I'm glad I asked, it would have been terrible to show up with 12 cookies total

What is everyone packaging them in? I know there will be boxes at CM's house - are you bringing them in tupperware or bags, or it just depends on the fragility?

I can do this, I'm working out the math right now.... Looking forward to tomorrow!

justjoan wrote:i know that cookie monster will be providing boxes, so just bring your cookies and we'll divide them up at her house. about the number to bring..pucca are you still keeping a head count? i think we have 13, but i'm not sure. (and i guess there's no need to make cookies for yourself, if you want to make a smaller amount, so if we are 13 bring 12 dozen).

anyway, this is supposed to be fun, not a cause for stress, which it sounds like it has become for some of you. so bring what works for you and for your recipe, even if its a few cookies short of a mutiple of 10. i'm looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow. just joan

Yes, to my knowledge there are 13 attending/contributing cookies. I will bring 13-myself = 12 people
12 people x 10 cookies + 15 cookies to taste = 135

This is the third year in a row now that I have participated in a cookie exchange. For me personally, the number seems more daunting than it really is. Once I got started, it wasn't too bad. I had a mini assembly line set up with lots of prep bowls as I made the dough so that helped. Refrigerating the dough in 2 steps (and a dishwasher!) also helped me manage the mess! Now, I just have to slice and bake! I hope they turn out pretty and tasty! Can't wait.

oops, i forgot we need extra cookies for eating at the event. thanks for the reminder pucca. i know cookiemonster is also making some non-sweet food, which i'm looking forward to trying.

messycook wrote:...when you say 12 dozen, do you mean to bring 144 cookies???? Or bring around 12 cookies total?

I, too, almost freaked at that number - but remember, usually your cookie recipe will make 2 dozen, sometimes 4... I'm bringing a giant tupperware for mine...maybe also ziploc baggies...

CookieMonster, is there anything else you need? PM me if so - I'll be happy to bring something or stop and get something...

My last batch of Snickerdoodles is finishing in the oven while "Cinnamon Girl" is playing on WXRT.

See y'all tomorrow!

kafein wrote:My last batch of Snickerdoodles is finishing in the oven while "Cinnamon Girl" is playing on WXRT.

If that isn't synergy, I don't know what is!

I'm anxious to hear reports of the cookie exchange. I would have loved to taken part this year, but I was already committed to an event on Saturday. My baking focus for tomorrow is on a couple of cakes. I haven't started on the cookies yet!

Enjoy!

Well, I just made the dough - I've never multiplied a recipe for cookies by 6 before! Is this sextupled?? Whatever it is, is sure is a hellof a lot of sugar and butter
This has been a great experiment for me, seeing why some of the dough is softer than the previous batch, etc. Also, for the first time I took food pictures to document my mis-en-placing of sugar, flour, etc. We'll see how they turn out (and why I'm called messycook!)!

On a side note, I picked up some sparking cider and pomegranate juice at TJ's - let me know if more drinks are needed.

Just so you all know, I will be serving mushroom turnovers with barszcz.
Mulled wine, brie and boursin cheeses.
I will have poppyseed streudel as well.
If anyone wants to bring red wine that I can use my mulled spices with that would be great. Cookie bags and boxes I will provide as hostess.
Plus I will be serving Parisian Macaroons for dessert.
Hope that covers it!
Look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow at 2PM.
Do not forget to bring 11 copies of recipe to share with others.

I had some of Cookie Monster's poppyseed strudel at the AIDS Foundation's World of Chocolate last night. It is terrific
Here she is

Cookie Monster, I've got a nice Malbec that I'll bring for your mulling spices...

This was the lovliest afternoon I have spent in a long while. Thank you to Cookie Monster for hosting and to everyone who attended for the delicious cookies.

We all have plenty of cookies to last us through this weather and the holiday season!

Don't have much time, but wanted to post the proud cookie mamas!
Will add more specifics later...



Thank you again, Cookie Monster, for the lovely afternoon, the good food, and the bakery tour!

It was a truly enjoyable afternoon, despite the awful weather - discovering that I'm not alone with cookie engineering issues (though all the end results were wonderful) I came home with a warm fuzzy feeling and a wonderful assortment of cookies, all of which were quickly assessed and passed muster with both of my boys: (from top left to right) Greenfish's Christmas-tree Spritz, messycook's Chunkies, mhays' Burning Lips, Holly of Uptown's Chocolate Crackle cookies, kafein's Snickerdoodles, Cookie Monster's Walnut Delights, jyoti's Buttery Pecan rounds, Pucca's Cranberry Nut Swirls, Hellodali's Gingersnap Lace cookies, Suzy Creamcheese's White Chocolate Coconut Walnut cookies, and justjoan's Chinese Sesame cookies...mmmm...hopefully more closeup photos are forthcoming...

We've each had about 6 cookies apiece since our original thorough tasting at home, and I'm vowing (probably unsuccessfully) to keep them sealed tight until we go get our Christmas tree at Marmion Abbey next Sunday (we hope - their website is down, which hopefully doesn't mean the farm finally got eaten by the suburbs...)

Many thanks to Cookie Monster for hosting such a great afternoon. And thanks to all of the cookie mamas (I like that name, Mhays). I just hosted some folks for tree trimming and was so glad to have an assortment of fantastic cookies to offer. They all raved about each different cookie. After sending them home with their own stash, I now am trying to forget that I still have a box left to tempt me all evening until I can take it to work tomorrow.....

Many thanks to Cookie Monster!

A great many of our share of the cookies went to church with us yesterday, where they were devoured. The rest of them are still living with us, and supplementing all three meals!

Mhays wrote:until we go get our Christmas tree at Marmion Abbey next Sunday (we hope - their website is down, which hopefully doesn't mean the farm finally got eaten by the suburbs...)

I drive by all the time, the tree farm is still there.

A big thanks to Cookie Monster for organizing the cookie exchange and for her warm hospitality.

The cookies were fantastic and my willpower to resist eating them all was at an all time low. Finally, I had no choice but to stash the cookies in the freezer and hope that the "out of sight out of mind" syndrome would kick in -fast!!

In addition to the array of cookies we indulged in borscht - a clear version that was new to me, scrumptious mushroom strudel and assorted cheeses.

It was a delightful afternboon and there was already talk about repeating it next year.

Jyoti

Thanks to all my wonderful guests all the cookikes were a hit with all my family members and neighbors. I wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful cookies they brought and for their delightful company. It was a delicious party. I am looking forward to next years already.
Now ladies put on your thinking caps as we will do a icecream party come end of January something to lighten the mood and spice up our lives in that drabby month.