Friday, December 18, 2009

Cookie Exchange 2009

My friend Trudy hosted a cookie exchange at her house this year. We had to bake 8 dozen of a cookie to share with the other bakers. We had a nice assortment of goodies all packed so nice. Below is a picture of the table with all the cookies. I also took a couple of appetizers so we could have something besides sweets to eat. Trudy and I both had made a Rachel Ray appetizer from one of her magazines in the past, Corny Bites. These are really good and easy to throw together. I also took the cranberry/horseradish over cream cheese that I posted at Thanksgiving time. Trudy has the most beautiful Christmas tree with hundreds of ornaments she has collected. We had such a good time sharing baking stories and played a right/left game for a door prize. We think the next time we do this we might do an 'Appetizer Exchange'. I think that's a great idea as a change from the normal cookie exchange.

Here's the table of cookies:

Here are the cookies I made.

MOUNTAIN COOKIES

1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt


FILLING:
1 package (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2 cup flaked coconut

TOPPING: (optional -- I didn't do this)
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup confectioners sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Shape into 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Make a deep indentation in the center of each cookie. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the edges just start to brown. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. For the filling, beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Add pecans and
coconut; mix well. Spoon 1/2 tsp. into each cookie. For topping, heat chocolate chips, butter and water in a small saucepan until melted. Stir in sugar. Drizzle over cookies.


RACHEL RAY'S CHEESY CORN BITES

1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1 large egg
1/2 cup frozen corn kernals, defrosted
48 scoop shaped tortilla chips
Chopped chives or cilantro for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cream cheese, pepper jack cheese, egg, and corn together. Place a teaspoon in each scoop. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chives or cilantro.

10 comments:

Diana of Diana Rambles said...

YUMMMMMMMY!!! I wish I could come!!!

Anj said...

Hey Diana! Thanks for stopping by. You would have fit right in. Hope you have a great Christmas and Happy New Year.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I love the idea of an appetizer exchange Anj. I remember the days when we held cookie exchanges at work..one year I made 20 dozen cookies, that's when I decided it wasn't fun anymore...wink.

Abby said...

So fun! I've always wanted to go to a cookie exchange, but I've never been invited to one. I guess that means I have to be the hostess.

Merry Christmas!

Anj said...

Abby: I've been to several of them. We used to do one at work every year. Lots of giggles over the mishaps in the kitchen. Merry Christmas to you and your family too!

Donna-FFW said...

Those mountain cookies sounds fabulous!

Anj said...

Hey Donna! These are some good cookies. They are like a 'jazzed' up shortbread. Thanks for stopping by. Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing more goodies on your blog.

Katy ~ said...

I've only been to one cookie exchange. It was quite a night of cookies, wine, and chatter. Some of the ladies who were real pros at this, made some amazing cookies.

If I ever get invited to another, I would bring these!

Emily said...

Wow, I wish I could have been there! Your cookies look great!

Anj said...

You would have been a perfect guest at the cookie exchange!