A Southern Grace: tis better to give than to receive (yep, it's a giveaway)

November 29, 2010

tis better to give than to receive (yep, it's a giveaway)

Yum

When I was a wee lassie, Christmas was all about the presents for me. Selfish, I know. Perhaps even Grinch-like. Yes, I got gifts for others, but only to merit something from them in return.


Times have changed, and while I still enjoy receiving a thoughtful present, I also find a lot of satisfaction in picking out just the right thing to give someone else.


You've no doubt recently become familiar with Tate's Bake Shop, as they've wisely been enlisting bloggers to review their goodies and host giveaways. (That has to be one of the best marketing strategies ever.) I was lucky enough to be contacted by the company and given the chance to sample my own batch and spread the love.

The package that I received contained three types of cookies (chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia nut, and oatmeal raisin), as well as the Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook by Kathleen King. I won't lie--I ate the cookies before I could take pictures of them, but if you're curious, you can see Emily's shots on her site. They were the polar opposite of cakey--all very crisp, yet with a nice chew and the welcome taste of caramel. Very delicious indeed.

The cookbook is full of interesting recipes, and I decided to make one in an effort to validate Tate's. I picked the GORP cookies, named using an acronym with which I was unfamiliar until Rachael Ray used it on her show.  (It's tr
ue.)  Good ol' raisins and peanuts. Well, I changed it up a bit, using pecans as my 'P.' The recipe is good--it turns out a delightfully chewy and flavorful batch of cookies.


So. Who'd like to win their very own cookies? One fortunate (United States) reader will win a Tate's Bake Shop cookbook and a six-box cookie sampler pack. Huzzah! To enter the giveaway, just tell me one thing you'd like to receive for Christmas. Be as selfish as you want--we're all friends here! To double your chances, become a fan of Tate's Bake Shop on Facebook, and after doing so, leave another comment telling me that you did. I'll close the comments a week from today, Monday, December 6th, and the randomly-selected winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Good luck!

Bonus for everyone--use the discount code cookie to get 15% off at Tate’s Bake Shop’s online store from now until Dec. 31, 2010.

GORP Cookies
(from Tate's Bake Shop Cookbook by Kathleen King)

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon water
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup cinnamon chips
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350°F; grease two cookie sheets or line them with Silpat.
In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
In a bigger bowl, cream the butter and sugars; beat in the egg. Add in the vanilla and water; mix together until they are just combined. Add in the flour mixture and oatmeal; mix until combined. Add in the cinnamon chips, pecans, and raisins; mix until combined.
Drop 1/4 cup dough onto baking sheets and press the cookies down lightly. Bake for 15-17 minutes; remove the cookies and cool them on a wire rack.

101 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Gorgeous cookies and lovely giveaway!

Cheers,

Rosa

Joanne said...

I have to make my Tate's recipe this week! I'm still thoroughly undecided about what to make. It all looks so good! I ate ALMOST all of my cookies and still haven't photographed them. Maybe today will be the day! The GORP cookies sound delicious. Hmmm...I will definitely have to make them at some point.

Angie's Recipes said...

What a wonderful giveaway! I always wish the cook books or kitchen related gadgets for the X'mas.
The cookies look so GOOD! And I love the oats and cinnamon chips!

marla {family fresh cooking} said...

Great giveaway girl! How yummy, sign me up!! xo

TKW said...

You had me at pecans. This holiday, I'd like two weeks of germ-free children. Please, Santa?

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I can't wait for mine to arrive Grace!!!

lisa is cooking said...

I like a loaded cookie like the gorp, and the pecan switch sounds great! My Christmas list is always a mile long, but one item I really want is a popover pan. I don't know how I've gone so long with out one, but it's time to fix that!

Faith said...

Love your GORP cookies, Grace! Pecans for peanuts is a brilliant swap. :) Thanks for hosting this giveaway! One thing I want for Christmas is a new Dutch oven!

Kelli said...

