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Desserts DIY Entertaining at Home Gather Nourish

My Annual Cookie Swap with Complete Recipes

Every year, I look forward to my annual cookie swap.

I enjoy the time right before Christmas when the house smells of gingerbread, the Christmas music is playing and the tree is aglow with lights, sparkling ornaments, and family photos of loved ones near and far. I have always enjoyed entertaining, but I also realize that there are limits to the amount of entertaining I can do with a family of six people.

I’ve been wanting to share the photo stream from that day for a while now but it’s only now that I have time to sit down again and commit myself to posting more and getting back on track with my writing. I’m quite behind on many of my posts and I will probably be alternating between more current posts and some backlogged just to make it easier on myself.

For now-here are some of the cookies that I was able to feast on with the help of my baker friends!

It's always so much fun to get together with the girls. One of my friend's (from H.S.) kids was asking why there are no "boy bakers" in my pics. Calling all "boy bakers!" Do you want to join my cookie swap next year? It's an equal opportunity cookie exchange! Thanks M.B. for the good laugh :-) hugs for Viv.

It’s always so much fun to get together with the girls. One of my friend’s (from H.S.) kids was asking why there are no “boy bakers” in my pics. Calling all “boy bakers!” Do you want to join my cookie swap next year? It’s an equal opportunity cookie exchange! Thanks M.B. for the good laugh 🙂 hugs for Viv.

Funny story about the invites. They ended up becoming the favors as well. I never got time to actually get the ornaments in the mail to each guest BEFORE the swap. We just communicated via fb and everyone was able to take an ornament home the day of the swap.

Funny story about the invites. They ended up becoming the favors as well. I never got time to actually get the ornaments in the mail to each guest BEFORE the swap. We just communicated via fb and everyone was able to take an ornament home the day of the swap.

Aside from the invites, er...favors, I also had my friend print these little do-dads to gift each baker. I'm not sure if they give gifts like I do-but they can come in handy during the season anyway. Peel and stick and your good to go.

Aside from the invites, er…favors, I also had my friend print these little do-dads to gift each baker. I’m not sure if they give gifts like I do-but they can come in handy during the season anyway. Peel and stick and your good to go.

Part of the fun for me is planning this event with my daughter. We talk about the cookies we want to make and then we get in the kitchen together and do it. Soon, Gelli will be joining in on the fun!

Part of the fun for me is planning this event with my daughter. We talk about the cookies we want to make and then we get in the kitchen together and do it. Soon, Gelli will be joining in on the fun!

I love how Aga always brings something new to my table. I wanted to incorporate candy canes into the arrangements since I found them in Nuts About Candy in ATC!

I love how Aga always brings something new to my table. I wanted to incorporate candy canes into the arrangements since I found them in Nuts About Candy in ATC!

Each baker brought a cookie recipe they were willing to share. Vangie brought  “Everything Cookies.”

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Ivy brought chewy "Nutella Cookies." Nino loved these and so did the kids! (I think I had two just while we were tasting.)

Ivy brought chewy “Nutella Cookies.” Nino loved these and so did the kids! (I think I had two just while we were tasting.)

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Anna brought “Date Nut Filled Sugar Cookies.” I made these with my sisters in law for our Christmas cookie platter. I had so much fun in the kitchen with them baking. They were just as yummy as when Anna made them for us.

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Lolet made her rolled "Christmas Pinwheels." She said these cookies were a little bit more difficult than she expected. I'm glad she made them. They were a nice change from the very sweet cookies that we all had made too. It didn't have as much sugar in the recipe.

Lolet made her rolled “Christmas Pinwheels.” She said these cookies were a little bit more difficult than she expected. I’m glad she made them, because they were a nice change from the very sweet cookies that we all had made too. It didn’t call for so much sugar in the recipe.

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Becky brought a killer cookie that I will surely make for the kids. "Reese's Peanut Butter Choco Chip Cookies."

Becky brought a killer cookie that I will surely make for the kids. “Reese’s Peanut Butter Choco Chip Cookies.”

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This was my first year to make "Linzer Cookies." I used a recipe that had lots of nuts, a little grated lemon rind, and yummy raspberry jam. I LOVE these cookies. I thought they would be super difficult but they ended up being not as difficult as I thought they would be.

This was my first year to make “Linzer Cookies.” I used a recipe that had lots of nuts, a little lemon zest, and yummy raspberry jam. I LOVE these cookies. I thought they would be super difficult but they ended up being not as difficult as I thought they would be. I was able to find this recipe over at www.mamasgottabake.com 

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My baby girl, Gia, brought home the prize for BEST PRESENTATION with her "Melted Snowman Sugar Cookie."

My baby girl, Gia, brought home the prize for BEST PRESENTATION with her “Melted Snowman Sugar Cookie.” Gia used the Wilton sugar cookie recipe for the dough on this one.

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I love that my parents are here during the holidays. It makes living in a foreign country a LOT easier when you can see your family as often as I get to see them, ESPECIALLY during Christmas! Mom even helped me prepare for the brunch buffet by making a yummy pasta dish

I love that my parents are here during the holidays. It makes living in a foreign country a LOT easier when you can see your family as often as I get to see them, ESPECIALLY during Christmas! Mom even helped me prepare for the brunch buffet by making a yummy pasta dish.

I love preparing a packaging table for the bakers. Some of us keep all the loot for ourselves. Some of us repack the delicious treats and share with neighbors and good friends.

I love preparing a packaging table for the bakers. Some of us keep all the loot for ourselves. Some of us repack the delicious treats and share with neighbors and good friends.

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With a little ribbon, and an inexpensive ornament you can turn a simple tin of cookies into a fabulous gift! Photo Credit: Vangie Jaehn

With a little ribbon, and an inexpensive ornament you can turn a simple tin of cookies into a fabulous gift! Photo Credit: Vangie Jaehn

Thanks ladies for coming! I always enjoy our time together sharing our cookies!!!

Thanks ladies for coming! I always enjoy our time together sharing our cookies!!!

Congratulations Anna! Once again, your cookie powers had everyone super happy!

Congratulations Anna! Once again, your cookie powers had everyone super happy!

All of my printed materials (from my invitations and ornaments to the personalized give aways) were provided by Kick Off Printing. Kick Off is your one stop shop for everything Football, and since they have the facilities to print everything on the premises, they can design and lay out all of your printing needs. They even have the Kick Off Cafe where you can grab something to eat as well.

You can contact Ruby De Luzuriaga at the Kick Off Center:

100 Marcos Alvarez Avenue, Talon, 1747 Las Pinas (0917) 502 4082

Remember Aga? I wrote this post about him and our #Crafternoon a while back. He did the flowers again for my tables. Really, he never disappoints me. EVER. You can contact Aga for your parties, large and small.

You can contact him by cell phone: (0920) 295-1270/ (0917)378-6062 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. Jane Go says

    January 20, 2014 at 10:49 pm

    huhuhu Do I have to be a baker too??? Can’t I just be the cookie sampler??? :)) Everything looks soooo yummy!! <3 Great job to all the mommy bakers!!

    • michelle says

      January 21, 2014 at 7:22 am

      Thanks Jane!

      Are you sure you don’t want to practice so you can join this year?

      We still have 11 months to go before the next one! Hahahaha!!

      See you around town!

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