Cookies, camaraderie mark season’s commencement

Phyllis Nichols, left, and Shaun Fulco seem happy with their haul of cookies. (Photo by Pam Rhoades)

Phyllis Nichols, left, and Shaun Fulco seem happy with their haul of cookies. (Photo by Pam Rhoades)

It’s the craziest thing what a bunch of cookies and a few glasses of wine will do to adult women! After 14 years, I am no longer too surprised by the noise level and the enthusiasm with which my friends throw themselves into the annual rite that is our cookie exchange. But it still impresses me.

I know we say this every year, but I swear the cookies were the best EVER this time! So were the Bloody Marys. I switched from Zing Zang mix to V8 Bloody Mary mix and like it so much better. It’s lighter and easier to drink. (Maybe that’s not such a good thing!)

Check out our cookie exchange and see tips for planning your own. If you are like us, it’s a tradition you won’t be able to stop. Your family members won’t let you.

Ranee Randby unloading her Naughty and Nice cake cookies.

Ranee Randby unloading her Naughty and Nice cake cookies.

Sara Hedstrom Pinnell's cookies reminded me of Heath bars. Yum.

Sara Hedstrom Pinnell’s cookies reminded me of Heath bars. Yum.

Sheena McCall and Rachel Ford waiting for the exchange to begin.

Sheena McCall and Rachel Ford waiting for the exchange to begin.

From left, Mintha Roach, Monique Anderson and Annette Winston.

From left, Mintha Roach, Monique Anderson and Annette Winston.

From left, Pam Rhoades, Shaun Fulco and Tami Hartmann.

From left, Pam Rhoades, Shaun Fulco and Tami Hartmann.

Margie Nichols, left, and Sara Rose.

Margie Nichols, left, and Sara Rose.

Janet Testerman, left, and Susan Brown. Susan, who doesn't bake, instead contributes by serving as our bartender, which is an important job at this event.

Janet Testerman, left, and Susan Brown. Susan, who doesn’t bake, instead contributes by serving as our bartender, which is an important job at this event.

Susan gave me these cocktail napkins -- perfect for the occasion.

Susan gave me these cocktail napkins — perfect for the occasion.

Kristin Grove, left, and Margaret Rodgers.

Kristin Grove, left, and Margaret Rodgers.

Jennifer Holder brought her famous cracker candy. Not technically a cookie, but we all love it.

Jennifer Holder brought her famous cracker candy. Not technically a cookie, but we all love it.

Dawn Ford, right with Bloody Mary in hand, greeting an enthusiastic Ellen Robinson and her cookies.

Christi Branscom, left, and Julia Bentley unloading their treasures.

Christi Branscom, left, and Julia Bentley unloading their treasures.

From left, Janet Testerman, Gay Lyons, Dawn Ford and Ranee Randby.

From left, Janet Testerman, Gay Lyons, Dawn Ford and Ranee Randby.

Gay helped me buy passing around the bruschetta.

Gay helped me out by passing around the bruschetta.

Lunch was a brunch casserole, ham sandwiches, fruit and banana bread.

Lunch was a brunch casserole, ham sandwiches, fruit and banana bread. Folks needed to keep their strength up for the upcoming challenge. (Photo by Pam Rhoades)

After lunch, it was time for the main event.

After lunch, it was time for the main event. (Photo by Pam Rhoades)

Ellen Robinson brought the most unusual cookie: bacon fat ginger snaps. When you first bite into them, they taste like ginger. But then the bacon flavor rises up and takes over. The leftovers were a big hit with the guys at the office.

Ellen Robinson brought the most unusual cookie: bacon fat ginger snaps. When you first bite into them, they taste like ginger. But then the bacon flavor rises up and takes over. The leftovers were a big hit with the guys at the office.

Sara Rose brought Scottish shortbread. Elegant.

Sara Rose brought Scottish shortbread. Elegant.

Julia Bentley's peanut butter chocolate chip cookies were fantastic.

Julia Bentley’s peanut butter chocolate chip cookies were fantastic.

These beauties had a lemony flavor. Not sure who brought them.

These beauties had a lemony flavor. I recognize the platter as belonging to Monique Anderson.

Margie Nichols' cookies were called Mudslide Cookies. They were the deepest, darkest chocolate. I loved them.

Margie Nichols’ cookies were called Mudslide Cookies. They were the deepest, darkest chocolate. I loved them.

Rachel Ford's peanut brittle brought raves.

Rachel Ford’s peanut brittle brought raves.

OK. Go!

OK. Go!

A frenzy of cookie grabbing.

A frenzy of cookie grabbing.

Janet making her selections.

Janet happily making her selections.

Rachel Ford had to consider a husband and two children when making her choices.

Rachel Ford had to consider a husband and two children when making her choices.

Katie Kline, left, and Margaret Rodgers deliberating.

Katie Kline, left, and Margaret Rodgers deliberating.

Michelle Hardin, left, and Susan Brown seem a little dubious.

Michelle Hardin, left, and Susan Brown seriously considering the options.

This process doesn't take very long.

This process doesn’t take very long. (Photo by Pam Rhoades)

Dawn and Janet grabbing ziplock bags from Mintha.

Dawn and Janet grabbing Ziploc bags from Mintha.

You might think Mintha has an important job as CEO of the Knoxville Utilities Board that provides gas, electric, water and wastewater services to more than 445,000 customers in Knoxville and parts of seven surrounding counties. But on this particular Sunday, dispensing ziplock bags was the most important job of all!

