December 2001 / January 2002 Edition

Host A Cookie Exchange   By Jeanne Baratta (Fair Lawn's Kitchen Elf)   I can think of no better way to get to know the people in our community than through food.  Make that food a sweet confection and you are on your way.    During these emotional and troubling times our Country is now facing, I think it is important, now more than ever, to show our countries unity.    Fair Lawn is a diversified town. Many ethnic and religious groups are represented here.  (See article on growing Asian population).    The month of December holds many holidays for many groups of people, this would be a perfect time to get to know these people and their traditions. A cookie exchange is a light, fun way to accomplish this.   If you decide to be the host of this event, here is some information to get you started. First thing, put together a guest list. Try to broaden this list to not just include your usual circle of friends and family. Think of the Mom waiting alone on the school playground, the parents you have never spoken to because of a language barrier, a family that has just moved to your neighborhood.    Don't be afraid to invite people with different backgrounds, I promise by inviting a diversified group of people you will not only have lots of yummy goodies, but you will be enriching your family in ways you may not now imagine!   Now, to get to the nitty-gritty of the exchange! You can set your own rules, but here are some general ideas.   Pick a date for your gathering.  Everyone's calendar fills up fast in December so send your invitations out ahead of time.  Decide if this party will be for adults only (husbands & wives), just women, and will children be included? If children are to be included, bake up a few batches of cutout cookies and set up an area for the children to decorate them with a supply of icing and sprinkles. A craft for older children or coloring sheets for the younger set can keep the kids busy.   Decide if you will be feasting on the cookies during the party or if the cookies will be for take home. If your exchange will be for take home, then each guest should bake at least 4-6 dozen cookies.    Arrange all the cookies on a large table (have your guests present their cookies in decorative baskets or containers), ask your guests to bring containers for taking home their treasures. After the socializing is through everyone goes around the table filling their containers with the sweet bounty. What a wonderful way to fill your home with an assortment goodies during the hectic days of December!   Also, if the cookies are for exchange, you should serve your guests some refreshments. Enlist the help of a friend, and serve some eggnog or holiday punch, an assortment of simple hors d’oeuvres and maybe some light sandwiches. If the cookies are for sharing at the party, coffee, tea and especially hot cocoa would be welcome!   After all your guests arrive and the initial mingling is over, have your guests take turns introducing themselves and their cookies! Ask about the origin of their concoction, have them share a family story about what they have brought, why this recipe is important to them. I know whenever I think about family traditions there is always some type of food that I associate the season with. Sometimes just the aroma of something cooking will bring a flood of memories about a special holiday. This is a wonderful way to break the ice and get to know more about your neighbors!   You may want your guests to bring recipe cards to give to all in attendance so they can try their hand at this special confection. You may want to ask your guests to let you know what type of cookie they will making when they RSVP to you. This way you won’t have a table filled with chocolate chip cookies!   For those of you non-bakers, or busy bees who just don’t have time to bake, I say give it a try! If it doesn't work out, think of the story you can tell about your first time baking experience. As the host try an encourage the people that say "I don’t bake" to attend. They are the ones that seem to enjoy it the most!   What ever you decide, keep the mood light! Decorate your home for the holidays before hand, light a cozy fire in the fireplace, play some seasonal music, and above all else enjoy yourself and your guests! This may seem like a large endeavor, and I won’t say it is not, but I think it is well worth the effort. What a wonderful tradition to start in your neighborhood!   Here is one of my favorite holiday recipes to get you started:   When I was a child growing up in Fair Lawn, one of my favorite memories of Christmas was attending Midnight Mass at St. Anne's Church. I am a little embarrassed to say that it was because after the service was over and we returned home, we would find that St. Nick had visited our home!   Midnight Delights   For the Crust: 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour 1/4 cup of brewed coffee, cooled 1/3 cup cocoa 1/4 cup granulated sugar dash of salt (I prefer Kosher salt) 3/4 cup chilled butter,1½ sticks cut into tablespoon pieces   For the Filling: 2 Cups Semisweet chocolate, melted 2/3 cup sugar 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 teaspoons Kahlua, or other coffee liquor 2 Extra large eggs ½ cup chopped walnuts   For the crust: Lightly grease mini-muffin cups. Sift flour, cocoa, sugar and salt into a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add butter and process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the cooled coffee and process just until a ball begins to form.   Divide dough in half and refrigerate second half of dough till ready to use. Roll half the dough into 24 tablespoon sized balls. Press each ball into the pan, conforming the dough to the shape of the pan. Refrigerate till ready to fill.   For the filling: Preheat your oven to 350F. Combine sugar, milk, butter and Kahlua in a medium sized bowl. Stir in melted chocolate, whisk in eggs and beat until smooth. Stir in chopped nuts.   Spoon 1½ teaspoons of filling into each mini-muffin cup. Back until filling puffs, approximately 20 minutes. Cool pans on wire racks for about 10 minutes, then remove from pans and let cookies cool completely. Repeat until all dough and filling is used. Makes 4 dozen. These cookies will keep for several weeks in an airtight container.