I Got My Holiday Swap Package Today

[tripletone@hotm]

Today in the mail I received my holiday swap package from claire797
She is a great Swap partner, I was so lucky to get her!!!! She sent me a bag of raspberry chocolate chips, an adorable snowman tin filled with the most delicious homemade chocolate almond bark, (I am hoping that she will forward the recipe hint, hint) DH said that is the best he has ever had, she also sent me "The Ultimate Low Fat Mexican Cookbook", and a bottle of LLano 2001 Texas Chenin Blanc, which I can't wait to try. I just want to say Thanks for everything and let you know how happy I am to have gotten such a great swap partner!!!
Anna and I have been emailing each other since being picked as swap partners and I am really happy having anna as my email pal.
I hope everybody is as lucky as I am with swap partners, she's the best, Thanks again Anna.
I will be sending out your package soon, I hope you like it as much as I like mine.
I AM THE LUCKIEST SWAP PARTNER

[Shirley Panek]

Here's the recipe and a link about Claire797's Roca.

Sounds like you made out good! :D

Anna's Almond Roca
2 Cups Sugar
1 Pound (4 sticks) Butter
1 Cup Water
1/2 tsp. Salt
3 Cups Almonds -- the "shaved" kind, not slivers or whole
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 pound bar of Cadbury Milk Chocolate -- broken up

Reserve 1 cup of the almonds and set aside. Mix sugar, butter, water, and salt in large, heavy saucepan and heat to boiling over medium to medium high heat. Make sure there's room in the saucepan for the mixture to foam up and boil. Heat mixture over medium to medium high until it foams and reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. When temp reaches 240, stir in 2 cups of almonds. Stir mixture constantly and watch temp carefully until temp reaches 290. Remove from heat, stir in soda and QUICKLY pour onto a cookie sheet covered with buttered or greased wax paper. Mixture should start to harden immediately. As mixture hardens, sprinkle chocolate chunks over hardening mixture and spread the chocolate chunks around until they melt. Sprinkly melted chocolate with reserved almonds. Let sit until toffee hardens and chocolate sets.

NOTE: For this recipe to turn out perfect, you have to watch temperatures CAREFULLY. Don't let the almonds burn (so use medium to medium high heat) and don't remove the mixture from the stove before temp reaches 290. If you do, you'll get chewy almond roca .

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32792&highlight=almond+roca

[tripletone@hotm]

I agree I made out Great!!! I am so happy I joined this swap and got such a wonderful partner!!!
Thanks for the recipe, I'll have to try it myself, but you wouldn't believe how good it is, I hope I can do the recipe justice.

[Lrimerman]

Cool package. Somehow I missed the thread about getting in the swap. I'll have to be more diligent in checking this board next year.

Sounds like a fun idea.

Lisa

[claire797]

Awwwww. Thanks :D

It's so fun picking out things for a new friend far away. The hardest part is stopping! I just kept seeing cool things I wanted to send to my swap buddy and, well, I had to draw the line somewhere ;)

[jazzyjas]

lisa,
If you are still interested -- I missed it too. We could be partners if you want. Let me know if you are interested

jasmine

[Lynno1975]

Any chance we could start another swap thread? I totally missed this, but it sounds really interesting.....

Lynn :-)

[Robyncz]

Hey Lynn,

Sararosalie missed the thread too, and she's also looking for a swap partner. If you want, I can match you guys up unofficially. If you pm me with your address I'll send you hers. (And I'll let her know that she now has a partner the minute she gets back from her trip next Wednesday!)

Robyn

[Leisa M]

I missed the thread too. Any chance I could get a partner too?

[lhall]

BUMP!

I thought I'd bring this back up so people will see it as packages start to arrive. I think the deadline was this week. It certainly snuck up on me, but fortunatly I had most of the stuff and mailed my package Monday.

Leigh

[aggie94]

Actually, Vanessa said packages should be sent between December 1 and 15. We're not all procrastinators yet, Leigh!!! :o ;)

[LaraW]

I have been working on my package and am hoping to have it done to mail on Saturday. Nothing like the last minute!! :D

[KathrynY]

I'm right there with ya Lara - shooting for a Saturday mailing myself :D.

