably be diversity—lack thereof and promotion for. With 2017 just around the corner, diversity and how different issues intersect in the workplace is only going to continue to grow.
Your business can use this new year as an opportunity to focus its efforts on current issues related to class, race, sexism, ableism, heterosexism, xenophobia and transphobia, and what impact your product or brand has on this community intersectionality.
4. Garner sustainable practices.
Climate impact has been a huge topic of conversation for businesses in 2016, and chances are it's not going away anytime soon in 2017. Your company can stay on the forefront of consumers' minds by investing now in sustainable practices for your business.
Promote your brand as a force for good in the world, and give employees and customers something to look forward to and rally around. When it comes to making a difference, even the smallest changes can help your business get closer to a net-zero environmental impact.
5. Be more flexible.
The relationship in the United States between work and home life is changing rapidly, as the line between the two begins to blur. The average 9-5 work day has started to become a thing of the past, as more and more employees create careers of their own design—through freelancing, job sharing or double gigs.
For your business, this means recognizing the upcoming workplace changes and being flexible in how you treat both employees and customers. Consider letting employees build their work to fit their home lives; understand that customers may not always be working the average 9-5. In 2017, flexibility means frugality for your business.
Keep your company current for the upcoming year by taking advantage of these five suggestions. Because when your business is relevant in 2017, your business will grow in 2017.


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In 1897, a man named William B. Ittner became the Commissioner of School Buildings for the Board of Education in St. Louis. It was a new position, created to oversee an ambitious plan to design and build scores of new public schools in St. Louis city. Before this, school buildings in St. Louis were vastly unappealing structures. Almost resembling prison blocks, school buildings were uniformly dark, dreary, and overcrowded. Simply put, attending public school in 19th century St. Louis was an uncomfortable and unhealthy experience.
Growing up in St. Louis, William Ittner attended city public schools. The experience of learning in a cold box-like building must have made a significant impact on him. After attending Washington University's Manual Training School, he earned a degree in architecture from Cornell University. Upon returning to St. Louis, he began a successful career working in a few private architecture firms and on his own. When he landed his new job for the Board of Education in 1897, Ittner would apply his experience and knowledge to completely revolutionize school building design.
Ittner introduced what would eventually be called the "open plan". His new school designs used natural lighting, open spaces, unique classroom designs, attractive exteriors, and improved safety features. Instead of a simple four-sided box, his schools implemented E-, U-, or H- shaped floor plans. Corridors were lined up along large windows, allowing sunlight to spill in and fill open spaces. His schools were the first in St. Louis to have indoor plumbing, heating, and adequate ventilation. Proper fire proofing became a priority for the first time.
School building exteriors became canvases for works of art. His father owned a brick factory, so he knew how to utilize different colors and textures of brick to create appealing designs. He incorporated towers, cupolas, and grand entrances that made schools look like civic monuments instead of plain brick boxes. Most importantly, his schools were designed to create a safe, healthy, and warm environment that fostered learning.
Ittner would design over fifty schools in St. Louis over the next eighteen years. At the same time, he built a national reputation. Architects, educators, and tourists from around the country traveled to St. Louis to see his designs in person. Thus, he began designing schools for other cities around the country. As a result, he is credited with the design of over 430 schools nationwide.
Today, forty-eight Ittner school buildings still stand in St. Louis city. Several more can be found in the county (including Maplewood High School and University City High School). His legacy is not limited to school buildings. He is the architect of three of the most notable buildings in St. Louis: The Continental Life Building, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, and the Missouri Athletic Club.
I decided to head out into St. Louis and find his schools. Over the course of a few days, I biked and drove all over St. Louis locating each one of them. The result was one of the most entertaining weekends I've had in some time. It became something like a treasure hunt, sending me into neighborhoods and parts of the city I had never been. I even met some friendly people who wondered what I was up to. One particular gentleman walked me around and showed me some interesting features of the school he attended as a child.
I needed help, however. Since Ittner had such an influence on future school architects, many schools built after his tenure look almost identical to his. To make sure I had the right schools, I went down to Landmarks Association of St. Louis to get some assistance. The staff at Landmarks went above and beyond what I expected. Not only did they answer any question I threw at them, they let me review their entire survey of William B. Ittner schools. I thought forty-six schools existed, but Landmarks helped me determine two I had missed. After a quick ride to find them, I had pictures and notes for every Ittner school still standing.