This year I've decided I NEED a new mixer. But not just any mixer, the 6 qt Kitchenaid that costs half a bajillion dollars.

kimberleyblue said...

Those look great. I like your pecan substiution...I think it's an improvement! These look so fat and delicious, just my type of oatmeal cookie.

Paycheck Princess said...

I have many cooking items on my wish list this year, but one thing I didn't even bother asking for is a Kitchenaid stand mixer... Maybe Santa will still hear my silent prayers.

Merut said...

For Christmas I want a puppy! But first I need to rebuild one side of our fence. Boo. Cookies would be a great substitute!

Suburban prep said...

There are a few things I would really love this season and one if is the promise of good health. (I have had a few issues this year). I would love a vacation too (a get away with my husband) and I would love a bedroom set (what we have was my husband's before we got married.)
msgb245 at gmail dot com

Sheila said...

What I want for Christmas, you said I could be selfish, is a cruise to Alaska.

Dorothy at Belle of the Kitchen said...

Hmmm...seriously? I just want to be with my family! It may be chiche, but it's the truth.

Anonymous said...

These are scrumptious looking cookies for sure! Great giveaway too!

LilSis said...

For Christmas, I wish Santa would fly myself, my husband, and my son to Chicago so we could spend Christmas with the rest of our kids and grandkids. :-)

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

I didn't know what GORP meant either, so thanks for enlightening me :). These look great and what a fantastic giveaway. Happy holidays!

Ryan Schoppe said...

I am wishing for a laptop! Spendy but much needed and a good investment.

Ryan Schoppe said...

I also became a fan on FB

April was in CA now MA said...

I'd love to be able to wiggle my nose and totally bypass the 23 hour drive to GA and be able to spend Christmas with my family.

Lauren said...

I'm wishing for a marble rolling pin. I've also got dvds from the Gilmore Girls or CSI.

Kathy Walker said...

As silly as it sounds, I would like a cuddly little puppy! I just learned about Tate's Cookies and became an FB fan. The Gorp Cookies sound wonderful!

Albany Jane said...

I am really gunning for some cheap tiles that I can line my oven with to make pizza at home.

And can I say, yeah, this is probably the best marketing strategy ever! Yum, cookies to try and give away!

Mimi said...

Fun give away. I will be totally selfish for Christmas...I just want time with my husband and kids.
Mimi

Anonymous said...

I would like the large Le Creuset french oven in cassis.

Janet in Maine

Jeannette said...

i'd like a nikon d90. hey... you asked!! i realize it'll never happen, but one can wish, right? ;)

jpinnick86@gmail.com

Jeannette said...

i am a fan of tate's on facebook!

jpinnick86@gmail.com

Melanie said...

I want an ipod classic! and rain boots from Target - the ones with roses.

Anonymous said...

For Christmas all I want is to win the lottery with enough to pay off my bills that have accured since my husband was laid off and to pack up and move to be closer to my baby sister. Family is good but my sister is the best!!

Anonymous said...

Oh- an I am already a fan of Tate's on facebook!! Thank you to our lovely clients who bring us their yummies!!!

The Beauty Bug said...

I am really wanting a pair of Ugg boots for Christmas.

HLMP said...

I want a cast-iron pan. My life will be better when I can take things from stovetop to the oven.
Thanks for running this contest!

HLMP said...

I am a Tate's fan on Facebook!

Elaine said...

A heated mattress pad! Warm and toasty...

Carol in Indian Springs Village said...

These look delicious and are going on the list to try (with the pecans of course!). I really have everything I need so just some time off to spend with family, friends and my new kitten would be the best thing.

knorris1 at bellsouth dot net

The Blonde Duck said...

You're so sweet!

Julie said...

Super giveaway...I'd like to try those cookies! For Christmas I'd like some sort of cool phone like an iPhone 4 with all the bells and whistles. Not happening, but I'm okay with that.

Kerri said...

