Cookie Swap time: Butterscotch Brownies

Oh yes it’s that time of year again!  I’m almost overwhelmed by the shear quantity of cookies I have in my house right now.  And it’s not like their just so-so and I want to give them away…no…they are all painfully delicious. 

This past weekend my mom hosted the family cookie swap for her, her sisters, sisters-in-law, and my grandmother.  I only get to attend because I help my mom prepare, but I don’t actually participate in the swap (even though I end up with my fair share of cookies…I think I have a sweet deal going here). 

(I spy an engagement photo) 

By the time I arrived, she had already set the table and prepared most of the food.

 

My grandmother used to host the swap and each of the women could pick a tea cup (my grandmother has quite the collection).  So now she just brings a sampling of the cups over to my moms for everyone to choose.

I chose before everyone arrived :)

I LOVE all her tea cups, and hope to have a nice collection for myself someday!

Somehow I missed photo’s of the food but there were little tenderloin sandwiches, chicken salad, crab salad on endive leaves, egg salad, and a big garden salad.  Delicious.  Dessert is obvious: cookies!  Although we also had a little carrot cake my aunt made as it was my mom’s birthday on Saturday too!! 

Now I have this pile on my counter:

Mmmm cookies.

The day wasn’t over.  As soon as I got home it was time to get gussied up to go out for the annual holiday cocktail party my friends from college always have each year!    

No good outfit pic, but I grabbed this one in the bathroom ;)

Light mauve/pink sequin dress I got last year at Kohls!  It’s from the Lauren Conrad line…she makes cute clothes!! 

 

Needless to say I was exhausted and a little “dehydrated” the next morning.  I woke up with a craving and immediately set out to fulfill it:

Oh Bagel World…I love you.  Whole wheat bagel with light scallion cc, cucumber, tomato, and sprouts!

Delish with a cappuccino I made back at the house.   

Then the cookie-craziness continued: Blogger Cookie Swap!  Shannon has hosted this swap for the past 2 years, and this time we finally were able to have it before Christmas :) 

I wanted something easy and delicious…after some thought I called my mom and asked for the recipe for her Butterscotch Brownies (basically blondies).  I should of guessed…Betty Crocker.  We don’t have the same version, but luckily my old book had it!

Seriously OLD

Second edition!  Copyright 1956

Fairly certain you can’t buy this book anymore, so I’m not sure how that works with giving out recipes.  But I figure a picture of the recipe can’t hurt. 

If you can’t read it or want the recipe email me! 

It’s basically lots of brown sugar and butter

I made a double batch, and added half walnuts

and half chocolate chips

All done in one pan!  Easy.

Time to swap.

Ranjani’s cranberry caramel bars

Kerstin’s Spiced Caramel Pecan Bars 

Melissa’s Chocolate Mint Cookies

Lauren’s “Better than Crack” Brownies 

Cara’s Cinnamon Coffee Pecan Cookies and Chocolate Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Elizabeth’s Nutella Oatmeal Cream Pies!  

Lizzy’s Andes Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies and Hot Cocoa Cookies

(Cara’s photo, my shot of these didn’t come out well)
 
Joanne’s Rainbow Cookies (mmmm almond paste!!)

(photo from Cara) 
Shannon’s Pumpkin Blondies and she also made these other little pumpkin oatmeal cookies that I love…somehow missed the name!

Shannon also made us some delectable snacks

Her version of bruscetta above was phenomenal!  Cranberry bread toasted, topped with ricotta, roasted butternut squash and apples, crispy sage, and balsamic reduction.  AMAZING.  I need to make this.

As you can see it was a jam packed weekend and now I am the proud owner of an abundance of cookies!  No complaints here, but thank goodness for Crossfit!