Sometimes I feel a bit like a blogger in a bubble. I have some fairly faithful readers, though judging by the comments most of you are people who know me in the flesh. Save for one online friendship with The Meaning Of Me, which is built on food, sarcastic humor and the love of rotten cats, I don’t have a lot of e-friends. So I jumped at the chance to join The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, hosted by Lindsay and Julie. Networking by food is totally my jam.
The principle is simple. Bake 3 dozen cookies and send a dozen to 3 bloggers. In return, 3 different bloggers will bestow you with a dozen cookies. If you’ve been around here for much time, you may already know that I don’t love cookie production. It’s just too much work. (Yes, there is irony in that statement based on the hours I logged for the 12 Cakes in 2012 challenge.) Even so, I was a little surprised that the one and only cookie I make every year at the holidays has yet to make it onto the blog. That made my choice for the swap really easy.
These cookies border on perfection. They’re soft and sweet and a little tart. It’s one of the recipes I have at the ready, because every year someone asks. If you’re looking for something to add to your line up, make these. Just don’t be surprised when they become a tradition. A baker’s dozen went to these three ladies:
Julia - A Cedar Spoon - Julia serves up healthy, tasty dishes along with my new favorite Monday tradition: Case of the Mondays. These weekly posts showcase her favorite online finds.
Meagan – Scarletta Bakes – Meagan is cooking up delicious southwestern fare and posting gorgeous pics over on her blog. I basically want to face plant into all of her food.
Courtney – Fitness with a Fork - I love reading blogs that make me want to want to eat healthy and workout. Courtney’s totally fits the bill.
So, I’m pretty sure that accepting my sugary treats (that’s what she said) is akin to making up a secret handshake. We’ve bonded. What I’m saying is I have 3 new blogging BFFs. (Friendship bracelets are on order.)
I’ll take silence as compliance… or everyone navigating away from this post… and Hubster shaking his head at how weird I can be sometimes…
If you’re a food blogger and want to join in the fun next year (and have a shot at becoming a MMF2 BFF in 2013), you can sign up here to receive updates when the 2013 swap approaches.
Cranberry and vanilla cookies
Yield: 2 dozen
1/3 cup butter, softened
½ cup brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
¾ cup dried cranberries
½ cup vanilla or white chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Whisk together flour, salt and baking soda; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well. Stir in cranberries and chips.
Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 1 minute then remove to wire racks and cool completely.
