Bobi's Bites: Chocolate Drop Cookies!

My dad has only been at the cabin for about ten days but he already feels the need for some comfort food. He asked my mom to bake some of his Grandmother's Chocolate Drop Cookies. Not a problem for all the ingredients were on hand except those "squares" of bitter chocolate. This happens to my mom more than you want to know but in the "Substitutions for Emergencies" section of her TRUSTY recipe book she located the substitute:
1 sq. (1 oz.) unsweetened chocolate can be replaced with
3 tbsp. cocoa plus 1/2 tsp. shortening.

Onward with the recipe

Grandma Low's Drop Cookies
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
2 squares melted chocolate
or 6 tbsp baking cocoa and 1 tsp. melted butter
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. vanilla.



Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 325-350 ten to twelve minutes until cookies spring back
when touched lightly.

Frost with confectionary sugar icing and decorate as desired.

The Cookie Exchange Nut Cups!

One of the new items I had at this cookie exchange was my nut cup holders (That sounds so wrong on so many levels).
I saw this on someone's blog and for the life of me I cannot find it again. If you are reading this and know the other blog you saw this on - please let me know - I'm all about giving credit where credit is due!



I saw this - and knew it would be the perfect way to showcase my Grandma Kortright's Candied Nuts. One call to my dad in FL - he was all over it. He even took my verbal description one step further - He made them stacking for storing purposes. Dad's ROCK!



I went to our local craft store and purchased a Christmas "Mat Stack" - found in the scrapbooking aisle. This was a book of paper already cut in a 5 by 8 size. I just rolled each cone and stapled the seams. Since the nuts are slightly greasy, I also purchased disposable icing bags and put them into each cone as a liner.



I only used 2 tiers at the party - but it is nice to know that I have the third tier should I ever entertain a larger crowd!



This is my dad and some of his favorite little ladies! Thanks dad! You make me feel like I'm still your favorite - (Even though I know better!) I love you!



Can you think of anything else I can use these neat holders for?

The Cookie Exchange 2008!

This was the final result of weeks of prep, days of cooking and hours of sweating! Looking at it now - it was all worth it, but during the frenzy - one had to wonder!
Our menu was split between 2 tables: The savory table and the sweet table!
The above picture was our savory table. It consisted of:
Mini crab cakes on a roll
Mini Rueben's
Baked, peppered shrimp
Cream cheese carmelized onion tartlets
Spinach and feta tartlets
Tiny Brie Bites (Thanks to Big Red Kitchen)
Hearts of Palms salad with pomegranates on Endive
Green pepper jelly over cream cheese and crackers
Crab Rangoon

Note to self: Too many hot things. Not enough oven space to bake it all before guests came. We got it done - but we were literally shoving pans in my garage as we were opening the door for the first guest!



This was our sweet table. The back of the table has the candy "cups" - I'll talk more about those in another blog.
Our desserts were as follows:
Homemade peanut butter and chocolate pudding cups
Pastel Mint Refrigerator dessert in tiny cups
Variety of cookies from the exchange
German chocolate tartlets
Dark chocolate covered almonds
assorted chocolate truffles

This assortment worked great since it all could be done ahead of time!



This was my dining room the night of the exchange. One idea we had this year that worked perfectly was the charger plates. Last year, after our exchange, I was left to return 30 different platters. Since everyone leaves the party at different times - everyone just left their plate and told me they would get it later. This year we did a preemptive strike! With each invitation we delivered a gold charger plate. We asked each invitee to bring their cookies on this platter for the party. After the party I was left with 30 plates - but I just had to walk them to my basement (Not carry them in my car for over a month)!



My sweet little friends - Sarah (who hosted the party with me), Jennifer and Melody!



L to R - Michelle, Cary, Andrea, and Denise!



Big Red Kitchen's Robin, Myself, and Sabrina from Bristikibar!

More to come about the night - check back Friday for some recipes!

Coming Clean for the Cookie Exchange!

Every year my friend Sarah and I (you might remember her from "Calico Bean Pot Baked Beans") host a cookie exchange at my home. I love planning this get together. I love picking out the menu, printing the invititations and ushering in the Christmas season with this festive party. The one downer, and it's a big one, is the clean up that has to take place before the big event.



This is the entry way into my home. The only place that does not have enough shelf space for me to place random items that I seem not to be able to put away. I love this spot. When the occasional neighbor looks in the front door window - it looks as though I run a tidy ship! That's right - I'm a closet clutter-er!



My kitchen - pre party! If there is a piece of counter - there is a piece of clutter on it!
My next blog will show the transformation my home has to go through to host this party. This is no small feat my friend!