[dcornelius]

My package went out yesterday!!!! I am looking forward to start reading about all the excited smiles that arrive with the packages!!!! I love these gift exchange threads!!!

[jjsooner73]

Originally posted by dcornelius
My package went out yesterday!!!!

That one is mine. Yay!
And Diane, I hope to have your package out tomorrow! Can't wait. :)

[ellenita]

This sounds like so much fun! Is it too late to join? Anyone looking for a swap partner? How do you do the whole swap thing? I LOVE the holidays especially since it gives me a chance to bake more!! Happy Holidays!

Ellen

[valchemist]

sounds like LeisaM is looking for a partner. why don't you email her? there is an email button on her post above.

[Leisa M]

Originally posted by ellenita
This sounds like so much fun! Is it too late to join? Anyone looking for a swap partner? How do you do the whole swap thing? I LOVE the holidays especially since it gives me a chance to bake more!! Happy Holidays!

Ellen

Ellen, I am looking for a partner. Just let me know.:)

[lhall]

Originally posted by aggie94
Actually, Vanessa said packages should be sent between December 1 and 15. We're not all procrastinators yet, Leigh!!! :o ;)

:o :o :o

That's what I get for thinking! :D :D

I did get the 1st right! I just forgot about the 15th.:o

Leigh

[Sarah]

My father sent it from Michigan yesterday!

Now I just have to be patient...

[dcornelius]

I got my box today and opened it right away... after the Fed Ex guy got done laughing at me for squeeling in glee when I saw him drive up behind me in the drive way!

Jennifer made me some yummy spiced pecan toffee, cran-rasberry pepper jelly,and peach-blueberry jam. Such talent!

Along with the wonderful homemade stuff she sent some D.L. Jardines campfire roasted salsa, Fischer and Weiser Roasted Rasberry chipotle sauce, Braums Carmel sauce and to top it all off she sent me a cookbook from the place she works. She helped publish the book and has contributed many of the recipes! In the spirit of our wonderful JJsooner73 the proceeds went to the children who lost a parent on 9/11/2001.

Wow! I am so impressed and thrilled to have been paired up with Jennifer! Thank you sweet one!!!!:D

[KValley]

Linda in MO- My Christmas Angel! :)

It was an early Christmas last night as I uncovered one joyful surprise after another. Linda, you spoiled me rotten and I love it :D
Homemade Cran-Raspberry Pepper Jelly, Apple Butter, Goalpost Crunch , which we immediately broke into and had to force ourselves to put aside- this stuff is TOO good. I haven't done a search for the recipe, but if it isn't on the BB somewhere, I would LOVE to have it! Snowman Soup which Brendan made after dinner, and knowing my penchant for snowmen, Linda sent a precious snowman, which has found his perfect place on the fireplace mantle, a snowman tea towel, and the Goalpost Crunch was packed in an adorable snowman tin.
The best part, though, was Linda's wonderful card and the pictures of her beautiful family and home. Brendan said "You have the most amazing friends." He is so right!

MERRY CHRISTMAS LINDA

I've got one last "thing" I am looking for ;) Goal is to have this baby in the mail by Thursday :)

[jjsooner73]

Diane--you are to kind!

I posed what Diane (dcornelius) sent me on another thread; but in case that one is now lost I'll repost.

From Diane, I got some wonderful bread baking accessories: a nonstick loaf pan, some Lora Brody bread dough enhancer, flaxseeds and artisanal bread topping, both from King Arthur Flour. Diane paid attention and saw that I have recently begun bread baking (and am having success and loving it), so a bread baking theme was most appropriate!

Thank you very much! And Merry Christmas everyone! :)

[dcornelius]

Originally posted by KValley

It was an early Christmas last night as I uncovered one joyful surprise after another. Linda, you spoiled me rotten and I love it :D
Homemade Cran-Raspberry Pepper Jelly, Apple Butter, Goalpost Crunch , which we immediately broke into and had to force ourselves to put aside- this stuff is TOO good.