You might think Mintha has an important job as CEO of the Knoxville Utilities Board that provides gas, electric, water and wastewater services to more than 445,000 customers in Knoxville and parts of seven surrounding counties. But on this particular Sunday, dispensing Ziploc bags was the most important job of all!

Here’s why. We have learned from experience that you need to separate your cookies and put each in a bag with similar cookies. Otherwise, the cookies with peppermint, ginger or peanut butter spread their flavors to the other cookies. And the soft cookies end up turning the crisp cookies soft. See why the baggies are so important?

Here's a nice looking batch prior to being sorted. (Photo by Pam Rhoades)

Here’s a nice looking batch prior to being sorted. (Photo by Pam Rhoades)

Shaun seemed pleased by her assortment.

Shaun seemed pleased by her assortment.

Rachel wasn't putting down the cookie tin -- or the wine glass!

Rachel wasn’t putting down the cookie tin — or the wine glass!

Thanks to everyone who came. And to Katrina Roberts of Moxley Carmichael who designed our great invitations. I recommend this kind of holiday gathering for everyone. It really kicks off the season! Here’s the invitation with some of the “rules” in case you decide to do this next year.

cookie-exchange-2016

 

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20 Responses to Cookies, camaraderie mark season’s commencement

  1. Maria Cornelius, on December 13th, 2016 at 11:52 am said:

    The best day of the year is the Monday at Moxley Carmichael after the cookie exchange party. I skip breakfast to save room for more cookies when I get to work! (I may or may not have stalked the door watching for you and Alan with the bags of cookies … )

  2. Sara Pinnell, on December 13th, 2016 at 2:19 pm said:

    I have been on a sugar HIGH since then! Thanks Cynthia!

  3. Kim Hansard, on December 13th, 2016 at 2:22 pm said:

    This looks like so much delicious fun! Thanks for sharing.

  4. Gay Lyons, on December 13th, 2016 at 2:28 pm said:

    It’s just not the Christmas season until the cookie exchange takes place. Thanks for hosting this fun party & kicking off our holidays in such swell fashion..

  5. Rachel Ford, on December 13th, 2016 at 2:43 pm said:

    My children run to the door when they hear the garage door open on the day of this event…seriously! And confession: Terry is the maker of the peanut brittle!

  6. Deborah Sams, on December 13th, 2016 at 3:11 pm said:

    How did you keep Allen out of there? Looks like a great cookie haul!

  7. Kristin Grove, on December 13th, 2016 at 3:17 pm said:

    Always a great way to kick off the holiday season! Thank you!

  8. Alan Carmichael, on December 13th, 2016 at 3:25 pm said:

    I tasted as many as I could. A very, very good year for the cookie crop.

  9. Shaun Fulco, on December 13th, 2016 at 3:30 pm said:

    This was my 10th year attending. Jacob was 12 the first year I attended. Through the years he hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm or excitement over the cookie exchange. Today, at 22 years old, he still eagerly awaits me to come home with the goods.Thanks for a fun event to kickoff the holiday season!

  10. Cynthia Moxley, on December 13th, 2016 at 3:37 pm said:

    Thanks, everybody! The cookies were great this year — and I don’t care if your husband made them! Ha.

    Deborah: Alan knew he would get plenty of leftovers — and he did!

    Kim: I think you would enjoy throwing a party like this!

  11. Courtney Kliman, on December 13th, 2016 at 3:44 pm said:

    Do you have the recipe for the brunch casserole? looks delightful.

  12. Annette Winston, on December 13th, 2016 at 3:49 pm said:

    My favorites are the peanut brittle from Rachel’s husband and the chocolate chip meringues that Mintha brought. Awesome. But the Bloody Mary’s were truly hard to beat this year, despite all the sugar. Loved catching up with old friends and new ones.

  13. Pam Rhoades, on December 13th, 2016 at 3:50 pm said:

    It was a fabulously yummy afternoon…and not just the cookies! Lunch was amazing as well! Thanks to our great host and the helpful doorman. 🙂

  14. Charley Sexton, on December 13th, 2016 at 4:04 pm said:

    I agree with Maria. The Monday following this event is circled on my calendar. Thanks for sharing the treats!

  15. Judith Foltz, on December 13th, 2016 at 4:07 pm said:

    So sorry I had to miss the Cookie Exchange this year!!! I think this is the first time in 10+ years I couldn’t make it!! It is always a great way to kick off the Holidays!

  16. Phyllis Nichols, on December 13th, 2016 at 5:03 pm said:

    Yummy! I don’t think I’m missed a cookie exchange – one of the highlights of the season. Thanks Cynthia for bringing us together and for the brunch. You outdid yourself this year!

  17. Ranee Randby, on December 13th, 2016 at 6:00 pm said:

    Cynthia’s place is always so festively decorated — complete with Major Award lamp! And the smells coming from her kitchen give the cookies a run for their money. The trick is not to eat too much brunch before you munch a few sample cookies — quality control of course. The cookie exchange is a wonderful holiday tradition!

  18. Cynthia Moxley, on December 14th, 2016 at 12:47 pm said:

    Thanks again, everybody!

    Courtney: Here is a link to the casserole recipe on my Pinterest account: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/263812490652490465/

  19. Jeff cupp, on December 15th, 2016 at 10:17 pm said:

    I think we need a men’s version Cynthia !!! We like cookies too !!!!

  20. Cynthia Moxley, on December 15th, 2016 at 10:59 pm said:

    Oh, Jeff: I totally agree! Some of these cookies are baked by men, anyway! I think you are just the guy to start this!

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