On Baking: Cookie Exchange Edition

adminbaking, Christmas Cookies, Friends, Lincoln Park, tradition, Uncategorized%s Comments

Tomorrow, a group of girlfriends will convene at my friend Amanda’s darling Lincoln Park apartment for a cookie baking party and exchange.  From my understanding, her grandmother does this with the family every year and now Amanda is bringing the tradition Chicago-side.  We’ve been instructed to bring the ingredients for our favorite cookie to so we can spend the evening baking together and then trade up at the end so we each go home with a taste of everything.  We were also told to bring wine.  I don’t think that has anything to do with cookies.

After much (internal) debate, I have decided to make Chocolate-Covered Oreo Balls.  A co-worker’s Mom made them for a work event once and for as decadent as they tasted, I was so surprised to learn how simple they were to make.  With any luck, my contribution to the cookie exchange will look like this:

Oreo Ball Recipe Ingredients

  • 8 ounces softened cream cheese or whipped cream cheese
  • 18 ounces package of Oreo cookies, crushed (crush the entire cookie- don’t remove the filling!)
  • 2 cups semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon shortening

Oreo Balls Recipe Instructions

Mix cream cheese with electric mixer until fluffy. Add the crushed Oreos and beat on high until well mixed. Chill for at least 2 hours in the freezer. Then roll Oreo cookie mix into one inch Oreo Balls.

Next, melt the chocolate chips and shortening with a double boiler or in the microwave.

Dip the Oreo balls completely into the melted chocolate using tongs or a toothpick.

Put on wax paper. After the Oreo balls harden, keep them in the refrigerator.

Makes about 3 or 4 dozen Oreo Balls, depending on the size.

 

What about you?  I’d love to hear what your favorite holiday recipes are!

 

Yes, Indeed.

adminfaith, Family, historical chicago, love, Macy's, Marshall Field's, State Street, State Street windows, tradition, Uncategorized%s Comments

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  He exists as certainly as love, generosity and devotion exist.”

No “G Family Christmas Kickoff” would be complete without heading to State Street to check out the holiday windows at Marshall Field’s, errr, Macy’s so Papa G, my step-mom, Ryan and I bundled up on Sunday morning to see what the theme was this year.

The theme this year is the famous editorial that appeared in The Sun in 1987 answering a letter titled “Is There a Santa Claus?”.  I have always loved the “Yes, Virginia…” response because it speaks so beautifully to the necessity of belief in the unseen, in faith.

And after all, isn’t that what this time of year is about?  Faith in love, faith in family, faith that a Savior was going to arrive in Bethlehem, just as promised?

I’m so happy I was able to share this holiday tradition with my family, people I always have faith in.

 

Tradition

adminDao Thai, Family, Filene's Basement, Michigan Avenue, new bed, shopping, The Omni Hotel, tradition, Uncategorized%s Comments

I don’t know if I told you but this weekend is the “4th Annual G Family Christmas Kickoff”, also known as one of my favorite weekends of the entire year.  My parents arrived this morning and already, lots of traditional festivities have taken place (like eating at Dao Thai, shopping on Michigan Ave), as well as some new events (like bed building- they got Ryan and I a lovely bed for Christmas!).  Still on the agenda?  Filene’s (my step-mom is an expert shopper- she does not take prisoners when it comes to Filene’s and finding great stuff at a great price), drinks at the Omni and dinner at somewhere Italian; anywhere Italian was the request, actually.

This time of year makes me feel so nostalgic, so aware of the importance of ritual and tradition.  I love making new memories but there’s a lot to be said for the comfort of old ones.  Maybe that’s why I love creating new traditions with the people who hold the old ones.  Comfort and creation.  I can’t think of anything better.