Written by Tribune guest contributor Laurie Johnson
HOORAY FOR THE JOY-GIVERS! We always need more smiles, music and laughter. This fun series salutes those seriously unsolemn people, places and things that bring joy to the world. Starting during the pandemic, an oft joy-challenged time, readers are introduced to present-day joy-givers and reminded of cherished joy-givers of the past. Each salute will have online links to add more opportunities for happiness in the comfort of your socially-distanced home. Many installments of the series will include a salutary food or drink recipe to add another element of pleasure.
The “SHIELD THE JOYOUS” shields, which will be given to those honored or to their family, are inspired from a passage in “The Book of Common Prayer” (1662). Prayers are lifted to “tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying…and shield the joyous.” Joy-givers are precious. Let us preserve them, protect them, treasure them, smile with them, laugh with them, tap our toes with them and give them A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE 2020 CHRISTMAS PORCH DROP-OFF COOKIE SWAP-OFF
There is an old saying that “variety is the spice of life,” originating from “The Task” by English writer William Cowper in 1875. He was telling us that life would be very boring if everything were the same. When it comes to Christmas treats, I would add to Mr. Cowper’s words that, “variety is the sugar and spice of life.” Even in 2020, say NO to boring holiday treat platters!
In an old-fashioned cookie swap, everyone bakes big batches of one favorite holiday treat, packages them in shareable quantities using festive bags or tins and shares them with friends who come to the swap party. Everyone leaves with a several different treats to add variety to their holiday snacking festivities. Sampling goodies and connecting with friends during the party is half the fun!
In 2020, hosting or attending a party where everyone visits in close quarters and eats from communal trays is challenging at best. Is there a safe way to still swap treats with friends?
One option is to have the exchange outside and ask everyone to package individual samples. With unpredictable December weather and the plethora of plastic packaging involved, this could also be challenging. Another way that I recommend is to organize a virtual party (via FaceTime, Zoom, etc.) to visit with the other bakers and then share the treats via “porch drop-off.”
The benefits of a virtual swap party and porch drop-off, cookie swap-off:
- You have a safe, holiday visit with friends.
- You get to try treats and recipes that you may not have ever considered.
- While you have ingredients and utensils messing up your entire kitchen, you can focus on making a lot of one recipe. You then swap and truly get the sugar and spice of life – a variety.
Below is a road map to safely hosting a virtual party and porch pick-up/drop-off exchange.
- First, decide how many bakers you want and how many treats each should make. Choose friends who are excited to participate and live in close proximity. In 2020, you will have smaller holiday gatherings during which to serve your treats, so I’d recommend to start small. A small and easily manageable group is four friends who each make four dozen of their chosen treat. Each person ends up with a dozen of four different treats, including their own. You can clearly add more bakers or treats per baker as desired.
- Second, learn what everyone wants to make. You don’t want to end up with four dozen chocolate chip cookies! You can also decide if you want a theme. For instance, if everyone has small children, you might want to choose treats that speak to kids. If no one has small children, you might want to include snacks that go well with coffee or cocktails. Remember, one reason you swap is that “variety is the sugar and spice of life!”
- Third, choose a time for a virtual party and ask a techie among your group to host the event, during which you can visit and share your recipes and treat photos. Given the two potential themes mentioned above, you could invite children to participate or you can all have a cocktail during the meeting. Or both! That was a joke, but maybe necessary!
- And finally, choose a day and time window when everyone puts their packaged treats into a festive container on their front porch or other outdoor protected area. During the time window, every baker goes to each of the other homes to drop off their shared package and pick up one. Alternatively, one baker might volunteer to do all the pick-ups and deliveries. Use whatever logistics work for your group.
When you are deciding on the treats you and your friends will swap, think about variety but also about everyone’s specialty and what fits your theme, if you have one. Also, think about treats that are easy to make in bulk and easy to package, keep and transport. For some of the treats below, package them in batches that would be about 12 servings, similar to packaging a dozen cookies.
- For a child centric theme, you might make decorated sugar cookies including the popular Grinch cookies, traditional or a variation on chocolate chip cookies, sprinkled haystack treats, or the sweet version of Chex Mix called Muddy Buddies (recipe on the boxes of Chex).
- For quick and easy bites, try dark or white chocolate bark. Melt the chocolate and pour onto parchment paper into a rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. While still hot, sprinkle with your chosen toppings – be creative with your choices. Let cool completely and break into bark pieces. Two of my favorites are described below.
- From chef, Ina Garten, via the Food Network, use white chocolate and sprinkle with dried cranberries, shelled toasted pistachios and chopped dried apricots.
- Another favorite is dark or white chocolate topped with crushed candy canes.
- For a savory theme, you could add cheese straws, traditional Chex Mix (recipe on the boxes) or toasted pecans.
- For more easy treats that will appeal to everyone, think about my newest favorite, Salted Caramel Pecan Bites (Food Network) or my oldest favorite, Forgotten Cookies (from my sister who makes these every Christmas). These recipes are included below.
Recipe for Salted Caramel Pecan Bites – courtesy of Elizabeth Heiskell, via Food Network
- Pre-heat oven to 350 F and line a jelly roll pan or 9.5 x 13 inch casserole pan with foil that overhangs each side by about an inch. Spray the foil liberally with cooking spray.
- Roast 1 cup chopped pecans in the oven (in another pan) for ~ 10 minutes, stirring halfway.
- Arrange graham cracker rectangles in a single layer to cover the surface of the foil lined pan.
- Combine 1 cup packed brown sugar, 6 oz. butter, and 2 tbsp. heavy cream in a saucepan. Bring to a boil for a minute or two and then stir in 1 tsp. vanilla extract and the 1 cup roasted pecans. (I also added ~1/2 cup toffee chips here.)
- Pour and spread the caramel mixture evenly over the graham crackers in the pan. Place into the pre-heated oven and bake for about 10 minutes until browned and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle all over with ~ 1/2 tsp. coarse salt. Cool the pan on a rack for a few minutes. Lift the mixture, by the foil out of the pan onto another rack and let cool completely.
- After cool, use large spatulas to remove from the foil onto parchment or a cutting board and cut into small pieces. Store in an air-tight container.
Recipe for Forgotten Cookies – courtesy of my sister, Sherilan
- Preheat oven to 325 F and line a cookie sheet with foil.
- Beat 2 egg whites until very, very stiff with an electric mixer on highest setting (3-5 minutes).
- Lower the beater speed and blend in 3/4 cup sugar, a pinch of salt and 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract.
- By hand, fold in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 3/4 cup chopped pecans, being careful to not stir too much and break the stiffness of the meringue.
- Using two spoons, spoon onto the foil lined sheet in about 2 tsp. mounds. They don’t expand much so they can be pretty close together – makes about 36 cookies on a regular cookie sheet.
- This is the REALLY EASY part. Put them into the oven and turn it off, go to bed or work, and FORGET them. When the oven is cool, you will have perfect meringue cookies that keep for a while. (Hint, put a sticky note on the oven door so you will remember them before you pre-heat it for something else. Been there, done that, burned them!)
However your 2020 treat drop-off, swap-off turns out, please try to delight in this tough 2020 year by connecting with friends and sharing your baking skills while learning about theirs. Certainly, you will have fun and variety that truly is the sugar and spice of life!
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