For Christmas this year I would really like an Amazon Kindle.
I'm a fan of Tate's on Facebook!

Unknown said...

Would love a new KitchenAid foodprocessor for Christmas. I'm a big fan of Tate's and I am a fan of Kathleen's on facebook.

pam said...

A new Kindle. Even the though I have to old Kindle. I am all about the newest and bestest, marketers love me.

Marjie said...

All I want for Christmas is a couple of lenses for my new Pentax. And maybe some really cute shoes. And a batch of GORP cookies.

karen d said...

The thing I would most like for Christmas is for all my family to be safe, happy, and healthy.

mrsshukra said...

Would love to get a Canon S95!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

shukra liked Tate's Bake Shop on FB!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Barbara said...

If we're truly being selfish here and not saving the world and motherhood, I confess I'd like an iPhone. My Palm is dying.
The cookies look yummy, Grace!

Anibanan said...

I'd like to get cookbooks for Christmas!

Anonymous said...

A digital camera! Oh, and a new mixer...:)

Valerie said...

I'd love to get a KitchenAid stand mixer!

Adorkable said...

Delicious looking cookies! One thing that I really want for christmas is an actual working rolling pin. :) All I have is a little rinky-dink tiny pizza-dough one.

Chef Dennis Littley said...

those sound like some pretty good cookies! I vote for the pecans too!
thanks for sharing
Dennis

Julie M. said...

why the heck haven't I heard of Tate's cookies yet? they sound delicious! Bring on the dutch oven baby.

Randi Lynne said...

A Kindle

carrie said...

I'm already a fan! Hooray!

-carriechilton@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to get a genuine Coach handbag for Christmas. I love the purple one I saw at the mall.

scrambledhenfruit said...

I want my kids home for Christmas! Great giveaway. :)

Lori said...

I would like world peace... You did say to dream big Grace.

Materialistically, I would like a state of the art sewing machine.

I did not know about that GORP factoid. Mind blowing as I have all these strange tidbits of info in my head... like running your fingers on stainless steel to get rid of garlic smell.

MaryBeth said...

For starters I would love this prize...but really the only thing I really want for Christmas is not for me but for everyone who has a loved one in the Military. I want this war to be done and all Military to be home for the Holidays.

ashley said...

all i want for christmas is another job to help pay the bills..

Unknown said...

These cookies look so yummy. (don't include me in your giveaway though cuz I'm getting my stuff to giveaway too...soon LOL)

foodhoe said...

mmm, cinnamon oatmeal cookies are the best and that acronym just made my day.

Miss M.J. Ma'am said...

Hmmm, I think I'd like some new kitchen gadgets, stuff I've never heard of!! I love gadgets!

amanda said...

One thing I'd like for Christmas: A Nikon DSLR! Okay, that's probably not happening, but I so wish it were-- my blog pics would look so much better. :)

amanda said...

I'm a fan on FB!

tamilyn said...

I guess what I really want is a new dishwasher. Ours has been broken since March. That and a pair of fuzzy slippers I tried on at Target today.

p.s. I'm already a fan of Tate's!

shaz said...

Sadly I am not eligible to win cookies, but I can try making them :) Good luck everyone else!

Dorothy at Belle of the Kitchen said...

I'm a fan on facebook!

Juliana said...

Grace, I never even heard of this cookies...shame on me...they sure look yummie. One of the item of my wish list for this Christmas is a semi-professional camera...by the way, great giveaway :-)

tasteofbeirut said...

There are so many talented bakers out there that I havent heard from!
These cookies look so sweet and gratifying!

AJ said...

Of of the much needed items on my Christmas list this year is a new recipe book for me to store all my finds and favorites in! My old one is falling apart and has pages hanging out from using it so often!

HaveFaith said...

The one thing I have wanted for a very long time is a telescope. I have hinted so many times but nobody gets it! Oh well. I could console myself with cookies. Nice giveaway. Yum.

