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Even at food bloggers’ swap, it’s not about the cookies
In today’s Relish Austin column, I spilled the beans that cookie swaps, or any kind of holiday baking for that matter, aren’t really about the cookies, but rather the memories and stories behind them.
For the Statesman’s Cookie Swap, which concludes with a free party from 6 to 8 p.m. at Stubb’s on Thursday (click here for more details), it was clear from the start that nostalgia has more to do with holiday treats than anything else.
In almost every one of the cookie recipes exchanged on the Austin360 recipe database in the past few weeks, the person submitting the recipe recalls who first baked the cookie, how it was passed down to them and the reaction of friends and neighbors who get the cookies as a gift.
“I have grown up with this cookie and life as a Southern child wouldn’t be complete without it,” wrote Hattie Hazen of her favorite recipe for cowboy cookies.
One reader shared a story about an ice box cookie recipe her mother got from a friend during World War II, when sugar was rationed. “(Her friend) gave Mother some sugar so she could make the cookies. Our cow and hens provided the butter and eggs.”
The cookies we make with our kids tend to hold the sweetest memories: “When our children were young and at home, we always made these for Christmas,” a reader wrote of these paintbrush cookies. “Times have changed, our children are all away from home. This must have been a good memory for them as I know some of them now do these cookies with their children.”
On Thursday, judges Rebecca Rather (Rather Sweet Bakery and Cafe in Fredericksburg), Rebecca Wallace Ford (founder of Word of Mouth Catering), Mark Chapman (Texas Culinary Academy pastry instructor), Anna Ginsberg (Cookie Madness blogger and 2006 Pillsbury Bake-Off winner) and Russell Williams, a tweeting pedicabber who has been known to accept cookies as payment, will try to separate nostalgia from a good recipe to pick the winner of the Statesman’s Holiday Cookie Swap contest.
The Statesman’s virtual cookie swap is one of hundreds of recipe exchanges that will take place this holiday season. On Sunday, I attended a cookie swap with my beloved food blogger friends at the house of Carla Crownover.
Although the bloggers, as you might expect, brought some fantastic cookies, it was most rewarding to hear the stories they shared before the actual swapping began of where the recipe came from and why they made it.
And even though we all went home with more cookies than we could eat in a lifetime, the cookie swap was just a really good excuse to spend time with these dear friends before the holiday rush swept us away from each other.
You wouldn’t believe the variety of cookies Austin’s awesome bloggers brought: Hawaiian snowballs from Lisa is Cooking, Italian wine cookies from co-host Cecilia Nasti, pecan bars and candied fruit and bourbon cookies from Cookie Madness, lemon-lavender shortbread from Fete and Feast, truffles from Rebeccamendations and Austin Farm to Table and bacon chocolate chip cookies from Eat This Lens. (The hosts are working on compiling all the recipes, so I’ll share a link to more recipes when I get them.)
It’s hard to believe that it’s been less than a year since our first food blogger potluck in April. Who would have thought that so many friendships would have come from this group. Cookies or no, I felt so lucky to share Sunday with them.
I hope to spend some time with many of you on Thursday night at Stubb’s, but if not, consider this my holiday wish for you and your families: Enjoy time with your friends and family throughout the year, and remember, it’s not about the cookies.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: 2009 Cookie Swap, Bloggerly love, Cooking
Comments
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By marshall wright
December 16, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this
Without a doubt 2009 will be one of my most memorable years, being a part of this amazing and tight-knit community is a big part of that. I feel extremely lucky to be friends with so many amazing people, not to mention phenomenal cooks! Of course, without Addie none of this would have happened! Happy holidays!
By Cecilia Nasti
December 18, 2009 5:54 AM | Link to this
I second Marshall’s sentiments about the year, the people, and of course, Addie. She has great energy and a wonderful sense of fun that sets the tone for this diverse group of foodies. Looking forward to what the New Year brings. Happy Holidays to all. And to the bloggers at last Sunday’s exchange—emails those recipes. :o)
By Rebecca
December 18, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this
Addie!
Thank you so much for featuring a picture of my truffles from the cookie swap! It was a blast!
Here is more info on the truffles if anyone wants to give them a shot!
http://rebeccammendations.com/2009/11/02/truffle-evolution-4th-generation/
Happy Holidays!
Rebecca