cookie party.
Tonight's the big night, folks. The cookie party.
For those of you that don't remember, let me give you a brief rundown.
It's a cookie exchange. Dusty's family {aunts, mom, grandma & friends} started this year's ago. I know cookie exchange parties are very common these days, but this was way back when. I don't remember the full story, but somehow it turned into a competition. Then... it got serious. They made capes and crowns for the winners. There are three categories: 1.) Best packaging 2.) Prettiest cookie and the ultimate 3.) Best tasting {cookie queen}. Okay, -- the capes and titles are just for fun. I'm probably the only one that takes it way more serious than it really is.
I'm super competitive {about stupid things, in a funny sort of way}. As soon as I heard about said party from Dusty before we got married, I immediately knew I wanted to win. I had to win. I would win {one day}. Three years ago was the first chance I had to enter the competition {due to being in Chicago, being out of town on the party day, etc.}
It was what I had been waiting for... dreaming of {okay, not really!} At first I wanted to go big and attempt to win all three categories -- a clean sweep! {this has never been done}. I realized this was impossible. To have the best tasting cookie, it's unlikely it will also be the prettiest. The pretty cookies are mostly decorated cookies and if a sugar cookie is good enough to win the cookie competition, then there probably aren't any good cookies there -- just saying. I could either go for best packaging and prettiest, or best packaging and best tasting. No question. Best tasting. I wanted to be crowned the queen.
Long story short, the first year I entered, I won!! That year was the "Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookie." Yeah, I was over ambitious. Rather than having to make 12 dozen cookies, I had to make 24 dozen since it was a sandwich and THEN fill them. Why do I do this to myself?
So, in 2008 I won best tasting & best packaging. My packaging took me forever that year!! I got 24 of the small pringle's cans, cut paper to match the exact size, made 24 white handprints of Eli's hands {6 months old at that point. yeah... that was a bear!!} and made Santa faces out of his handprint, complete with a little hat with cotton on the rim and tip. I wish I had a photo because it was too adorable. I wrote an oh so cute poem to go along with it and attached it with ribbon. Precious.
After that experience, I decided the packaging took too much time and money to bother with. So, the next two years I just had in my mind to win best tasting. So, here's the rundown.
2008 - Best Packaging, Best Tasting - Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookie
2009 - Best Tasting - Red Velvet Sandwich Cookie
2010 - Best Tasting - Lemon Sandwich Cookie
This year, I was oh so close to not making cookies. It was the day before the big competition, it was raining and I hadn't bought any ingredients or made a final decision on a cookie, I'm pregnant {my big excuse for everything right about now} and I didn't want to spend all day baking. But, Dusty convinced me to do it. I had to do my staple Sandwich Cookie {of course}, so it was just a matter of what kind to do?
I finally came up with the idea of doing a Carrot Cake Cookie. You heard that right. Dreamy Carrot Cream Pies, I call them. Two deliciously moist carrot cake cookies {complete with raisons and walnuts} with a scrumptious cream cheese frosting sandwiched in between. Divine.
I also planned to package them in ziploc bags {perfect for freezing anyway, as everyone comes home with 12 dozen cookies & likely freezes some}. But today, I had a vision. I came up with a cute label, decided on brown paper bags and added a green, polka dotted ribbon. Cute! I decided to go with more of a carrot theme than a Christmassy theme because I don't' want there to be any doubts which cookie goes with which packaging. I don't know if it's a winner, but I'm very happy how they turned out!
Here's hoping for a Fourpeat! Wish me luck :)
For those of you that don't remember, let me give you a brief rundown.
It's a cookie exchange. Dusty's family {aunts, mom, grandma & friends} started this year's ago. I know cookie exchange parties are very common these days, but this was way back when. I don't remember the full story, but somehow it turned into a competition. Then... it got serious. They made capes and crowns for the winners. There are three categories: 1.) Best packaging 2.) Prettiest cookie and the ultimate 3.) Best tasting {cookie queen}. Okay, -- the capes and titles are just for fun. I'm probably the only one that takes it way more serious than it really is.
I'm super competitive {about stupid things, in a funny sort of way}. As soon as I heard about said party from Dusty before we got married, I immediately knew I wanted to win. I had to win. I would win {one day}. Three years ago was the first chance I had to enter the competition {due to being in Chicago, being out of town on the party day, etc.}
It was what I had been waiting for... dreaming of {okay, not really!} At first I wanted to go big and attempt to win all three categories -- a clean sweep! {this has never been done}. I realized this was impossible. To have the best tasting cookie, it's unlikely it will also be the prettiest. The pretty cookies are mostly decorated cookies and if a sugar cookie is good enough to win the cookie competition, then there probably aren't any good cookies there -- just saying. I could either go for best packaging and prettiest, or best packaging and best tasting. No question. Best tasting. I wanted to be crowned the queen.
Long story short, the first year I entered, I won!! That year was the "Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookie." Yeah, I was over ambitious. Rather than having to make 12 dozen cookies, I had to make 24 dozen since it was a sandwich and THEN fill them. Why do I do this to myself?
So, in 2008 I won best tasting & best packaging. My packaging took me forever that year!! I got 24 of the small pringle's cans, cut paper to match the exact size, made 24 white handprints of Eli's hands {6 months old at that point. yeah... that was a bear!!} and made Santa faces out of his handprint, complete with a little hat with cotton on the rim and tip. I wish I had a photo because it was too adorable. I wrote an oh so cute poem to go along with it and attached it with ribbon. Precious.
After that experience, I decided the packaging took too much time and money to bother with. So, the next two years I just had in my mind to win best tasting. So, here's the rundown.
2008 - Best Packaging, Best Tasting - Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookie
2009 - Best Tasting - Red Velvet Sandwich Cookie
2010 - Best Tasting - Lemon Sandwich Cookie
This year, I was oh so close to not making cookies. It was the day before the big competition, it was raining and I hadn't bought any ingredients or made a final decision on a cookie, I'm pregnant {my big excuse for everything right about now} and I didn't want to spend all day baking. But, Dusty convinced me to do it. I had to do my staple Sandwich Cookie {of course}, so it was just a matter of what kind to do?
I finally came up with the idea of doing a Carrot Cake Cookie. You heard that right. Dreamy Carrot Cream Pies, I call them. Two deliciously moist carrot cake cookies {complete with raisons and walnuts} with a scrumptious cream cheese frosting sandwiched in between. Divine.
I also planned to package them in ziploc bags {perfect for freezing anyway, as everyone comes home with 12 dozen cookies & likely freezes some}. But today, I had a vision. I came up with a cute label, decided on brown paper bags and added a green, polka dotted ribbon. Cute! I decided to go with more of a carrot theme than a Christmassy theme because I don't' want there to be any doubts which cookie goes with which packaging. I don't know if it's a winner, but I'm very happy how they turned out!
Here's hoping for a Fourpeat! Wish me luck :)
2 Comments
So did you win this year?!?
ReplyDeleteupdate on the party:
ReplyDeletewell, the reign had to end sometime, right? There was an unusual amount of really good cookies this year. So, the vote was pretty divided. All that to say, I did not win {but heard from a reliable source I had a lot of votes}. Sad day. I'm gonna have to come back full force next year!
the winner, Aly, won with a Snicker doodle cookie loaded with white chocolate. It was a surprising, delicious twist on a well known cookie!