You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘foodbuzz’ tag.
Tag Archive
Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Wild Women Cookie Exchange and Champagne Party
December 20, 2009 in Breakfast, Brunch, Cookies, Entertaining | Tags: Brunch, cookie exchange, Entertaining, foodbuzz, parrty | 9 comments
The yearly wild women cookie exchange has become a tradition among my circle of friends. I started hosting this party at my home in my early 20s and haven’t missed a year yet. When we first started, it was more about guzzling champagne than exchanging cookies. In fact, at the inaugural party there were 13 ladies in attendance and 14 bottles of champagne drank :O. But now as we approach our thirties, it seems to be more about socializing and gathering all the cookies you need to serve at your holiday events. However, there are still always a few diehards who stay late and drink the last of the champagne with me. These are my favorite guests:
Every woman who attends the party must bring 5 or 6 dozen cookies to exchange. I supply the take-away boxes which are purchased at the dollar store for three for a $1. Most people bring homemade and copies of their recipe, but there are a few who claim to have no baking skills and bring store-bought. We try not to give them too hard of a time. We actually did not have anyone bring store-bought this year!
I love hosting this party because it is a great way to get all my best girlfriends together and celebrate the season. It makes the holiday rush easier, because it is held the weekend before Christmas and everyone gets about 15 different cookies to bring/serve at their holiday events when they only baked 6 dozen of 1 kind.
This year was a fantastic party! In fact, while I am writing this, we are still drinking champagne. Here I am typing away with my friend Michelle:
We had so many wonderful cookies! And a LOT of drinkers this year. Which always makes the party more fun.
Here are a few of my favorite brown-haired drinkers:
Since we are drinking champagne, it is best not to make the women subsist on only cookies. Here is this year’s menu and subsequent recipes:
On the Menu
Chicken Apple Sausage Quiche
Fresh Fruit with Brown Sugar Yogurt Dip
Stuffed Balsamic Mushrooms
Raspberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Barb’s Curry Chutney Brie
Winter Green Salad with Pears
Pomegranate Brandy Champagne Cocktails
Bailey’s and Coffee
Chicken-Apple Sausage and Irish Cheddar Quiche
Fresh Fruit with Brown Sugar Yogurt Dip
Assorted Fresh Fruit Cut-Up
½ Cup Plain Yogurt
1 Cup Sour Cream
¼ Cup Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
½ Teaspoon Coconut Extract (totally optional)
Mix yogurt, sour cream, brown sugar, extracts in a bowl. Refrigerate 1 hour. Serve for fruit dipping!
1 8oz Package cream cheese (room temp)
1/3 Cup Sour Cream
1/3 Cup Mayonnaise
6 Strips Bacon Chopped
5 Green Onions Chopped
1 Clove Garlic Minced
1 Cup Parmesan Cheese Shredded
1 Egg Yolk
1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar (secret ingredient)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, bacon, onion, garlic, parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper.
Fill each mushroom with a teaspoon or so of filling. Put in baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.
Barb’s Curry Chutney Brie
This is another favorite recipe from my friend Barb. Love it.
1 large Brie Wheel (Costco has a good price)
1 Tablespoon Curry Powder
½ Jar Major Grey Mango Chutney (4.5 oz)
½ Cup Whole Pecans
Crackers etc.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Rub brie all over with curry powder. Spread with chutney. Top with pecans. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve with Crackers!
Raspberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake
I found this recipe on Annie Eats. I forgot to take a pic but it was great!
5 or 6 Cups of Spring Mix Greens
2 Ounces Crumbled Blue Cheese
2 Pears Sliced
1 Cup Candied Pecans – Recipe Below
Shallot Vinaigrette – Recipe Below
Mix together all ingredients in large bowl. Toss with vinaigrette.
Candied Pecans
½ Cup White Sugar
2 Cups Whole Pecans
Heat sugar over medium high heat in large skillet. Once it starts melting it will look like this:
At this point you need to turn the heat down to low and throw in the pecans. The sugar will burn very quickly at this point so you need to watch it carefully. Toss pecans in sugar. Once coated remove from heat and set on foil to cool.
Shallot Vinaigrette
1 Shallot Minced
1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard
1 Teaspoon White Sugar
3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Blend ingredients together in blender of food processor. Pour over salad.
Coffee with Bailey’s Irish Cream
Is any brunch is complete without this lovely treat?
Pomegranate Champagne Cocktails
I had these last week at the Drake Cooper holiday party and knew I had to serve them.
2 Pomegranates seeded (Go here for instructions)
½ fifth of Brandy
Lots of Champagne
Soak seeds in brandy refrigerated overnight. Add a tablespoon to each glass of champagne.
I thought this pic was hilarious:
By the way, I LOVE Christmas and my house is decked out in holiday gear. I even wrap all of the wall pictures/hangings in wrapping paper and make my poor dog wear a santa suit. Here he is with little Grace!
The Cookies
Let’s get to the delicious cookies! I think the exchange is everyone’s favorite part of the party. Here is a silly little video of the exchange taken by Katie Shamalangadingdong.
I made Saltine Toffee Cookies, which I make every year. They are amazingly simple and tasty! Here is the recipe.
While, I wish I could post everyone’s recipe, I am a little lazy. So here are a few of my favorites that made an appearance at the party:
Katie’s Peppermint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies – Recipe here
Sarah’s Oreo Truffle Balls – Recipe here
These are incredibly rich and yummy!
Michelle’s Chocolate Cranberry Fudge – Recipe here
Cortnay’s Mint Chocolate Brownies – Recipe here
As you can probably tell, there was no shortage of cookies. Here are a few more fun pics from the party:
Katie with Kate’s little guy James
Crissie baking her delicious sugar cookies
Rose’s delicious Almond Cookies
Myself and Miss Michelle C.
Mavie and Kelsay bonding
Jaime and Betsy discussing the art of cookie baking
I had a blast at this year’s party and am incredibly thankful for all of my wonderful friends. Thanks to foodbuzz for letting me participate in this great event. And a big thanks to Crissie and Katie for helping me document the craziness.
Love,
Lindzee