The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2012

I first learned about The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap from my friend Abi just after their first one wrapped up.  We promptly signed up to receive more information come the end of 2012.

Here's how it works: you sign up, make a small donation to Cookies for Kid's Cancer, OXO matches your donation and sends you a super cool cookie spatula.  Then you get the names and address of 3 food bloggers to send your cookies.

I was set on sending out Turtle Cookies, but after I made them I was underwhelmed.  I decided to try a recipe I saw in Everyday Food - Peppermint Chocolate Sugar Cookies.  Much better!

Ingredients

2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 c unsalted butter, softened
2 c sugar
1/4-1/2 t peppermint extract
1 large egg
1/2 c mini chocolate chips
1 c confectioners' sugar
3-5 T heavy cream (I used whole milk)
4-5 candy canes, crushed for decorating

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  In a large bowl, using a mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, and 1/4t peppermint extract on medium-high until pale and fluffy, 3 minutes.  Beat in egg, then flour mixture on low.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.

Bake until edges are lightly golden, about 12 minutes.  Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to racks and let cool completely.

Stir together confectioners' sugar and enough milk/cream to make a spreadable glaze (add more extract if desired).  Spread a thin layer of glaze on top of each cookie and sprinkle with candies.  Let dry completely on racks.  Makes about 2 dozen cookies, but I got 3 dozen + 3 decent-sized cookies.

The hardest part was finding the perfect container/shipping box combination.  I tried to fit them into the small flat rate box but it wasn't happening.  So I used regular shipping boxes from Target.

I got lots of questions at the Post Office since I had the Cookie Swap Logo all over them.  The Post Office lady was very impressed and wished she was in on all the fun.


I received my first batch from Jenna at Little Kitchen, Big Flavors.  I believe they are called "Snickers Surprise"? It doesn't really matter what they were called - they were good.  I think they lasted a day and a half (since I live with the cookie monster).

Then I got a package from Abbey at Munchin' Mel.  They were a minty chocolate chip cookie, not too sweet.  These were good as well!

And lastly, some lemony glazed cookies from Jackie at La Casa de Sweets - YUM!

This was a great experience and I'll be looking forward to it again next next! Thank you Love and Olive Oil!

Tuesday with Dorie: Buttermilk Crumb Muffins + FAKESGIVING

I decided to sneak these muffins into our Supper Club menu.  They were really easy to whip up and could easily pass for breakfast or dessert.  And even among some really superb desserts, one friend deemed this the best one.

Abi and Phil hosted this month's Supper Club, and I'd say it was the best yet.  Our theme this time was Fakesgiving - a practice round for the upcoming big day.  It was also nice to share such an important meal with friends, both old and new.

Phil cutting the turkey

Finally got a picture of Abi (the photographer) and I

Menu: 

Acorn Candies

Brie Bites - Sticks of puff pastry, stuffed with brie
cheese and fig blackberry jam, these were named
"the grown-up Pop Tarts". 

Grilled Turkey

Sausage, Apple and Walnut Stuffing

District 11 Bread 

Cranberry Salad

Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes

Classic Green Bean Salad

Roasted Veggies - I added brussel sprouts

Abi's beautiful table setting complete with terra cotta bread  dishes and flower pots stuffed with treats. 

With our RSVPs, we each gave Abi something for which we are thankful.  She transcribed these little notes onto parchment paper and rolled them up inside the dinner rolls.  Then we read them out loud to each other. 

Mike and I

Mike and Bayly

Empty plates all around

Arpita shared her recipe for her family's Cha (chai) recipe - and gave us the ingredients all tucked away inside these adorable little containers. 

Desserts:

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

Hershey's Dark Chocolate Cake

Apple Sour Cream Crumb Pie

Buttermilk Crumb Muffins

Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow - Subbed in Biscoff Spread instead of peanut butter

Dessert Table

And then because we didn't have enough to eat, the boys decided to roast chestnuts - Mike's speciality he learned to make in the field while in the Marines, go figure. 

The recipe for the Buttermilk Crumb Muffins can be found on Lisa's blog Easier than Pie, who also happens to participate in the Foodie Pen Pals.  Next up? Best Ever Brownies.

Tuesdays with Dorie: Irish Soda Bread

I'm not gonna lie.  I was not looking forward to this recipe.  I had Irish Soda Bread once, from a grocery store and it was just okay.  I didn't get what the hype was all about.  I just chalked it up to being an Irish thing I wouldn't understand.  For this recipe I was imagining a tasteless (there's only 4 ingredients, how good can it be!?), hard, dry loaf of bread that I would try and pawn off to the guys at work.

Well.  They won't be getting any.

What I loved about this recipe was that it was 4 ingredients.  Except for the buttermilk, everything was on-hand.  It took 5 minutes to mix up and throw in the pie pan.  I wasn't too concerned that it was a little straggly-looking since the recipe said not to knead for long, just shape.  And again, I wasn't expecting much.

I added the "X".

Oh, I just remembered.  I added dried cranberries (since I thought the bread was going to be dry and tasteless).

That's the better side.  I think part of my X went a little too deep and widened out a bit much.  As soon as it cooled enough for me to hold it, I sliced into and try a piece.  It was so good!  I am very pleasantly surprised it had that much flavor.  The cranberries added a little sweetness and tartness to the bread too.  As I began to slice more, I noticed it wasn't fully cooked in the middle so I threw it back in the oven.  It came out fine.

And My Critic says: "This is actually pretty good!" (after picking out the cranberries)  I will definitely be making this again.  It was so simple and delicious!

For this recipe please check out Carla of Chocolate Moosey and Cathleen of My Culinary Mission.  Come back on April 3rd for Pizza Rustica!