Starting with his first school Eliot, and ending with his last school Mullanphy, here are the forty-eight schools still standing in St. Louis city.
Several of the buildings remain open as functioning schools today (Blow, Clark, McKinley, Farragut, Mann, Sigel, Soldan, Sumner, etc.), while others are empty and for sale (Simmons, Lafayette, Marshall, Shepard). Many have been remodeled and are now apartments or condominiums (Field, Arlington, Emerson, Franklin, Harris Teacher's College, Monroe), while others are being used for other purposes such as magnet schools or for special purposes (Shaw, Humboldt, Madison). Sadly, a few are in a severe state of disrepair (Rock Springs, Central/Yeatman High, Jackson). Carr School, located just north of downtown, is perennially on Landmarks Association's list of the most endangered buildings in St. Louis. Just a few blocks away sits Henry School, which looks like it could have opened yesterday.
Initially, I struggled with the drink aspect of this post. At first, I figured I'd just head to a bar or lounge near one of the schools. This idea didn't seem quite right since a random bar has nothing to do with Ittner or a school it may sit near. Fortunately, the good folks at Landmarks helped me out again (albeit unknowingly). While at their office, they informed me that the architecture firm that William B. Ittner founded after his job with the city of St. Louis still exists. I left Landmarks and walked over to the building (it was located just a couple blocks away). To my great delight, the tapas bar Mosaic sits on the ground floor of the building that houses Ittner's firm. After work, I headed over to Mosaic to see what kind of drink I could get.
I learned a few things at Mosaic. First, I learned that Mosaic makes a pretty good Manhattan. The recipe on their classic cocktail menu calls for Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Cinzano Sweet Vermouth. I ordered it straight-up, but I made no mention of my preference for shaken or stirred. I wasn't happy with the presentation (they shook it and served it in a rocks glass), but I still liked the taste. Buffalo Trace was new to me, and I've always enjoyed Cinzano in my Manhattan.
Second, I learned that I need to shut my trap about the topics I'm researching for this blog. The bartender saw me taking notes, so she asked what I was up to. I told her I was writing a post about William B. Ittner (she had never heard the name) and that I needed to find a drink that relates to him somehow. When I explained that's how I found myself at her bar, she rolled her eyes and looked at me like I was a complete nerd. She may be right, but I had a shitload of fun nerding out for this post.
This has easily the most enjoyable topic I've tackled in the young life of this blog. I enjoy exploring the parts of St. Louis I haven't seen, and William Ittner took me to dozens of new places. A few of the areas were a bit rough around the edges (to say the least), but I love those parts of St. Louis. It's why I write this blog. There are stories all over this town.
In conclusion, a few of the Ittner schools are worthy of their own post (Soldan, Sumner, Carr). I assume I'll be retracing my steps and coming back to William B. Ittner in the future. Stay tuned.


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ELinuxWiki:Policies & Guidelines
Policy and Content Licensing
- This site is wholly intended as a public site created by and for the Embedded Linux Community. Content posted herein will comply with the following policies:
- A wiki author shall retain rights and ownership to any material posted to this wiki that they currently hold the rights and ownership for.
- It is the responsibility of a content author to understand the legalities of the content they are posting. The Editor(s) reserve the right to remove content that is found to not comply with any of the policies, guidelines or intents found herein. This may include content that is deemed offensive, illegal, infringing on copyrighted material, or out of scope of the topic of Embedded Linux.
- This wiki is considered a Neutral location for content. This means that no sponsoring interest can or will retain rights over any content with the exception of content to which the party already retained rights.
- Unlicensed content is any post to the wiki that does not either explicitly (via declaration) or implicitly (through inheritance) carry a license already.
- Unlicensed content will default to one of the following licenses depending on its nature:
- The Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (CC BY-SA) - This license applies to all unlicensed content that is NOT code.
- The GNU General Public License, Version 2 (GPLv2) - This license will apply to all unlicensed code or code snippets.
- The Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (CC BY-SA) - This license applies to all unlicensed content that is NOT code.
- Prior Licensed Content
- Prior licensed Code posted to the wiki must carry a license in compliance with the Open Source Initiative's (OSI) definition of an open source license.
