For the past several years the team members at our N.C. Cooperative Extension office
here in Brunswick County have gathered together to bake cookies in December. The
office’s training kitchen is usually used for cooking classes, demonstrations and food
prep, but on this day, it was filled with staff members preparing their favorite Christmas cookie recipes.

Like many holiday events, the cookie baking tradition allows us to enjoy each other’s
company in a relaxed atmosphere. In the past, we have shared cookies with each other. This year, this sharing took on a different look. Cookie trays were made and distributed to departments within the Government Center that we work with throughout the year. This was our way of sharing the cheer and letting them know we value their partnership.

In addition to the cookies, staff members were encouraged to participate in an ugly (or not so ugly) Christmas Sweater Contest.

This year’s winners were Krys Ochota, Program Assistant in Consumer Horticulture and Matt Collogan, Area Agent, Environment and Natural Resources.

Matt Collogan is the newest staff member at the office, joining us this past October. He has a degree from UNCW in Environmental Studies and works with natural resources areas such as pond management, native plants and erosion control in New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick Counties.

Even though it was his first office cookie day, he shared that he is not new to baking with others. Since 1980 his family in Maryland gathers together annually for what they call a Christmas Bake. In some years this was a four- or five-day event at his grandmother’s house with making over 35 different recipes. Collogan was not able to attend this year’s Christmas Bake, but he is anticipating a tin full of cookies in the mail from his aunt and sister who carry on the tradition. We enjoyed getting to know about Matt and his family’s tradition and glad to share ours with him. He jumped right in making a recipe for Chocodamia Coconut Delights from the family Christmas Cookie Bake Book. Here’s their recipe:

Chocodamia Coconut Delights

• 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
• ¾ cup flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until creamy. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in nuts and coconut. Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Makes 36 cookies.

We hope you have some holiday traditions that you share with family, friends and co-
workers.

Merry Christmas to each of you from all of us at the N.C. Cooperative Extension’s
Brunswick County Center.

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Syracuse is a Family and Consumer Science team member and can be reached at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County Center 910-253-2610 or by email at
clsyracu@ncsu.edu