Cookie Exchange

A very lovely English friend of mine invited a bunch of us girls to a Cookie Exchange on Tuesday evening. It's the second year she has put this special event on, but my first time going.

I really didn't know what to expect as I'd never heard of one before. Well, what a treat it was!

We were instructed to make up twelve bags with five cookies in each bag. Well that all seemed OK until you do the calculations and discover just how many trays of cookies this is!! Luckily my dear husband had bought me a new non-stick baking tray for my birthday and Gran had given me one a few weeks before.

It was like a small factory in my kitchen that morning. Little No.4 was most interested and very helpful with a few of the smarties (lollies). She was very accurate and did just as I instructed, the little poppet. I have to say bundling the gingerbread angels up into cellophane was a bit tricky and they looked a little on the small side too.

And this is what I found on my arrival at G's house...

Massive cranberry and white chocolate cookies bagged up with the most beautiful bows and nicely set in a basket!! Don't mine look dinky now?!! Not to worry, they weren't all this fancy and next time (hope I'm invited back!!) I'll outdo myself.

So at the end of the evening, after nibbling sample cookies and mulled wine (Mmmm scrummy) we each went around and collected a bag of each cookie. Well you can imagine how happy we were leaving with so many lovely little gifts in our containers. They did look so lovely and Christmassy too.

The girls were mighty pleased with the cookie selection the next morning. They each chose one cookie for their lunchboxes and went off to school/kindy with smiles on their faces. It's not often that good around here as far as good food goes!

Now see these soft little delights? Well I can happily tell you that they are now squashed into seven jars and feeling a bit jammy. Yes I have made jam! And I am very proud of my efforts too! I'm now very eager to make some strawberry jam and fruit salad jam before Christmas. On top of various other kitchen delights too. Hope the time doesn't run out on me!

How are your preparations going? It's difficult to fit in all the shopping with all the other commitments to isn't it? We have end of year assemblies, parties, zoo outings, and all those jolly take-a-plate things which are really starting to do my head in! Oh it will be so nice when the relaxing on the floor with a jigsaw, a mince tart and cup of tea days arrive.

By the way the weather this week has been middle of summer kind of stuff. It was about 29 degrees here this afternoon. The ground is boiling hot and the feeling summer brings is just so exciting. You know what is really getting me going? Hmmm, bet you can't guess? It's hanging the washing on the line and not having to miss every second line because you know it will all be dry in about an hour. Oh it's all about the little things in life!