‘Tis the Season {Holiday Cookie Swap}

I don’t know how I made it through 30 years of my life without a food processor.

Okay, except for the first 15 when I didn’t know how to cook.  But it really would have come in handy over the last 15 years.

This weekend, for example.  In preparation for the cookie swap I used and washed out my food processor no less than 6 times.  With all of the time it saved me, I didn’t mind all of the extra washing!

But you don’t want to read about a food processor, do you?  You want to read about {and see pictures of} the cookie swap!

Our house was decorated and cleaned, with many thanks to my wonderful husband for all of his help!

The food was mostly prepped but there was still a bunch of last minute chopping and toasting to do.  Thankfully, Emily came over a little early to help me finish up the food and set up.  She was a lifesaver, I’m pretty sure I would not have been ready for the more than 25 bloggers and readers who came if she hadn’t been there.  Thank you, Emily!

For my contribution to the swap, I made Chocolate Cranberry cookies, one batch traditionally prepared and another batch vegan and gluten-free.  I will share the recipe this week!

We had a nice spread of food to go with our cookies:

{These two photos courtesy of Sarah}

Thanks to Lindsay, Suzanne and Emily for contributing to food and drinks!  Suzanne’s cranberry salsa was amazing and Emily’s Baba Ghanoush was delicious

We also had mulled wine, hot cider, rosemary popcorn, sun dried tomato pesto, olive tapenade, hummus, spinach and artichoke dip, veggies, crostini, pita chips and gluten-free crackers and chips.  Sadly, I found a tub of tzatziki in my fridge tonight that I made for the cookie swap, but clearly forgot to put out–oops!  I’ll be sharing recipes for some of the appetizers later this week.

The big business of the evening was the cookies.  And there was a serious amount of cookies in my house.  So many, that every flat surface on the first floor of my house was covered in cookies!  Katie won for presentation with her homemade oreos.

{Photos courtesy of Emily}

For me, the best part of the night was when we went around the room and introduced ourselves and our blogs.  It was great to put faces {and voices!} with these talented women.  I was so happy to open my home to this fantastic group!

{Photos courtesy of Emily}

I had such a great time and now have a TON of cookies!  This is such a fun group, I can’t wait for another gathering.  And rest assured, this was the FIRST annual DC cookie swap.  I’m already thinking of ideas for next year   Thank you all for coming and making it such a success!