- Code patches posted to the wiki will carry the license of the code to which the patch applies.
- Prior licensed Code posted to the wiki must carry a license in compliance with the Open Source Initiative's (OSI) definition of an open source license.
Addition Inherited Policy
NOTE: The following eLinux Wiki Policies and Guidelines borrow heavily from the Wikipedia Policies and Guidelines.
You don't need to read every eLinux Wiki policy before you contribute. However, the following policies are particularly important to the project, and the sooner you understand and use them, the better:
- eLinux Wiki is not an encyclopedia. Although content of an encyclopedic nature may appear here on occasion, it will generally be in support of other content. Content of an encyclopedic nature should be added to Wikipedia and linked back here.
- Respect other contributors. eLinux Wiki contributors come from many different countries and cultures, and have widely different views. Treating others with respect is key to collaborating effectively in building an this resource.
- Don't infringe copyrights. eLinux Wiki is a free developer resource licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license. Submitting work which infringes copyrights threatens our objective to build a truly free resource that anyone can redistribute and could lead to legal problems.
- eLinux Wiki encourages original research. As the central resource for leading edge Embedded Linux work, you are encouraged to submit your research, test results, etc. to the Embedded Linux community through this wiki.
In addition to the generally accepted policies listed above, a very large number of Wikipedia Guidelines have been adopted by eLinux Wikipedians. These are used to provide guidance in various situations that arise on Wikipedia. They cover everything from naming conventions and sensitive terms that should be avoided to how to get along, and why not to bite the newcomers.
The eLinux Wiki adheres to Wikipedia guidelines, although exceptions may be made in the future.


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LONDON – With a little British pomp and a lot of British pop, London brought the curtain down on a glorious Olympic Games on Sunday in a spectacular, technicolor pageant of landmarks, lightshows and lots of fun.
The closing ceremony offered a sensory blast including rock 'n' roll rickshaws, dustbin percussionists, an exploding yellow car and a marching band in red tunics and bearskin hats.
The Spice Girls staged a show-stopping reunion, and Monty Python's Eric Idle sauntered through "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" — accompanied by Roman centurions, Scottish bagpipers and a human cannonball.
It all made for a psychedelic mashup that had 80,000 fans at Olympic Stadium stomping, cheering and singing along. Organizers estimated 300 million or more were watching around the world.
What a way to end a games far more successful than many Londoners expected. Security woes were overcome, and traffic nightmares never materialized. The weather held up, more or less, and British athletes overachieved.
It all came with a price tag of $14 billion — three times the original estimate. But nobody wanted to spoil the fun with such mundane concerns, at least not on this night.
"We lit the flame, and we lit up the world," said London organizing committee chief Sebastian Coe. "When our time came, Britain, we did it right."
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge declared the Olympics over with praise for the athletes.
"Through your commitment to fair play, your respect for opponents, and your grace in defeat as well as in victory, you have earned the right to be called Olympians," he said, adding: "These were happy and glorious games."
But the night was about splash more than speeches.
Festive and fast-moving, the ceremony opened with pop bands Madness, Pet Shop Boys and One Direction, a shout-out to Winston Churchill and a tribute to the Union Jack — the floor of Olympic Stadium floor arranged to resemble the British flag.
Monochrome recreations of London landmarks were covered in newsprint, from Big Ben's clock tower and Tower Bridge to the London Eye ferris wheel and the chubby highrise known as the Gherkin.
Street percussion group Stomp built the noise into a frenzy, and dancers brandished brooms, in a nod to the spontaneous popular movement to clean up London after riots shook neighborhoods not far from Olympic Stadium just a year ago.
Liam Gallagher performed "Wonderwall," a 1990s hit by his former band, Oasis, Muse rocked the house with the hard-edged Olympic anthem "Survival," and Queen guitarist Brian May was joined by singer Jessie J for a crowd-pleasing "We Will Rock You."
The headline performers were each paid a pound, a little more than $1.50.
The night ended with the extinguishing of the multi-petaled Olympic cauldron and a supercharged rendition of "My Generation" and other classics by The Who that had the crowd dancing in the aisles. Confetti rained down, and fireworks lit up the sky.
