This post.  This post is kind of tough for me to write.

A little over 3 years ago, I started this blog. On a whim.  It took me about 30 seconds to come up with the name Doughmesstic, and then about 4 days to find the group Tuesdays With Dorie.

Tuesdays With Dorie changed my entire life.

You may scoff at that, but it’s true.

It was 2008, I had just given up my travel agency thanks to a bottomed out economy. I had a 8 month old baby, a college degree, and a family business had been recently dropped in my lap.  I did not cook.  I did not bake.  I didn’t know a torte from a trifle.

But I loved the idea of writing, of learning to cook, to bake, to take pictures of what I was creating.  I loved the idea of making online friends and sharing.  Tuesdays With Dorie opened up a whole new world for me.  I met other bakers.  Normal moms, career women, novices like myself, and even chefs, Everyone together, following the same recipe each week, and sharing our results.

I miss those days.  It was such a sense of community.  Every Tuesday, I bounced from blog to blog, discovering what everyone else did.  What changes they had made to the recipe of the week.  It was through Tuesdays With Dorie that I learned to bake, and how to make friends.

Three years later I make my living as a professional blogger.  I am a cake designer for high end cakes.  I develop recipes for companies like Nestle.  Nestle!  I travel to companies across the country to learn about them.  Companies like Johnsonville. Midstate Mills. Dole. Wilton.  I’ve hosted amazing parties for bloggers.  I’ve attended conferences, and companies have sponsored me to be there.  I attended the Culinary Institute of America.  I won a cooking contest that jetted me off to the Rose Bowl. I have written a cookbook, and am about to write my second.  I’ve met multiple celebrity chefs.  I even came THIS CLOSE to being on television myself, as part of Next Great Baker.  All this, in only 3 years.

Tuesdays With Dorie started all of that.

Dorie Greenspan’s Baking: From My Home to Yours opened my eyes to a world of baking, gave me confidence to try, and made me comfortable in the kitchen.  Dorie is quite an amazing woman, so open, and so giving.  She’ll probably never understand what she’s done for me.  But I thank her.  So much.

And to my old Tuesdays With Dorie friends?  I miss y’all.  Say hi, will you?

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Okay, recipe.

One of my favorite recipes from Dorie’s book is Granola Grabbers.  I changed them up when we made them in our rotation, back when I was just learning what I could and couldn’t do to a recipe.  This time was no exception.  In fact, I changed them up substantially this time.  Beyond recognition?  Maybe.  But they are beyond delicious.

As I mentioned last week, I now work for Nestle, and specifically this month, Raisinets.  I’ve had Raisinet recipes brewing just about every day, and while I didn’t actually plan to use them in this recipe, it just made sense, and I had to do it.

Oh, was it ever the right choice.

These cookies are unlike any cookie you’ll have.  They are not like chocolate chip cookies.  They are not like granola bars.  They are they’re own being, crispy in texture but still chewy, full of flavor, and accepted amazingly by the addition of the Raisinets.  I hope you’ll give them a shot!

The Giveaway

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Dorie, I have a signed copy of her Baking book to give to one of you.  I don’t even have a signed copy myself, so you are a step up on me!  As I mentioned, this is the book that changed my life.  Maybe it will do the same for you!

All you need to do to win is comment below, letting me know you’d like to win.

For an additional entry, tweet or share the link to this post on Twitter or Facebook.  Just return here to comment again, letting me know you did so.

For one additional entry, Pin one of the cookies from above to your Pinterest account, or, click the Stumble Button below to Stumble this post.  Be sure to comment, letting me know you did.

For a final bonus entry, comment letting me know you are or were a TWD Baker.  I have a special place in my heart for you all.

Good Luck!

Three total entries per person, max.  (Unless you are TWD, then 4 is okay) All extra comments will be deleted.

Open to US Addresses Only (so very sorry Internationals, I do appreciate you, though), and is courtesy of and shipped by Dorie Greenspan. Giveaway ends November 25, 11:59pm EST.

The BIG DEAL

See that 7 Quart KitchenAid?  I know you want it.  I certainly can’t blame you.  So, to keep it fun and interesting, I’m giving you LOTS of extra opportunities to win it.  For every giveaway you enter during my 25 Days of Doughmesstic Christmas, if you’ll go comment on THIS POST (Click thru!) saying “I entered to win the …” (you know, whatever you entered to win), you’ll get a BONUS entry to win the mixer.  That’s 24 additional chances to win that bad boy.  So scoot! Go enter to win today’s giveaway, and then visit THIS POST to comment for your bonus entries on the mixer.

Good Luck, and see you back here tomorrow for more fun things to win!  And, don’t forget there’s still time to win these other great gifts from the Gift Guide!

• Crosby & Taylor Pewter Measuring Cups (you can see them in the picture in this post with the Raisinets)
• Cuisinart Combo Griddler

Tagged as: cookies, Dorie Greenspan, giveaway, granola, Raisinets, TWD