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Christmas Cookie Coma! (Same true for Social?!) Including Sandy's Fav Recipes! #socbiz #ibmsocialbiz #ibm

I baked tons of cookies this weekend and ended up in a Cookie Coma!

What does a cookie coma look like?

• Over indulging on sweets by eating more than needed
• Obsessing to try each and every type of cookie
• Focusing on making the cookie look great, not as much on taste great

So why did I raise this in a Social Business Blog?

Well, as I see companies, I think they are in a Social Coma!

• Over indulging on social.  I see a lot of companies that seem to think that more is more.  They tweet and blog on everything and anything and broadcast too much!   Advice:  Think through your strategy on how you communicate in the market. While you cannot plan everything, you can ensure you are sharp and clear in our you communicate.   I advise companies to lay out their strategy by week.  For instance, each Monday post a video.  Each Tuesday respond on the following top 3 blogs.  Every Wed, Tweet the following, etc.  This strategy provides a way to be consistent and to let your "fans" know what to expect!  Surprising them also is good too but not everyday!
• Obsessing to try each and every type of social tool.   I see a lot of companies that cannot decide the tools that they need to use.  So each new tool they adopt immediately without thinking about the goal, or how it fits.   Advice:   Carefully select the tools based on the goals.   For instance, if you are already using Twitter, Foursquare, and LinkedIn, do you need Google Plus or Gowalla?  You'd be surprised at how  many companies try too many tools.
• Focusing on making it look great, not as much on content!  Social is about content.  Not just cool gadgets, and gizmos.   Many companies spend too much time on making their facebook page look great, but don't focus on the content.  Content is king or queen.   Make sure you have a content activation strategy or curation strategy is more important than the icing!

Here's one of my fav cookie recipe !!  It is from my grandmother who was from Lithuania.

A cool ball shape and has nuts and powered sugar....yes, some people call this a Russian or Greek Wedding Cake.  But not us!  It is the Lithuania Ball!

In a large bowl combine first 6 ingredients on low speed of mixer about 1 minute. Blend well. Gradually add flour at low speed until just combined; stir in nuts. Roll dough into 1 inch balls; place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F for 8-10 minutes until firm to the touch but not brown. Do not overbake. While warm, roll in additional powdered sugar. Cool; re-roll in powdered sugar before serving.

And one more for good measure!  Not cookies, but we are on the sweet roll!

Pumpkin Gingerbread Pie

Great way to jazz up classic pumpkin pie, yet keep it simple!

•  Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• ½ cup sugar or splenda for baking
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice or (1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg.)
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• ½ cup half-and-half or light whipping cream
• 1 14.5 oz package gingerbread mix
• Sugar free cool whip

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Coat a 10-inch deep-dish pie plate or an 8x8x2-inch baking dish with cooking spray.  In a small bowl combine pumpkin, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice.  Add egg, beat lightly with fork just until combined, and gradually stir in half-and-half, mix well.  Set aside.

Prepare gingerbread mix according to package directions.  Pour batter into prepared pie plate.  Lightly spoon pumpkin mixture over gingerbread batter; swirl gently using a table knife.  Bake about 50 minutes for a pie plate or about 60 minutes for a baking dish.  Cool slightly on wire rack.  Serve warm or at room temperature with cool whip or whipped cream.

I always make this over the Holidays for my family and friends and they loved it.  This was the first dessert that was empty in minutes.

by sandraanncarter