Friday, December 17, 2010

cookie exchange

Tomorrow I get to go to a cookie exchange!


(Isn't that plate cute?  More on how I got that in a minute.)



They got a drizzle of melted white chocolate after they cooled.  Ooh so pretty!

And also White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies (that one of my APQ blogging friends posted a while ago and I can't remember who - I'm sorry!)


(Yikes what a color difference in those photos!)

In addition to cookies (which we're only supposed to bring one kind, but I LOVE to bake and noone turns their nose up at extra cookies!) we're supposed to bring a white elephant (gag) gift for an exchange.  It's always a good laugh.  One year I took a bowling ball!

So two years ago, I got a set of dessert plates and mugs.  You see one peeking out from the cookies above.  There are 4 and they're all Christmas-themed old baking advertisements.  I can't believe someone brought those and didn't want them!

And if all this baking isn't enough, my microwave died tonight!  I put the white chocolate in to melt and it make a popping noise and I smelled electrical burningness.  Then it made some wierd buzzy noises and the light inside flickered.  That's when I pulled the plug!  Thankfully that's all it did, but tomorrow we'll be out getting a new one.  10 years of less-than-(probably)-average use is a good lifespan for a microwave, right?

(And after the one my parents had while I was growing up literally lit itself on fire when it decided to die, I'm even more thankful that this one gave me fair warning.)

But melting chocolate in the oven (I don't have a double-boiler) was an experience I don't want to repeat.  :)

This is the season for baking, right?  Well, yesterday I made a Cranberry Bundt Cake to take to a holiday potluck at work today.  I was a little worried about turning my coworkers into guinea pigs, but it turned out well.  The tartness of the cranberries was perfect and I'm not sure if I should be proud to have outshined all the other desserts or feel a little guilty...  (Sorry no photos of that one...poor planning on my part.)

And my kitchen isn't done yet!  First I have to get a new microwave, but then I'll be making peanut brittle in the microwave as well as fudge and truffles for the hubby to give his employees for the holidays.  I'll post those recipes and photos (if I remember them) when we're done with that madness.  (Yes we...the hubby doesn't get 21 tins of goodies for nothing!)

I know I've promised a photo of the Christmas quilt...working 8-5, I don't see much daylight, so I'm hoping this weekend I'll find time between making batches of sweets to get that photo to share.

Is it bedtime yet?

Happy quilting,
Katie

7 comments:

lisa said...

Target had one on sale today and I know their sales run sun through sat so get down there tomorrow.

I also don't have a real double boiler but have done one small pot inside another larger pot, or one of my fiestaware bowls sits inside my smallest pot, so I do that a lot too. And sometimes I just heat in my corningware on top of the stove. I need to do one of the three tomorrow when I finish MY cookies. I wanted to do them tonight but am not in the mood. And I should be sewing Hazels quilt for Christmas!

Marsha B said...

Everything sounds so yummy! I want to do some cookie baking but it will be just my husband and I who will have to eat them. Not complaining but we really don't need the calories! We need a new microwave, too. Probably after Christmas. Enjoy the candy making and hope you get a little sewing time in there somewhere.

Beth said...

Your cookies look delish! You are kitchen wizard.
Hope the microwave shopping goes smoothly.
Happy baking.

Liriopia said...

Mmmm, Cookies! Me love cookies!

Liri

canuckquilter said...

Those cookies look mighty good, and the white elephant exchange that goes with them sounds like a hoot. Like Lisa I've used a bowl over a pot of hot water as a makeshift double boiler. The microwave is easier though. :) Good luck with the replacement shopping. The last weekend before Christmas you should be able to get a good deal.

Connie204 said...

Yummy!! They look sooo good. Funny, my microwave just did the same thing about 6 months ago and it was almost 9 yrs old. Now my diswasher is leaking. Connie204

---"Love" said...

Me love cookies too! And yours look delicious!
I bet everyone loves to see you coming with a big batch of those! Have fun with your Christmas preparations! And of course, Merry Christmas to you and yours! ---"Love"