I was so excited I had trouble sleeping last night. Seriously. Because today is IMBB # 10, which I am hosting, having suggested the theme of a Cookie Swap to Alberto (the mastermind behind IMBB, in case you were unaware) way back when, in April of this year.

The holidays for me have always been about baking and cookies seem to be the central point of that baking theme. I give them as gifts, I serve them at holiday parties, I munch on them with my Starbucks Eggnog and/or Gingerbread Lattes (yum!) and I also simply love the smell of cookies baking emanating from my kitchen this time of year.

Let me just mention here, too, that I am a certifiable HOLIDAY FREAK (in caps, for emphasis), particularly when it comes to Christmas. It's not at all a religious holiday for me, merely an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, to bake treats and to walk around in a semi-dazed state, all happy and excited that Christmas is coming.

I love getting the Christmas tree and decorating it with twinkly white lights, shiny red and silver decorations and of course, sugar cookies we have decorated especially for the tree, all the while sipping hot cocoa or mulled cider. I love shopping for a gift for that certain special someone and taking it home, exclaiming to S. "Look what I got for s0-and-so!" and then spending all day trying to decide how to wrap it to perfection. I love hosting Christmas Eve for my family, with our yearly tradition of Chinese Food and a Gift Game that leaves us all satiated and fighting at the same time. It's just a time of genuine pleasure for me...that must have been ingrained in me from my childhood.

So when Alberto okayed my Cookie Swap idea I was really happy -- what better time of year to host an IMBB? What better theme could there be for a baking and Christmas freak? So I got a bit excited last night and didn't sleep well -- it was like Christmas Eve when I was a kid. I couldn't fall asleep for the life of me...and then this morning I woke up at 6am, not to the clicking of Reindeer hooves on my roof, or to presents under a twinkling Christmas tree, but to the thought that there might be some email in my inbox, telling me where to find cookie recipes (which, honestly are like little gifts in themselves)!

So, enjoy my own wee contribution to this festive occasion -- Apple Butter Linzer Cookies and please, email me with your own cookie stories and recipes -- I am looking forward to hearing from each and every one of you!