Virtual Cookie Swap is here!

Well folks, the recipes are in (or at least most of them are...if you had one to include but it's not here--let me know the link and I promise I'll add to the list!)

SFO Mom, Barb, shares Mrs. Wagner's cookies. Be sure to read the whole post. May we all remember the Mrs. Wagners, who share their cookies and their friendship with us and look for opportunities to be Mrs. Wagner to some little one this Christmas.

Jena of Two Different Loves shares her recipe for Sour Cream Raisin (Craisin) Bars that sounds delicious and even healthy (hey-the recipe calls for raisins-that's a veritable health food, right?) And the suggestion to substitute festive colored craisins---pure holiday genius!

From Australia, Therese at Aussie Coffee Shop, shares two delicious biscuit (that's cookie for my stateside friends) recipes that she loves to bake at Christmastime: White Christmas and Rum Balls.

Eileen from Eileen on Him or At Least I Try, has put together an amazing assortment of Christmas cookies: Mexican Wedding cakes, Pie Crust cookies and even included a great icing to use on her Sugar Cookie Cutouts. I just hope she posts pictures of all those multicultural reindeer after they're frosted!

The instigator for this current cookie swap, Katie, offers two yummy cookie recipes: her Peanut Butter Squares and her sister Betsy's Seven Layer Bars.

Dawn, our parish Mom's Group "in-real-life" cookie swap hostess, presents one of her family's favorites--Chocolate Peanut Butter Secrets.

Jamie of Ad Silvam Ibimus offers a delicious traditional Latke recipe to be served with applesauce and sour cream...and perhaps (as she suggests) Rolaids!

Mary combines two easy and always great together ingredients--pretzels and chocolate for a fun and easy treat to make with the kids--Chocolate Covered Pretzels.

Barbara, whose blog Praying for Grace has a companion food blog-Bless Us O Lord, has shared a recipe for Chocolate Chip Biscotti. Decorated with festive colored sugar or, as she suggests, red or green M and M's, these look like a sure hit for any Christmas dessert table. And while you're there, take a look around the rest of her food blog, you won't be disappointed. (You can also find her Christmas Cookie Line-Up in the sidebar!)

Finally, on the Ark, we always make these Buckeye cookies every year. They are simple and taste just like a peanut butter cup! Although last year, growing up, the kitchen was always filled with the scents of certain cookies at the holiday. This year, as the holidays are bringing out the sentimentalist in me, here is the recipe for Les Madelines that my mom always made:

Generously butter and flour Madeleine pans.

Melt and set aside 1/2 lb butter (2 sticks)
Mix together (with a wooden spoon-I have no idea why, but I always do it anyway)
4 eggs, 1 c. sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla/almond extract, 1 c. flour
Add melted butter
Fill Madeleine pans 2/3 full
Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes. Unmold and let cool immediately. Store in a air-tight container to retain spongy, cake-like texture.

Thank you to everyone who shared their Christmas memories and recipes with us.
Happy Eating!