Cookie Swap

Let's Mix It Up!

2007-12-06T14:40:00.000-08:00

The 15^th Annual
Cookie Swap

Take a break from the holiday rush to share a
Christmas spirit with old and new friends.

WHEN: Saturday, ~~December 14th~~ December 15th, 10am
WHERE: Alanna's

RSVP: when you can (sorry, I know I am much late with invitations)

What's the Same
Bake ten dozen (usually two to three batches) of one kind of favorite holiday cookie, candy or other confection – plus a couple for sampling. Afterwards, head home with ten dozen of many kinds of cookies, candies and delectables!
Your family and holiday guests will be most impressed!

Tip #1: We divide up the cookies based on how many participate. I’ll let you know the day before how many packages to separate the 10 dozen cookies into.
Tip #2: If you want some of your own cookies for home, bake more than 10 dozen because the 10 is for sharing with everyone else, not yourself.
Tip #3: No fancy packaging expected, paper plates with plastic wrap or ziplock bags are fine.
Tip #4: Bring a copy of your recipe to post here (we live in hope ...)
Tip #5: If you can’t come but want to swap, drop off your cookies beforehand.

What's New!
First - My friend Lydia from Rhode Island is launching a great nationwide program called 'Drop In & Decorate, Cookies for Donation" that I'd like us to participate in.
Beforehand, I'll bake large cut-out cookies and whip up a bunch of colored frostings.
On Saturday morning, after a little glass of "holiday cheer", we'll decorate the cookies, working together around the dining room table.
Once the cookies have dried, I'll package them in clear gift bags to deliver to a local charity.
(Any ideas for the charity? A shelter? A hospice program? If any of us have one we're particularly attached to, I think that would be great. If not, I'll work on something ...)

Second - If you happen to have any 'Christmas-y' decorations in your cupboard, like sprinkles or dragees or anything like that, bring one. You might bring an apron, too. (It's not too messy but you might dress accordingly.)

Third - Because we'll be using the dining room table for decorating, "brunch" would be a bit awkward. So I've invited two of our guests (Karen and Natalia, who are starting up personal chef/restaurant consulting services, respectively) to bring appetizers for us to snack on. There will be plenty of coffee and champagne and snacks, just not the "meal" we've had before.

You Are Invited

2006-11-21T13:12:00.000-08:00

The 14^th Annual
Cookie Swap

Take a break from the holiday rush to share a
Christmas spirit with old and new friends.

WHEN: Saturday, December 16, 10am
WHERE: Alanna's
RSVP: asap or by December 1

Here’s how it works: Bake ten dozen (usually two to three batches)

of one kind of favorite holiday cookie, candy or other confection – plus a couple for sampling. Afterwards, head home with ten dozen of many kinds of cookies, candies and delectables! Your family and holiday guests will be most impressed!

Tip #1: We’ll separate cookies here based on how many participate.
If numbers are certain beforehand, I’ll let you know.
Tip #2: Bring a copy of your recipe to post here (we live in hope ...)
Tip #3: Brunch will be served. Come hungry.
Tip #4: If you can’t come but want to swap, drop off your cookies beforehand.

2005-12-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

Georgia's Mexican Snowballs (and other aliases)

2005-12-20T06:10:00.001-08:00

Jim's Little Praline-y Thingies - delicious!!

2005-12-20T06:10:00.000-08:00

Sharon's Second Collection

2005-12-20T06:08:00.001-08:00

Sharon's Second Collection

2005-12-20T06:08:00.000-08:00

Sharon's First Collection

2005-12-20T06:07:00.000-08:00

Mary's First Collection

2005-12-20T06:06:00.000-08:00

Cranberry Walnut Bars from Christa

2005-12-20T06:05:00.000-08:00

Oatmeal Jam Bars from Kami - delicious!!

2005-12-20T06:04:00.000-08:00

Festive Rice Krisy Bars from Ann G

2005-12-20T06:03:00.000-08:00

Molasses Cookies from Ann A

2005-12-20T06:02:00.000-08:00

M & M Cookies

Cookie Swap 2005 - Let The Merriment Begin!

2005-12-17T09:17:00.000-08:00

Kami, Ann, Krista, Mary, AK, Sharon, Marty, Kathy, Ann
(plus Georgia who's behind the camera)

MUSIC
(it wasn't but it could be!)

