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Happy New Year 2013: Holiday Treats
I believe it’s the little things that make the world go round. There are many people that make my life sweeter with a daily hello, a chat, a shared cup of coffee, or a walk. It’s hard to know a way that isn’t corny for showing my appreciation for brightening my year.
As a result, it’s been my tradition for many years to deliver a package of holiday treats to these local friends during the holiday season, or at least, during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. My dearest friends are always on the list, but I also enjoy sharing with newer friends or acquaintances.
The whole process, starting with planning what I’ll make (usually a mix of old favorites and new experiments), picking out the containers, preparing the sweets, packaging everything, and ending with stopping by to drop off the edible gifts, makes me really happy.
Howard has gotten into the act as well. He’s always helped with the packaging, but a few years ago, he asked me to make similar packets of sweets to share with his colleagues at work to welcome the New Year. It’s turned into an event that we both have a lot of fun with.
Initially, I think I made the same set of offerings for both rounds, but, in recent years, I mix it up, making mostly different things. Here’s the menu we shared this holiday season.
Round 1: Local Friends
White-Chocolate Apricots
Dark Chocolate Bark with Almonds and Sea Salt
Za’atar Pecans
Pain d’Amandes
Round 2: Howard’s Colleagues
Brown Sugar Rosemary Walnuts (without the figs)
Dark Chocolate Bark with Almonds and Sea Salt
Cheese Crackers (half made with Emmenthaler and half with Manchego)
I hope 2013 is full of lots of little things to brighten your life in the year ahead! Happy New Year to you!
Cookie Swap for a Cause
I’ve always wanted to participate in a cookie swap, but my friends always seem a bit overwhelmed and busy during the holiday season, so I never make the move to organize one. This year, I learned about a different sort of cookie swap, so I signed up.
The Boston Food Swap organized a Cookie Swap for a Cause which was held yesterday. Each baker brought at least four dozen cookies. Glad (who also provided the containers) donated $1 per cookie swapped. Over $4000 was raised to support Cookies for Kids’ Cancer.
Five long tables were set up and filled with thousands of homemade cookies. I was amazed at the variety. There was little, if any, duplication. I swear you could see the sugar in the air! People hung around and mingled. There were some activities and vendors to check out. Mostly everyone was waiting for swap time.
When the swapping started, everyone got two Gladware containers to fill with one or two of each cookie that looked appealing, as long as they lasted. I brought home samples of a few dozen different cookies. Howard will probably end up bringing them to work as there are too many for just us to eat, but they all look delicious! It was fun!
Now I want to try out one of the Boston Food Swap’s monthly events.
I brought Cranberry Noëls, an icebox cookie with flecks of red and green. Red from dried cranberries and green from pistachios. I love making icebox cookies for so many reasons. The main ones: the dough is easy to make, and you can store extra logs in the freezer for homemade slice-and-bake cookies anytime.
Cranberry Noëls
Adapted from MarthaStewart.com
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup sugar
2 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
2½ cups flour
½ tsp salt
¾ cup dried cranberries
½ cup chopped pistachios
¼ tsp finely grated orange zest
Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add milk and vanilla, and mix until just combined. In another bowl, whisk together flour, salt, cranberries, pistachios, and orange zest until fruit and nuts are well-distributed. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture (I use a ½ cup measuing cup). Continue mixing until fully incorporated.
Turn dough onto a work surface and divide in half. Shape each half into a log about 2 inches in diameter and 8 inches long. Wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 375F and line baking sheets with parchment. Use a sharp knife to cut logs into ¼-inch slices. Place on baking sheets, about 1½ inches apart. Bake until edges are golden, rearranging pans halfway through, about 15-18 minutes totoal.
Remove from oven. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
Makes 4 dozen (you can make rolls skinnier and longer for more, smaller, cookies)
These are my cookies. Excuse the blurry photo my iPhone took.
P.S. If you are a local friend of mine and would be up for a traditional cookie swap in 2013, let me know. If there are enough of us, I’ll organize something for next year.
A Plateful of Happiness 