Cookie Exchange of December 8, 2015

Apologies to everyone for the tardiness of this blog but technology issues arose and I was no match for them.  However, the good news is that there is plenty of time before next Christmas so you can practice these delectable recipes and get ready for the holidays of 2016.

Our table was laden with treats and except for a sugar coma the night was a lovely get-together.

A lovely cherry topped cookie was contributed by Mary Anne who called them Hungarian Cookies.  This is mysterious since there is no paprika in them but they look festive and they taste great so that's all that counts.

I made these fairly tasteless Double Ginger Molasses cookies.  If I made them again, I would add some spices, double the ginger and use brown sugar instead of the white sugar called for in the recipes.  Although this was not a particularly tasty cookie, I get it from a cookbook called "The Flying Brownie."  Except for this cookie, it is a really good cookbook filled with excellent recipes.

 There is nothing better, I think, than a shortbread cookie and Kathy provided us with this wonderful shortbread.  She said it is amazingly easy to make with only 3 ingredients.  Of course one of them is gobs of butter so that explains why it it is so delicious.

The nut crescents were sweet and very nutty (duh).  They were made with ground almonds so they are healthy as well.  

What could be better than chocolate and candy canes?  Donna was kind enough to share these totally tasty cookies with us.  And she said they were easy too.  They are made with brownie mix and Andes mints.  That explains a lot.  Delicious.

Mistletoe cookies have nothing to do with mistletoe but everything to do with tastiness.  Ginny made them from a cookbook we reviewed in 2014.  It is filled with such good recipes.  It is "Christmas Made Easy".  It is made with cake mix and other goodies and just like the title, is very easy.

This cookie has everything, Oatmeal, cranberries and  white chocolate chips. They just sound scumptious and they are.  Find the recipe on the back of the craisin package.

 Black Bottom Minis turned out to be a very different but nevertheless delectable cookies.  Gretta graced us with these family favorite cookies.  The surprise ingredient is vinegar which Gretta says combines with the baking powder to do something in a very good way.

The Pecan Butterballs are pretty descriptive.  The name says it all.  Powdered sugar, butter and pecans combine to make a treat to remember.  It is said to be an Italian cookie.

If you like jelly, you will love these linzer torte type cookies.  Marianne made them and you can see the work that went into them.  All that rolling, cutting out, filling etc.  She says she got the recipe from Annie B but these are way better than Annie B's cookies.

Natalie made these perfectly beautiful ribbon cookies.  She explained how she made them but I was lost after the first 100 steps.  They tasted as good as they looked.

Marlene contributed her family's favorite and called them "S" cookies.  Look carefully and you will see why.  She got the recipe from her mother-in-law.  They are filled with good things like raisins which is probably why they taste so good.

These cookies look they came from a bakery but, no, Cindy brought them to share. They are Chocolate Dipped Hazelnut Cookies.  They are piped onto the cookie sheet so they are very fancy.  These came from the Christmas Made Easy cookbook.

Mickee made Snowball cookies.  You can see why this is their name.  She got the recipe from the Land O'Lakes box so, of course, there is a lot of butter and oodles of good taste in them.

Inside these bags are the most delicious Raisin Gingersnaps ever that Donna brought.  They were so good that there were none left for a picture.  

Brenda made traditional Mexican Wedding Cookies.  No wonder they have such lively weddings.  Delicious Cookies.

FINALLY, last but absolutely spectacular is Anne's Pistachio Thumbprint Cookies.  Not only are there cookies but there is filling and then glaze too.  And yes, she did use her thumbs but I know for a fact that she washed her hands after each thumbprint.  Yummy, yummy.

Okay everyone.  I f I left out some cookies or didn't put your names down, it's because I didn't have them.  On Tuesday, put your recipe and your name on the card in front of your food.

Marian