Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion

Okay, so this is a bit impromtu. But, hey, why not... let's be spontaneous. :-D



Since there are some audiobook codes burning holes in our pockets (metaphorically speaking^^), we thought it would be nice to give them away for Advent.

So for each of the Advent Sundays, there will be some small task or question for your consideration, and some lucky winners will get their hands on an audiobook code!

We'll be giving away

* 1st Advent: one audiobook code
* 2nd Advent: two audiobook codes
* 3rd Advent: three audiobook codes
* 4th Advent: four audiobook codes

and some other fun things I might find... ;-)

Games will run for a day each, and winners will be drawn by some happy random randomiser on the following Monday. First one will be up around noon (Europe noon, that is).
You can participate by taking part in the games and commenting in this party topic.

Have a very lovely Advent! <3

Hooray for games. I am looking forward to it.

What a nice idea to help count down to the holidays, thanks for organizing!

Happy to have here! :-)

Did anyone bake already?

Not yet, but I'm craving something with pineapple in it - maybe mini pineapple upside down cakes? I'm going to have to scour the internet for a recipe.

Mymymble wrote: "I made mince pies. They're gone now (-;
Thanks for organizing this, Calathea.
And Josh's Advent calendar is up too."

Is it? Very cool! And thanks for the heads up! :)

Mince pies... mini pineapple upside down cakes... I'll go an a google spray as well. No idea what all that even is. Must be a different baking tradition... ;)

Now that you mention baking, I wouldn't mind a piece of chocolate cake. :)

This is clearly the place to be on each Advent Sunday! :-)

Thank you for organizing our Advent Raffle, dear C!

Just finished backing the last batch of cookies :)
What are your favorite cookies in winter?

I like Lebkuchen as well but usually don't bake them since no one in my family likes to eat them and usually collegues will bring some to work for all to enjoy.

Fehu wrote: "I like Lebkuchen as well but usually don't bake them since no one in my family likes to eat them and usually collegues will bring some to work for all to enjoy."

Best colleagues!
I'd like to sneak a cookie or two... ;-)

My brother-in-law bakes pfeffernusse for our Christmas Eve party. The are my favorite! I used to bake biscochitos, but found that we end up with too many sweets. OK, I know. That’s not possible. So enjoy sharing this version virtually. ;)

https://www.newmexico.org/nmmagazine/...

Fehu wrote: "Just finished backing the last batch of cookies :)
What are your favorite cookies in winter?"

For me, chocolate chip year round! :-D

Elena wrote: "Now that you mention baking, I wouldn't mind a piece of chocolate cake. :)"

Have you tried mug cakes? Seriously, a cake in a mug in five minutes(which includes mixing and “baking” in the microwave). I love these! My favorite is the chocolate. :-D

Mince pies and cookies
Sundays of Advent Party
Someone pass the rum!

Fehu wrote: "Just finished backing the last batch of cookies :)
What are your favorite cookies in winter?"

Snickerdoodles!

gingerbread and apple pie

This is a great idea! The calendar is a treat on it's own, but makes it even better! And now I'm hungry again because of all the food talk here LOL.

Haldis wrote: "Mince pies and cookies
Sundays of Advent Party
Someone pass the rum!"

Ha! That's the spirit. *snickers*

I love all the suggested cookies and baked goods. I definitely have to get started. There are only so many weekends in Advent!

So, shall we have some fun on the first of Advent with the first candle lit (where are my candles, anyway...)?



Since we've been talking about cookies so much...

I have for you the Match the Cookie game. :-D

Also, you can test what kind of cookie you are in this quiz.

Let us know what you've got or what cookie in the matching game you already knew and which were new to you.
Or maybe you want to post your grandma's cookie recipe or link to a favourite one? All is welcome here. :-)

Today we raffle away:

* one audiobook code and
* one ebook-copy of Josh's The Dickens with Love via Smashwords.

Winners will be announced tomorrow around my 8 p.m.

And if you happen to have some surplus cookies lying around... I'll bring the coco if you bring the cookies. Deal? ;-)

Mymymble wrote: "I'm a Christmas Cookie! How appropriate."

That seems exactly right. :-)

Mymymble wrote: "I got the last two wrong way round in the cookie pairing, though."

You can always go again. It's just for fun, after all. :-)
How did you like the reindeer ones?

Cookies!!!
The cookies game was fun, thank you, Calathea! :-)
Also made me hungry...
Speaking of...chocolate chip cookies...yesterday i read somewhere that Baileys make chocolate chips for cookies. Baileys chocolate chips! Just sayin'... :-D

KC wrote: " Baileys chocolate chips! Just sayin'... :-D"

Ohohoho! I see where you're going with this... very tempting. :)

Calathea wrote: "So, shall we have some fun on the first of Advent with the first candle lit (where are my candles, anyway...)?



Since we've been talking about cookies so much...

I have for you the Match the Coo..."

I got 100% on "Match the Cookie" (no one should be surprised).