Prince William's wife, Kate, and Prince Harry took seats next to Rogge. They sang along to "God Save the Queen." There was no sign of the queen herself, who made a memorable mock parachute entrance at the July 27 opening ceremony.
Following Olympic tradition, the 10,800 athletes of the London Games marched in as one rather than with their nations, symbolizing the harmony and friendship inspired by the games.
As the crowd cheered their heroes and flashbulbs rippled through the stadium, the Olympians cheered back, some carrying national flags, others snapping photographs with smartphones and cameras.
They held hands, embraced and carried each other on their shoulders, finally forming a human mosh pit on the field.
The ceremony had something for everyone, from tween girls to 1960s hippies. The face of John Lennon appeared on the stadium floor, assembled by 101 fragments of sculpture, and just as quickly gave way to George Michael, Fatboy Slim and Annie Lennox.
Eight minutes were turned over to Brazil, host of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, which delivered an explosion of samba, sequins and Latin cool. Following tradition, the mayor of London handed the Olympic flag off to his Rio counterpart.
Britons, who had fretted for weeks that the games would become a fiasco, were buoyed by their biggest medal haul since 1908 — 29 golds and 65 medals in all.
The United States edged China in both the gold medal and total medal standings, eclipsing its best performance at an Olympics on foreign soil after the Dream Team narrowly held off Spain in basketball for the country's 46th gold.
While the games may have lacked some of the grandeur of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, there were more than a few unforgettable moments.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt became an Olympic legend by repeating as champion in both the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints. Michael Phelps ended his long career as the most decorated Olympian in history.
British distance runner Mo Farah became a national treasure by sweeping the 5,000- and 10,000-meter races, and favorite daughter Jessica Ennis became a global phenomenon with her victory in the heptathlon.
Female athletes took center stage in a way they never had before. American gymnast Gabby Douglas soared to gold, the U.S. soccer team made a dramatic march to the championship. Packed houses turned out to watch the new event of women's boxing. And women competed for Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei for the first time.
And then there was Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee from South Africa running on carbon-fiber blades, who didn't win a medal but nonetheless left a champion. And sprinter Manteo Mitchell, who completed his leg of the 4x400 relay semifinal on a broken leg, allowing his team to qualify and win silver.
Britons seemed exhausted and exhilarated after two glorious weeks in the world's spotlight, and just months after the country celebrated the queen's 60th year on the throne with a magnificent pageant and street parties.
Some at Olympic Park acknowledged happy surprise that not much had gone wrong, and so much had gone right.
"I was a bit worried we wouldn't be able to live up to it," said Phil Akrill of Chichester. "But walking around here it's just unbelievable."
Even non-Brits were proud of their adopted homeland.
"It's just been a really nice thing to see," said Anja Ekelof, a Swede who now lives in Scotland. "The whole country has come together."
Associated Press writers Fergus Bell and Jill Lawless contributed to this report.
Follow Paul Haven on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/paulhaven.


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Shimmering Stars
Violent Hearts
Almost Musique
Canadian trio, Shimmering Stars, sound so remarkably like the Beach Boys on this debut album that the casual listener could easily mistake the two. With an old school rock-and-roll style sound and a wistful, California-dreamy quality, the music of Violent Hearts transports us to the bygone era of the high school dance and dates at the drive-in.
Careful attention to the lyrics, however, reveals a contemporary angst beneath the surface that brings the material bang up to date. This doesn't necessarily mean in a good way; I'm Gonna Try, for instance, surprises with the line "walking down the street and I wanna kill everyone I see", and tracks such as Nervous Breakdown and Dancing to Music I Hate continue this thread.
Effective as both the music and lyrics are separately, their marriage here doesn't quite seem to work and it's easy to be left wanting either an angry album, or an album to float away on. The overuse of reverb effects to give that Beach Boys quality doesn't help, making the sound as muffled in places as the overall meaning becomes.
