Cookies, Friends and Fun!

For years I was the hostess of numerous cookie swaps when I lived in Rochester, New York, and each year it grew bigger and bigger. 

Since moving away my friends make a habit of letting me know every year how much they miss it.  After being here almost five years, I decided that this would be the year to start that tradition again so, I got on Facebook (like the tech saavy woman of the 21st century that I am —cough, cough) and created an “Event.”  Details for this year’s cookie swap included a request for each person to bake or bring four dozen of the same kind of cookie, a wrapped ornament to exchange, an empty container to bring cookies home in and, since I’m a firm believer that holidays are a time to give back, I asked each of my guests to bring a toiletry item to be donated to a battered women's shelter.

The cookie swap machine was now rolling.  Responses began pouring in quickly and enthusiasm for the event started.  I got out my recipes and began the search for what cookies to make.

In years past I’ve been known to bake anywhere from eight to ten kinds of cookies during the holidays.  For some reason though, this year with working as a part-time music teacher and also teaching private piano & voice lessons in my home, the idea of going into my usual Martha Steward frenzy mode just didn’t quite excite me the way it usually does so I opted for one kind of cookie and then began planning the menu for the event. 

I’m blessed to have a son who has experience as a short order whom I bribed (did I just say that?) “hired” to handle most of the cooking for the event.  We decided on appetizers and desserts. Pretty easy, good variety and it wouldn’t take me three months of paychecks to pay for it. 

Finally, the big day arrived. 20 women were coming to my first Florida cookie swap. I was excited about it all week long.  My guests were telling me how excited they were. We all couldn’t wait for a girls night out!

When they arrived my guests were greeted by holiday music playing in the background and the smell of food in the kitchen.  Two kinds of chicken wings, grilled shrimp, two different kinds of salads, and some of the usual party munchies were waiting for them along with a few bottles of wine.   As I stood back and looked at my group of guests, I was pretty happy with the mix — my two sisters and birth mom were there, friends from my moms groups that used to run were there and there were a few teachers from the school I teach at in attendance as well. 

They were all eating and chatting away and singing the praises of how good the food was.  Of course, the menu was topped off by dessert which consisted of my famous Chocolate Ravioli as well as Hello Dolly bars and bowls of fresh fruit (for those who were watching their weight during the holidays which, in my opinion is a futile endeavor, but to each his own.)

Of course, every party has to have a memorable experience and a knock was heard at the door and there stood a Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy.  I looked at him puzzled and walked outside where he informed that there was a parking ordinance in effect and that some of my guests were parked on both sides of the street and they had to move.  I of course, being the law abiding citizen that I was told my ladies to move their cars, which they did and we got right back to festivities. 

We played “Dirty Santa”  no, we’re not talking something “R” or “X” rated — it’s a game where you can steal someone’s ornament once they’ve opened it and if you like it can be yours if no one else “steals” it from you.  We had a great time laughing and everyone was happy with their treasure. 

The moment we all had been waiting for FINALLY arrived — the actual converging on the table lined with more flavors of cookies than one human being should be subjected to at any event.  The ladies greedily gathered up their containers and formed a line and I turned them loose to gather their four dozen cookies.  Looks of delight crossed their faces as visions of sugar highs danced through their heads.  Compliments to each other about their cookies and requests for recipes could be heard throughout the room.  Yes, I had managed to pull off another successful Cookie Swap. 

Once everyone was gone, the cleanup done, and things put slightly back in order, it was well past 1am before I finally closed my eyes and had sweet dreams of Cookie Swaps to come in the future.

Below I’m sharing a few of my recipes from the cookie exchange that you may want to use for your holiday entertaining.  You don’t have to go crazy— simple foods like cheese  and crackers, veggies and dip or pizza and wings and some desserts will work just fine.  I’ve done things from appetizers to full meals for my guests, depending on the mood I’m in for that year.  You can also do it as a couples' activity – that’s where the pizza and wings comes in really handy to avoid a lot of preparation. 

Hope you enjoy these recipes. Let me know what you think!

Italian Veggie Antipasto Salad

Gather an assortment of your favorite types of raw veggies – broccoli crowns, baby carrots, sliced celery, sliced onions, cherry tomatoes, sliced green pepper and sliced radishes.  Add a can of small black olives drained, a small jar of green olives drained and about 5 or 6 pepperoncini.  Take a chunk of Colby Monterey jack or pecorino romano cheese and cut into small cubes or small chunks.  Mix ALL of these together and pour some Good seasons Salad dressing (made up with the vinegar and olive oil of course) and pour over the veggies.  I prefer to drizzle olive oil and red wine vinegar over mine and season with salt, pepper and oregano.  This salad is healthy and super yummy!

Chocolate Ravioli

1 pkg of wonton wrappers

1 jar of Nutella

1 egg beaten

Line your wonton wrappers up on a piece of parchment or wax paper.  Brush the edges of the wonton wrappers with egg.  In the middle of the wontons, place a ½ tsp of Nutella.  Fold the wonton wrapper into a triangle and pinch the edges.  Fry until lightly golden in a frying pan.  Place on paper towel and let the oil drain from them. Chill in fridge for an hour or two before serving.  When you get ready to serve these, sprinkle some confectioners (powdered) sugar over them – your guests will be oohing and ahhing over your gourmet abilities.  These are a hit at every party when I make them.

Hello Dolly Bars

½ pkg of graham cracker crumbs

Bags of chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips

½ cup of shredded coconut

Chopped walnuts or peanuts or pecans (optional)

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

½ stick of butter melted

In a bowl, place the melted butter and graham cracker crumbs and mix together.  Then spray lightly a 13 x 9 pan.  Add your butter and crumbs mix and spread evenly across the bottom of the pan.  NEXT take your sweetened condensed milk and drizzle on top of crumb mixture.  Then sprinkle with coconut, then nuts and then the flavor chips that you want in them.  Pat them down into the crumb mixture GENTLY and then bake for about 35-40 mins on 350 or until  you can stick a toothpick in them and it comes out fairly dry.  Let cook and then cut into small square or large squares.