iMSN Holiday Cookie Exchange

Ummm - Kris -- I think you get a pass. You're welcome to do it ANYTIME!

[Sheherezade]

So Kris, this wasn't all some kind of excuse to get out of the cookie exchange, was it??

Mine went out Tuesday morning.... should be there soon!

[Vanquisher]

I think Kris is exempt from cookie making. Who is expecting cookies from Kris, so they need not check for any more cookies in the mail?

Mine went out Monday. I was thinking they should have been there by now. Anyone?

[PrincessFiona]

So Kris, this wasn't all some kind of excuse to get out of the cookie exchange, was it??

Mine went out Tuesday morning.... should be there soon!

You didn't think I'd take it this far to get out of baking the cookies. :> I probably would have had to go to the store and buy them anyway I wonder if anyone would have noticed that

[Vanquisher]

MMMM...Angie. I love Mexican Wedding Cookies, and I am devouring them right now. Mine, all mine!

Thank you!

I am stalking the mailman, eagerly anticipating more cookies.

Ohhhhh, Heidi. These are darn tasty. :---

[Meenah]

Heidi,
These are INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Luanne

Thank you

[BonBon]

I sent Amaretto and Almond Chocolate Truffles, English Toffee, and Sugar Cookies to Nellie, Kris, and Luanne today! I hope they arrive nicely, and you enjoy them!

Question: are you talking about English Toffee candy, or some sort of cookie? If it's the candy, then I need help!!! I have screwed up 7 out of 11 batches. The butter keeps separating out. Funny, because I always made this *before* I took the chocolate class and never had a problem. Now that I am a "Master of Chocolate" (pardon me, ) I keep messing it up.

[Vanquisher]

I sent Amaretto and Almond Chocolate Truffles, English Toffee, and Sugar Cookies to Nellie, Kris, and Luanne today! I hope they arrive nicely, and you enjoy them!

Question: are you talking about English Toffee candy, or some sort of cookie? If it's the candy, then I need help!!! I have screwed up 7 out of 11 batches. The butter keeps separating out. Funny, because I always made this *before* I took the chocolate class and never had a problem. Now that I am a "Master of Chocolate" (pardon me, ) I keep messing it up.

Here is my toffee recipe.

1 lb butter
1 lb sugar (about 2 1/2 cups)
1 T light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
18 oz of smei-sweet chocolate (grated or shaved very finely)
2/3 cup chopped almonds.

Spread half of almonds in a large cookie sheet with a lip. Cover with an even coating of half of the chocolate.

Place butter, sugar, corn syrup, and water in sauce pan with a candy thermometer. (I stirred throughout, and it worked, but I don't know if you are supposed to stir candy.) Cook until you see little puffs of blue smoke and candy is brown. Roughly 290 degrees or soft crack.

So, I never saw the blue smoke, and I think it is a myth my family is telling me. I ended up cooking to hard crack on my candy thermometer, but it still tasted like toffee to me. It didn't seem too hard.

Then top with remaining chocolate while candy is still hot. Spread over to melt. Top with remaining nuts. Allow to cool and break.

[Vanquisher]

Thanks Nellie and Luanne! I am glad you are enjoying them. The truffles are best the day of, and you can do many, many flavor combinations. (coconut/rum, mint, orange, raspberry, etc.) The sugar cookies are generally, really, really soft, but I don't know how they traveled. I love that sugar cookie recipe.

I got the rest of my cookies today and they are already gone! I ate one of Angie's and told my dh he would really like them (he loves nutty stuff). I went upstairs, came back and the other 11 were GONE! I didn't say "you will really like them and please eat all of them ... I was SHARING!" I liked them too!

Please post the recipe Angie!

As for Jenn's .... well, I have to claim more responsibility in the disappearance of those. Jacob & I LOVE sour stuff. So yummy!

Heidi - I want your recipe, too, for the Mexican things. I love Mexican chocolate ...

Nellie -- we already talked about recipes. YUM! Can we do this as a weekly thing.

[Vanquisher]

Heidi - I want your recipe, too, for the Mexican things. I love Mexican chocolate ...

That's Angie's receipe - Mexican Wedding Cookies. They were yummy!

I sent out Amaretto Truffles, Sugar Cookies, and English Toffee. I posted the toffee recipe. Did anyone want either of the other two recipes?

Chad wants to know, for those that received my tins, what your favortie thing was. Don't ask me why. So, if you don't mind for his edification, and my future reference, let me know if you had a favorite.

[Meenah]

Chris I received your package today. Very yummy. I think we should plan a Spring cookie exchange (Valentines/Easter/Passover/St/ Patricks) theme.
Luanne

I like that idea, Luanne! Definitely for Valentine's Day and then an Easter/Passover one. Or a Purim exchange for Hamentaschen? (sp?)

Heidi, I will take toffee over just about any treat, so that is my favorite. The kids love the sugar cookies and my mom has been stealing the truffles.