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Although I'm not eligible I'd be happy with a GORP cookie-not just because the name GORP cookie is cute! :D

Lisa-Marie said...

'wee lassie' is a very Scottish turn of phrase Grace!

jesse k said...

I'd love some new awesome boots. My husband however wanted to buy me curtains.

Pam said...

I too need to make my Tate's recipe this week... maybe today. I loved the cookies too - so buttery and rich. YUM. I am loving the gorp cookies... a bit of everything in them.

Unknown said...

I asked for a new gas range to replace my old electric . . . and I'm getting it!! I will have to bake some cookies in it when it comes!

sweetlife said...

love the GORP cookies, hmm for christmas I want cookbooks,cookbooks and cookbooks...funny thing is I ordered them myself, lol

sweetlife

Rusthawk said...

I would love to get a new laptop for Christmas.

Rusthawk said...

FB fan of Tate's BakeShop.

FOODESSA said...

Replacing the peanuts by pecans was a fabulous idea...as well as sharing this very tasty cookie recipe.

I want to wish all your American readers good luck and hopefully one day international readers will also be spoiled with these goodies too ;o)

Ciao for now,
Claudia

Terri. said...

I would love to have a new camera for Christmas.
tshaw6580@yahoo.com

Terri. said...

I am a fan of Tate's Bake Shop on facebook
tshaw6580@yahoo.com

Nutmeg Nanny said...

What a delicious giveaway! I would love to have a horse farm for Christmas, and I would like it to be full of adorable Clydesdale foals. Oh and the horse farm will have a great big Southern Plantation style home on the property with a large kitchen full of natural light.

You said I could be greedy...right? :)

Nutmeg Nanny said...

I'm a fan of Tate's on Facebook.

Ms. Meanie said...

Yum. Those cookies look very enticing! I've never heard of Tate, but I can see why so many people love 'em.

Amanda said...

Great looking cookies girl... and yay for the giveaway!!!

Robin said...

I want want want a nice business card case for my purse!! And I "liked" Tate's on FB. Hope I win!

Deborah said...

I know I won't be getting my Christmas wish because I want a new camera - a $2500 camera!!

Desi said...

I do want a new dslr camera but that aint happenin.... so on the more realistic side of things, I want house and kitchen items, and some cookbooks.

Unknown said...

Hi Grace!

For Christmas I want a ton of cookware--a full Le Creuset set, an All Clad roasting pan, a Shun rocking knife! I have $3000 of items in my fantasy Williams Sonoma cart and I can't afford any of it! Maybe the Christmas fairy will come along.

Unknown said...

I am a fan of Tate's on facebook now!

Cara said...

I'm with you - I love picking out just the perfect gift for someone else, and along the same lines, I'm always a wee bit disappointed in my family members who ask for a wishlist right away without even trying to think about what someone else might want. Oh well!

If I get to be selfish, I'll say this: I had not much on Hanukkah list till I just flipped through the Pier 1 holiday catalog and decided I wanted almost everything!

Anonymous said...

won't be anything for christmas this year so it is better not to "wish" for anything.

jacquieastemborski AT comcast DOT net

Natalie said...

I'd love a bigger food processor. And a big counterspace to put it on... within a house. Is that too much to ask? :)

perrysplate@gmail.com

Jessie said...

I would love a new laptop - ours is on its last leg!

Kerstin said...

I'd like my week vacation over the holiday to be work-free! I seem to always have something pressing to do and want to finally really relax over the holidays!

Nina said...

I want to see my family for Christmas. I live far away from them now and only get to see them once a year.

Stephanie said...

Great giveaway! At the top of my list this year is a Silhouette craft machine, but I don't know if Santa's going to be able to bring me one this year.

Miss M.J. Ma'am said...

I'm a fan of Tate's on FB!!

Ally said...

An engagement ring! Think he'll ever come around?! :)

Suze said...

Probably weird and wrong that I'd like a Shark Steam n Vac...boo..when did I get all domestic and want to clean all the time!