~ Cookie Exchange Extravaganza ~

 

How sweet is this?...Super Sweet

Last night was our Home School Group's 17th Annual Cookie Exchange, which a friend organized and I hosted (at my home).  Praying together is part of our gathering. 

Prayers which lift the mind and heart to God.

Prayers which are much needed.

 

~ The Savory ~
I was able to capture only a few dishes on my camera...

Grape tomatoes, gouda cheese & spanish olives...
hand-made with love by Butterfly and Little Lamb

Spinach & cheese mini-quiche...
not hand-made, but still savory good.

Sweet Potato with Sea Salt

~ Sharing Samples & Recipes ~

remember these?  We decreased the baking time to 8-9 minutes
and increased the chile powder from 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp.

~ The Sweet Swap ~

~ Liquid Refreshments ~
Again, I was not able to capture all the libations drinks

Fresh mint & lemons from the garden...

~ Gifts for moi? ~
Very sweet ladies...surprised me with gifts.  Unexpected. 

Generous Guests ~ Happy Hostess

Green Tea with fresh Jasmine...blooms in hot water.  Fun & enjoyable!

~ Friends & Family Plate or Perpetual Sharing ~
This is a fun and wonderful idea...happy to share! (on the back, I wrote in permanant marker the travels it has made so far...I added our family name and the names of the predecessors.  It will be fun to see where its traveled...who knows, maybe it will come back some year day?

If you would like to organize or host your own cookie Exchange,
here is one method that might help get you started.



Linking up to Sweet Boutique, Super Sweet Saturday...

~ Cookies with a Kick ~

phfr ~*~ Cookie Edition ~*~

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, at Like Mother, Like Daughter
&
Linking up to Cookie Recipe Swap at Sweet Boutique

This Friday is our Home School Group's 17th Annual Cookie Exchange...which is being hosted at my home this year.

Besides the Exchange and Refreshments shared, we recite the Rosary together.  Praying together and asking for prayers for the intentions in our hearts...a mother's heart. 

It's a good opportunity for the moms to get out and meet the knew moms in our group and to build friendships and provide support.

This year we will have two options, with regards to the Cookie Exchange:

The Traditional Exchange and the Revised Exchange.

Traditional exchange:
Bake 1 dozen of your favorite cookie/bar; so if a total of 10 moms participate, you bring 9 dozen of one kind of cookie to trade with the other moms. You take home 9 dozen different cookies to serve our family, or to give away as gifts.


Revised exchange:

Bring only your favorite cookie/bar recipe and samples to have at the party. You don’t exchange the actual cookies/bread, just the recipe.
You don’t have to bake the cookies for each participant, but you also don't get to take cookies home.

{pretty}

This year I'm opting for the Revised Exchange and I will be making:

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies.



pretty scrumptious

I went online and found several forms of this recipe, but in the end, I tried this one (Recipe originally from Martha Stewart) which I found through this helpful blog.

The Ingredients.

The Bakers.

Teamwork!

Making and Baking cookies has never been easier. :D

{happy}

I'm happy to have helpers!

Making/Baking cookies the Old Fashioned Way...using some *elbow grease*!

Keep up the good work, girls!  (coach and mom...and taste tester).  :o)

{funny}

The secret ingredients that gives these cookies their kick?...chile powder! 
Intrigued?  I was.

funny, you would never guess that chile powder is used.

Will the fun ever end?  (and time to start brewing some tea)

{real}

Yield:  3 1/2 dozen amazing cookies.

I didn't think that there would be enough cookie dough to make a dozen,
let alone 3 dozen...but there was plenty!  For real.

Delicioso!  Maravilloso!

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment!

Linking up to Holiday Cookie Recipe Swap...Blog Hop at Sweet Boutique

~ Peace & Good Will ~

We have been reading different versions of The Gingerbread Boy/Man (along with our Advent/Christmas readings).

And, we have been baking cookies all week.

Yesterday, Butterfly was feeling under the weather; she has a little cold.
Little Lamb wanted to make her sister something that would make her feel better...

Gingerbread girl with big bow

So she made her sister some chamomile tea and a gingerbread girl...

And there was peace in the house.  :o)

 

Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.

~ Luke 2:14