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Wednesday, December 6, 2023

It's my Day: Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop

 Welcome to my day on the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop and I want to start, by thanking my hop co-hostess Carol, for being the best anyone could ever ask for. She is pivotal, in keeping us all going, on this crazy fun "hopping" ride! Thanks for another great blog hop year Carol!


This plate of virtual cookies, is thanks to McKenna Ryan's "Gingerbread Lane" pattern. It's an oldie but a goodie and has been in my pile of must do's since 2007. Scary, just how big/old that pile is, isn't it?


It's part of an 8 block pattern, I fell in love with so many years ago.
There are a zillion pieces to it, which is probably why it stayed in that to-do pile for so long, but what a fun project, once I got going on it.


I have a big tub of batik scraps that I can't bear to throw away. 


Some are really pretty tiny.

                 
     
But they were perfect for the details on this project.


It was a cumbersome job, but I worked it through, one block at a time and bagged up the tiny pieces as I cut them.


While it doesn't show up well in the photo, the champagne bottle wrap, is 3-D. That was an interesting technique to play with.


What I didn't realize until I was well into it, was that this pattern set wasn't met to be put together as a quilt. (I really need to learn to read better) LOL!! That explains why I only found 1 photo online, of it done as a quilt. 
I had to regroup and add to some of the blocks and cut down others.
It was quite the learning experience, all the way around but this sweet treat will remain calorie free forever!

Now as for the real deal cookies...well, I've put a lot of time and energy into loosing weight, and while it's a struggle right now, I am not making cookies this year. It's just too darn tempting and my will power is failing me right now. LOL!!

But I do have a couple of recipes to share with you. This spring when my youngest got married, I made cheesecakes for the rehearsal dinner and they were a hit.


I have an old cheesecake recipe that I've used for years. It's so old, I have no idea where it came from but a friend named it "Cheesecake Ala Joan" and that name has stuck.
You can download that recipe 
Next was an Amaretto Cheesecake an adaptation from my recipe. 
The Amaretto Sauce recipe can be found 
You will want to make extra, it's great on everything!
Last but not least...
German Chocolate Cheesecake (my new favorite)
This photo was borrowed from the recipe itself and yes, it tastes as wonderful as it looks!
You can find the recipe

Even though they are not cookies, they promise to bring much jolly to your holidays.

Pleas visit my fellow bloggers today

DECEMBER 7

MooseStashQuilting (you're here)

Ms P Designs USA

Quilt Doodle Designs

Quilted Snail

Sew Many Yarns

Just Sew Quilter

The Life of Grammy


You can find the complete schedule for the hop

HERE


Wishing you all, a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Oh, and I wanted to make a shout out to "Domestic Felicity" who made the sweetest hat for the "Turkey Trot" hop last month. You inspired me more than you know...


While this one loves her new hat, brother is not impressed. It comes off quicker than it goes on.
LOL!!


In fact these were so much fun to stitch, they got Christmas hats as well.
Yep, little man is not in love with being mugged by his sister or the hat, it seems!

 til next time...

 Keep on Stitchin'


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21 comments:

  1. I don't know where to start, Joan. The quilt is fantastic! All that applique--wow! And the cheesecakes look SO good, especially the German Chocolate one--I'm saving those recipes. Then the kids' hats--sew cute! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  2. Beautiful quilt! I love the gingerbread house block. Tasty looking treats!

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  3. Fabulous Christmas quilt! I am looking forward to trying your cheesecake recipes. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Your quilt! Oh my gosh! It is breathtaking! Each quilt block is exquisite! You are one amazing quilter. And a 3-D champagne bottle is beyond my grasp. How you did this, I will never know, but it is just a glorious quilt! Thanks so much for letting us look at it! Your recipes are in my saved file, and I'm making the German Chocolate one for my Christmas Eve brunch. You look wonderful - I've heard of losing weight, but never tried it myself! LOL Have a very Merry Christmas, Joan, and thanks so much for all your inspiration!

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  5. Oh geez - now you have me drooling. I want a nice big piece of every one of those cheesecakes, please and thank you (see? I even used my best manners!!).
    That quilt is spectacular and I can't even begin to imagine the number of hours that went into it. A family heirloom, for sure.

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  6. The quilt is absolutely beautiful. You have made a gorgeous finish. I have some of McKenna Ryan's quilts that are in my UFO piles too. The cheesecakes look delicious, especially the German Chocolate. The hats are adorable, as are your grandchildren! Thanks so much for sharing the recipes.

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  7. Beautiful quilt! And the cheesecakes look so yummy.

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  8. I love McKenna Ryan and that Gingerbread Lane pattern is fabulous. I love all the little pieces and details...and yes...that explains exactly why it was on the back burner. Hooray for a gorgeous finish and hooray for the weight loss. Your recipes sound delicious and I do love a great german chocolate cake - less popular in New England than in PA where I grew up.

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  9. Being the queen of tiny pieces, it is no surprise to me that you made this festive and beautiful quilt. It is truly amazing! All the details could keep me busy all day just looking at them. Love it! The cheesecakes look so yummy. Thanks for sharing your quilt, the cheesecakes, and those darling hats! Most of all, thank you for keeping me in line when I stray off with crazy ideas. xo

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  10. OHMYGOODNESS! Look at the cuteness overload! The turkey hat is definitely my favorite! My grandson loves his t-rex!!! These are absolutely addicting! All those colorful pieces in your plate of fabric cookies is festive! Thanks for your fun post again today! you always have some of the best creations I've seen!

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  11. Thank you for the cheesecake recipes. I have printed them out hoping to make one down the road. Glad you finished your older quilt-in-progress. So cute and just in time for Christmas!

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  12. I love your 8 block quilt!!! It looks fantastic!!! Thank you!

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  13. Such a beautiful quilt! You know you're a quilter when you can turn a bunch of blocks into a quilt even if it wasn't designed that way! You did a stunning job! I am definitely adding those cheesecake recipes to my collection. I can see my waist expanding just thinking about them. Your embroidered hats are sew cute!

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  14. I always knew you were my kinda girl but I know it for a fact now and cheesecake (my favorite) makes it official! I even saved all the recipes before I even commented; that'll teach you for having something so yummy and spectacular, too. The Sauce sounds so darn easy. I know I'll be making them for New Year's Eve at my daughter's house. Both daughters will go ape-crazy especially since I'll add almond flavoring. What an amazing quilt - wonderful even if it wasn't supposed to be 'a quilt'. I sure do hope that stocking is filled to the toe with lovely, sweet things for me. It already has cheesecake in it which is a win, win. Adorable grands and don't they just look the best in their hats and all! Merry Christmas, Joan.

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting, your comment sure made my day! I hope you enjoy your Cheesecake on New Years Eve. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season.

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  15. beautiful work Joan.Happy holidays

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  16. Oh wow, so many pretty Christmassy projects! Thanks so much for sharing them and the recipes! xx

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  17. Oh what beautiful projects! I really love the kids' hats. Adorable. I am so happy to be back online, computer issues resolved.

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  18. Lots of love quilty eye candy, so beautiful. The recipes looks really tasty. I'm also trying to lose weight so I'll try one of the recipes in the new year for John's birthday.

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  19. Well two weeks later, I am catching up. I can see why this quilt caught your eye. Great idea to have virtual cookies. I think that will suit me, too. The quilt looks great, even if it wasn't supposed to be a quilt!!!!
    Love seeing those two little grandies. The hats look so cute!

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  20. Woops, that was my comment. Karen at Sunburnt Quilts.

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Thanks for stopping by today. Your comments really do make me day!
;-)