When I was growing up every Christmas my family would fly to see my Grandparents in Florida. After assurances from my parents that Santa Claus would be able to find us, even though my sister and I weren't at home, we would pack up our shorts and bathing suits and head to my Grandparent's neighborhood where everyone was, well, old. Grandpa and Grandma always had activities planned like sailing, orange picking, Busch Gardens and manatee watching. But, like most memories, it's the food I remember. I grew up in a Korean-American household so sweets often meant a plate of fruit, but Grandma's kitchen was uber-American, complete with recipe box, ice cream in the freezer, and a cookie jar on the counter.
Arriving around Christmas time meant all the ladies in the neighborhood exchanged all sorts of cookies - you know, the kind that have been passed down for generations. After dinner, when everyone would go to watch Jeopardy, I would sneak to the kitchen and gobble up cookies, trying my darndest not to eat all of the very best ones in efforts to hide the fact that I had been gorging on cookies. The love for the holiday cookie plate did not end after trips to Florida stopped. Every Christmas since high school, the girls gather and bake holiday cookies all day long. Dads (and now husbands) are shooed out of the kitchen, and we gossip all day long and have a giant plate of all sorts of cookies to take home when the day is over.
So for the International Holiday Cookie Recipe Exchange...
A few weeks ago, Lori from Fake Food Free and I thought we should get our food blogging friends involved in a cookie recipe exchange. That way, come holiday time, everyone would have a great library of recipes to choose from. We'd love to get as many people involved and the exchange is simple. Either comment on this blog, or Lori's blog at Fake Food Free and let us know you are interested in participating by November 5th. Be sure to leave a valid email address when you sign in to comment.
Soon after the 5th of November we will let you know who you should send your recipe to. Each participant will create an original or an adapted, attributed-to recipe and send it to the blogger we've randomly selected for you via email by November 15th.
Once you receive a recipe we ask that you post on the recipe by December 15th. Lori and I will do a roundup of all the recipes so you know where and how all the cookies turned out.
We are aware that a few of you have dietary restrictions or allergies. When you receive a recipe you may alter it to fit your dietary needs, but please post the original as well. If you have any trouble altering a recipe feel free to contact either me at gastroanthropology AT yahoo DOT com or Lori AT fakefoodfree DOT com for advice or suggestions. The only guideline is that the recipe should be something you'd find on a holiday cookie plate, so anything from rugelach to fudge squares to gingerbread men.
So the dates again are:
Let us know you want to participate by November 5th
Send your recipe to your matched blog by November 15th
Post the recipe you receive by December 15th
HAPPY HOLIDAY COOKIE BAKING!
This is a fantastic idea, I'd love to participate! Looking forward to it already. x
Posted by: Kristin | Friday, October 15, 2010 at 11:41 AM
Lovely idea Adrienne! Do you specifically want not-previously-blogged recipes to be submitted or does that matter? And, yes, count me in :)
Posted by: Daily Spud | Friday, October 15, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Daily Spud - Since your recipe will be posted by another blogger you can absolutely use a recipe that you have previously posted on. Of course we would love for you to pass on any anecdotes, tips, and why a recipe might be special to you when we match you up. So glad you are participating!
Posted by: gastroanthropologist | Friday, October 15, 2010 at 01:04 PM
Oooh, this sounds like a lot of cookie fun. I'm in! Can't wait to see the recipe I'll be baking.
Posted by: lisaiscooking | Friday, October 15, 2010 at 02:15 PM
I LOVE the recap of our Christmas traditions at Grandma & Grandpa's in FL, you were spot-on. Love you!
Posted by: Alethea | Friday, October 15, 2010 at 04:04 PM
Please count me in, I would love to be a part of this :)
Posted by: astheroshe | Friday, October 15, 2010 at 10:43 PM
I would love to play! Christmas cookies are the best part of the holiday (well, that and stollen with chocolate) and sharing with another blogger would be fun. Thanks for organizing!
Posted by: Gudrun | Saturday, October 16, 2010 at 05:03 PM
I'm in! I'm big into Christmas cookies but unfortunately in the UK people aren't so much into them. I love the idea of an exchange.
Posted by: Michele McCartney | Monday, October 18, 2010 at 10:03 AM
Oh I am so in for this!!! What a great idea for a cookie exchange without having to bake 12 dozen of them!!
Posted by: Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite | Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 12:02 PM
I'd love to take part.
Posted by: Valentina | Friday, October 29, 2010 at 08:22 PM
This is a great event and I would love to join in, but I won't be in a kitchen of my own until mid-November at the earliest since we're still in the middle of our big move. Still, I look forward to seeing what I'm sure will be an awesome roundup!
Posted by: Tangled Noodle | Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 06:15 AM
Count me in for next year. This year is a bit too crazy and I don't want to commit and let anyone down. That being said, I cannot wait to see what fantastic goodies are dreamed up. Love the stories of holiday cookies, it was a lot like that in our house too. Many of the neighbors got together to make just an incredible array of cookies to share. Loved it!!!!
Posted by: OysterCulture | Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 01:31 AM
I got your message, but did not rec your email, or i missed it :( However, i would love to participate! :) Please include me :)
Posted by: astheroshe | Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 11:46 AM
Astheroshe - Great. Just resent the email, let me know if you get it.
Posted by: gastroanthropologist | Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 11:58 AM