And I got Christmas Cookie too (although I had to improvise on the "how do you eat an Oreo" question; my method was not one of the answers)

Ok, now I need to have cookies with my coffee. Yum! I hadnt heard of a few of these but they look so good...

I'm a double chocolate fudge cookies. I would have thought something with nuts :)
I was terrible matching the cookies.

Jordan wrote: "Have you tried mug cakes? Seriously, a cake in a mug in five minutes(which includes mixing and “baking” in the microwave). I love these! My favorite is the chocolate. :-D"

I've heard about those, Jordan, but I've never tried them. I'm sure they are delicious, but isn't it better to have a whole cake to eat? :D

Jordan wrote: "Fehu wrote: "Just finished backing the last batch of cookies :)
What are your favorite cookies in winter?"

For me, chocolate chip year round! :-D"

Absolutely, they are the best. :)

Calathea wrote: "Let us know what you've got or what cookie in the matching game you already knew and which were new to you."

Well, it was a disaster, I matched correctly the gingerbread men and the reindeer cookies (only because of the shape) and other two entirely by accident. I guess it's better if I stick with eating cookies, even if I don't know how they are called. :D

And I'm a double chocolate cookie. I love it! :)

SamSpayedPI wrote: "I got 100% on "Match the Cookie" (no one should be surprised)."

Excellent! We'll all turn to you with our cookie identifying problems. ;)

Michelle Rae wrote: "Ok, now I need to have cookies with my coffee. Yum! "

That's preety much what happend to me when setting up the cookie pics...

Loretta wrote: "I was terrible matching the cookies."

Just a reason to try them all... you know, for scientific cataloguing reasons. ;-)

Elena wrote: "And I'm a double chocolate cookie. I love it! :)"

Welcome to the family of chocolate cookies!

And as I said to Loretta, just a reason to try them all one after another... ;-)

Calathea wrote: "Loretta wrote: "I was terrible matching the cookies."

Just a reason to try them all... you know, for scientific cataloguing reasons. ;-)"

The sacrifices we make in the name of science...*sigh*

I mixed up two of the cookies: the Peanut and the Haystack (oh! What a great title....now to figure out a storyline....)
Here at home, we have bought ALL THE CHIPS (chocolate, butterscotch, bittersweet, mint, etc.) And brought out all the cookbooks, and we are ready TO BAKE!
CHARGE!!!!
ps. Just playing for fun.

Haldis wrote: "ALL THE CHIPS (chocolate, butterscotch, bittersweet, mint, etc.)"

I wasn't even aware they came in other flavours than dark or milk chocolate! The things you learn on a Sunday afternoon... :-D

Haldis wrote: "I mixed up two of the cookies: the Peanut and the Haystack (oh! What a great title....now to figure out a storyline....)
Here at home, we have bought ALL THE CHIPS (chocolate, butterscotch, bitters..."

I'd read it.

I think "All the Chips" might be a pretty good title as well. (Actually, I see that it already is one: The Empty Vending Machine/All the Chips).

I see a cookie-based cozy mystery series in our future. In the first novel, the Pillsbury Dough-boy teams up with the Gingerbread Man to solve the case of the Queen of Heart's stolen tarts (or stollen).

Now you've got me thinking of a great recipe I used to make; they used to sell raspberry-flavored chocolate chips, and there was a great recipe for a raspberry-chocolate bar cookie on the back. Of course, they stopped making the chips, and I didn't save the recipe. I guess I have my next Google project layer out for me (although, since I can't get the raspberry chips, what could I do with the recipe even if I found it?).

I am a Double Chocolate Cookie.
Good to know, I think. ☺
I am only playing for the fun.

"Help! Oh help!
Forsooth! Someone has stolen my stollen!"

"I shall help you, Majesty! I am Inspector Dough-Boy and this is my assistant, Ginger.....doesn't he smell nice?"

*snort**snicker**giggle*

Go on, go on! What happens next? Will Dough-boy catch the stollen-thief. And why is Ginger looking at him with this twinkle in his eyes?

"Ghostbusters?"
"Indubitably, my dear wonderfully fragrant Ginger. For the stollen thief is The Ghost of Christmas Past."

"Well Dough-boy, since we are no longer needed in The Case of the Stolen Stollen, what say you and I retire to my humble lodgings for a late night eggnog....." Ginger steps in closer to Dough-boy, lowering his voice, "I really want to poke you in the belly."
"Lead the way, Ginger. Lead the way."

LOL! I'm loving this thread so much! :-D

Haldis wrote: ""Well Dough-boy, since we are no longer needed in The Case of the Stolen Stollen, what say you and I retire to my humble lodgings for a late night eggnog....." Ginger steps in closer to Dough-boy, ..."

LOL. And then what happens? ;-) Love this!

KC wrote: "LOL. And then what happens?"

SamSpayedPI wrote: "KC wrote: "LOL. And then what happens?""

*snorts*

I got all the cookies correct even though I didnt know some of them. I have a sweet tooth and so I just imagined which picture went with each title. It has left me wanting at least two if each a large mug of tea. I particularly liked the peanut blossoms. mmmmm