I like the idea of using chocolate covered raisins!!! I'm gonna have to try that!
I'm planning on starting my cookie making next week. I know I'll be making the Mystery cookies, Molasses cookies, Hot chocolate chip cookies, and a few others. Should be a fun season!
For the newbies - My aunt started inviting all the family (extended, as well as immediate) to her house the night before Thanksgiving for pie. Her reasoning was that after a huge meal, no one can do justice to and enjoy the pies. So, the night before, we gather together, and everyone brings pies. Some bring one, some bring multiple. We lay them all out and cut them into tiny slivers. Then people load up plates and we gorge on pie! It's a wonderful tradition, and when she passed away several years ago, her daughter continued the tradition. I've introduced it to Alan's side of the family, and we hold a Pie Night with them the Monday before Thanksgiving, and then have another Pie Night with my side of the family on the night before Thanksgiving. It's also become a fun time to try new pie recipes. Each of my kids makes at least one pie, and they like to try new recipes (except Jacob, who is a pumpkin pie purist.). We've already started going through my recipe books to find this years pies. I know we'll make a pecan, a Derby pie, and a pumpkin, but who knows what other kinds we'll make. The trying is the fun part!