Grace Henderson


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The Man Who Painted Houses
What is cinema? Is cinema only cinema when you're watching it in a movie theater? While their methods have changed throughout the years, ultimately a sculpture remains a sculpture and a painting stays a painting. Most of the arts have resolutely remained themselves, but cinema has a kind of protean quality, whether its worshipers choose to admit it or not. Consider that the first movie theater opened June 19, 1905, in Pittsburgh. 96 seats were dragged into an empty store located on Smithfield Street, and when it opened, admission was a nickel. At their height, theaters bore the more grandiose... Read More


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Birdie Eleanor Lorraine Ashcroft passed away on Oct. 18, 2012, following a lengthy illness. Birdie was born on Jan. 6, 1928, to Wales and Minnie Smith. As a young girl, Birdie attended the day school near Ganado, Ariz., the Durango, Colo., school system, and graduated from Gallup High School in Gallup, N.M. Birdie spent her youth on her family's cattle ranch that bordered Chaco Canyon on the Checkerboard area of the Navajo Reservation. The vast ranch covered 39 sections of land.
Birdie worked alone in remote outposts as a messenger girl for the Santa Fe Railroad. She was responsible for hoisting pouches of mail on long sticks to the engineer as the train roared by her station.
Birdie's sweetheart, Jay Earl Ashcroft, asked her to go to the movies. Earlier that same day he reported to the Navy Induction Center in Santa Fe, N.M. Surprisingly, he was activated that very day and was charged with moving other inductees to San Diego, Calif. Two years later, Earl reappeared on Birdie's doorstep asking if she still wanted to go to the movies. She accepted and they were married two months later on Nov. 9, 1946 in Gallup, N.M.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashcroft lived a life that seems to be taken from a wild-west movie. Their first home was in Fort Defiance, Ariz., where they managed Dunn Mercantile Company. Both fluent in the Navajo language, the couple then moved to manage the trading post at Coppermine, Ariz., near the future site of the Glen Canyon Dam. The trading post was 150 miles from the nearest town of any size. They recalled they had "no car, no phone, no running water, no electricity, no roads, and no money," but they had each other and wonderful Navajo friends. Birdie and Earl would hitch rides in the back of a wagon and travel with their Dineh friends to squaw dances, ye be chii dances, and fire dances. From Coppermine they moved several times to manage the Tohatchi, N.M., Trading Post, the Divide Trading Post, where they were living when their daughter, Sharon, was born, the trading post at Wildcat, N.M., and finally back to Fort Defiance, Ariz., Trading Post. They managed the trading post in Fort Defiance for over 30 years. While living in Fort Defiance, Birdie assisted UNM linguist Robert Young complete the first Navajo language dictionary. Birdie and Earl's son, Mike, was born at the Public Health Service Hospital in Fort Defiance where Birdie was employed at the time. The total cost of his delivery was $2.
The couple purchased retirement property at Summit Lake, Colo. After moving to Summit Lake, Birdie worked at Don Woodard's Trading Post in Cortez, Colo. She also owned and operated the Ponderosa Cabins for several decades.
Birdie was a 4-H leader in Fort Defiance, Ariz., and organized the first Girl Scout Troop on the Navajo Reservation. She was a lifetime member of the Fort Defiance/Window Rock Bonita Canyon Sportsmen's Club. Birdie was a member of the VFW Ladies' Auxiliary in Mancos, Colo. Mrs. Ashcroft was instrumental in getting Highway 184 paved from Mancos to Dolores, Colo. She was also a lifetime member of the Southwest Colorado Cowbelles, and was voted Cowbelle of the Year in 1998.
Birdie loved to hunt, snowmobile, fish, read, play cards and tell stories of her exciting and colorful life on the Navajo Reservation.
Birdie and Earl are members of the LDS Church and were married and sealed together for all time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Birdie was lovingly cared for during her lengthy illness by her husband, Earl, the love of her life, and companion for 66 years. One of Birdie's favorite songs was "I want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart," and she was.
Mrs. Ashcroft is survived by her husband, Earl; daughter Sharon (Harold) Walter of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; son Mike Ashcroft (Jane E. Duncan) of Dolores, Colo.; Jason Walter (Clancy) of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; Mindy Impagliazzo (Fabio) of La Maddalena, Italy; Jamie Walter of Lakewood, Colo.; Amy Melvin (James) of Cortez; Heather Varney (Robert) of Dolores; great-grandchildren, Dakota Walter, Morgan Walter, Burke Walter, Hailey Melvin, Logan Varney and Keegan Varney; and other family members, Trevor Ince, Emily Duncan, and Ameé Mann. She is also survived by her beloved cat, Oscar.
In honor of Birdie's wishes, no services will be held.