BRUNCH MENU

Cranberry Champagne Cocktail
Coffee

Auntie Gloria's Creamy Scrambled Eggs (from the family cookbook)
Sweet & Spicy Bacon
Apple Yogurt Salad with Mint
Lemon Zucchini Muffins

Cookie Samples!

Old World Lebkuchen

2005-12-17T06:12:00.000-08:00

See here for the recipe and here for an historical perspective.

LEBKUCHEN at the GEHLERTS

2005-12-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

Last fall, my neighbor Milton Gehlert invited me to make lebkuchen, a family Christmas cookie tradition during the 55 (so far!) years of marriage with wife Bobby and before that, with Bobby's mother and before that with her grandmother and before that with her greatgrandmother who was born in Germany.

DAY ONE -- MIXING & CUTTING

After so many years, Bobby knows the recipe by heart but got it out for me. She makes a double batch for 7 - 8 dozen medium-sized cookies. Cherry laurel water is related to the illegal absinthe so is no longer sold in the U.S. so Bobby substitutes a simple white wine such as chablis.

First, she cooks the dough, starting with the brown sugar and honey. Keep stirring -- all the time -- you don't want this to burn!

Then add the baking soda -- Bobby recommends a fresh box. The mixture begins to puff and bubble and swell. Keep stirring -- really.

Milton practices good oversight!

Then stir in the almonds, citron, orange zest and spices, then the wine. And OH the house begins to smell so good, cloves and lemon and orange and wine and ...

When the mixture reaches the proper consistency, stir in the flour a bit at a time. Stir. Stir and stir some more.

And stir some more! By the end, this takes a good strong arm! The dough will still be a little sticky but more flour will be kneaded in.

Bobby's got three wooden boards that've been in the family for years. Here she dusts them with flour.

Knead some flour into the dough, then roll it out thin, maybe 3/8" thick. If it sticks, then it needs more flour.

With a floured knife, slice the dough into rough squares ...

... and transfer to the floured boards.

Let the unbaked cookies rest overnight. Tomorrow we bake!!

DAY TWO -- BAKING & ICING

Transfer the cookies to a baking sheet, tapping them beforehand to dust off some of the flour.

Bake for about 10 minutes, when you lightly press the top of a cookie, it should spring back. The house will smell SO good while the baking's going on!

Transfer back to the ever-important wooden boards.

Lightly ice while the cookies are still warm.

Store and freeze in tins separated with layers of waxed paper.

And so? What do lebkuchen taste like? They're dense and sweet and chewy all at the same time, very satisfying, a cookie to savor in tiny bites, one at a time. They are -- as the Gehlert daughters and grandchildren will attest -- utterly, completely delicious.

2005 Invitation

2005-11-03T04:56:00.000-08:00

The Lucky 13^th Annual
Cookie Swap

Take a break from the holiday rush to share a
Christmas spirit with old and new friends.

WHEN: Saturday, December 17, 10am
WHERE: Alanna's
RSVP: asap or by December 12

Here’s how it works: Bake ten dozen (usually two to three batches)

Tip #1: We’ll separate cookies here based on how many participate.
If numbers are certain beforehand, I’ll let you know.
Tip #2: Bring a copy of your recipe. This year the cookie swap goes blog!
Tip #3: Brunch will be served. Come hungry.
Tip #4: No time to bake? Pick up something yummy from a local bakery!
Try Missouri Baking Company on The Hill, 2027 Edwards, 773-6566.
Call a taxi if you require home delivery!
Tip #5: If you can’t come but want to swap, drop off your cookies beforehand.
Tip #6: Cookie-baking not required! If you’d like to come but not swap, that’s okay too!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

1996-12-20T11:13:00.000-08:00

Priscilla

1 1/2 cups shortening
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 package chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 cups quick oats

Cream shortening and sugars together; beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. Sift flour, soda and salt together. Blend in oats and chocolate chips. Spread in greased jelly roll pan and bake at 350F for 40 minutes. Makes 6 dozen.

Nana's Shortbread

1996-12-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

Alanna

1 cup soft butter
1/2 cup sugar

Cream til light and fluffy.

2 1/2 cups flour

Stir in.

Chill 30 - 60 minutes. Roll 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters or into triangles, squares, etc. Bake 350F 15 minutes.