Jennifer sent me her version of the cran-rasberry pepper jelly too Kvalley! Have you tried it??? I tried mine on some butter bread with dinner last night and loved it!!! I think it would work well wiht the block of cream cheese and crackers as well!!!!

[Linda in MO]

Originally posted by KValley
Linda in MO- My Christmas Angel! :)

It was an early Christmas last night as I uncovered one joyful surprise after another. Linda, you spoiled me rotten and I love it :D


Blush! :o You're too sweet! I think reading your reaction to the package was just about as fun as creating the package! It gives me the warm fuzzies. :D I'm pleased to hear that you and your husband enjoyed it together. This is so much fun!

Here's the recipe for Goalpost Crunch. Depending on how powerful your microwave is, times will vary. The times below are what I used for my old microwave. I reduced the times a bit when using my new microwave, sp just watch it so it doesn't scorch. I actually think I undercooked it a bit though, because it's normally a little more crunchy and not as chewy. :o Gertdog made some last week and used a stove and oven method. If you do a search you should be able to find the post.

GOALPOST CRUNCH

Combine in 4 qt. Bowl and set aside:

6 cups mini pretzels (I used 5 cups)
6 cups Rice OR Corn Chex cereal (OR Crispix)
1 cup pecan halves (use ONLY halves), optional

In a 2 qt. Glass bowl (I used my Pyrex 4 cup measuring cup), mix together:

1 cup brown sugar, packed (I used light brown sugar)
1/2 cup butter (no substitutes)
1/4 cup light corn syrup

Microwave mixture on HIGH until mixture boils (about 3 minutes); stirring once to dissolve sugar. Microwave on 30% power for 4 minutes or until mixture is golden brown. (I did 2 min. on low and 2 min. on med-low)

Stir in:

1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. Baking soda

Pour over dry cereal/pretzel mixture. Toss to coat evenly. Microwave on HIGH uncovered 4 to 4-1/2 minutes, or until lightly glossed (don't over-cook or it will scorch). Stir twice. Spoon onto large cookie sheets that have been covered with greased foil or parchment paper. Cool and break into pieces or chunks. Store in tight container.

Source:
"Posted by: Pat T at Nana's Kitchen"


NOTES : I bet you could add some Christmas M&M's to the cooled, finished product if you wanted to "dress it up" a bit.

[mandarin2j]

My swap package arrived yesterday. DH said he was tempted to open it, but he kept his mitts off so I could enjoy. :D Diana (Beejayw1) sent me a lovely basket of New England goodies-the basket itself was a "Nantucket Basket" like one traditionally woven by fisherman kept ashore by foul weather. So cute! Almost everything else had a cranberry theme. She included Cape Cod cranberry honey; a cranberry brownie mix in a jar (I love those mixes!); Cape Cod Candy "beach pebbles" (not cranberry, I think); and a Cape Cod cranberry cake kit. Wow! I love snacking on dried cranberries, so I'm really looking forward to using those mixes. Yum! The beach pebbles will be going with DH & me on the plane trip to Spain as a snackie. Everything else, I'm going to play with when we return. What a wonderful goodie box from the Cape. Mille gracie, Diana, and merry Christmas!

[honeygirl1971]

I was about to pm my partner, lhall, but since I saw this thread I will respond here first.

My package arrived last week and my partner sent such cool stuff!!! Homemade apple butter, honeysuckle jelly from her area, a mug, postcards, brochures, a wonderful letter, and CONFEDERATE MONEY! How cool is that?! I love everything in the package and think Leigh is just THE BEST!!

For my part, I've been BURIED with work, but I did finally mail my package to Leigh on Monday. The PO promised me it would arrive tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. Leigh, I hope you like it! I did my best to pick local stuff, which was a bit of a trick since I'm not really from where I now live! I think it turned out pretty good, anyway, though. ;) And it should arrive by the deadline, even though I am a bit of a procrastinator!

It's been so much fun doing this! Thanks to all the organizers!

[aggie94]

I got my swap package from Stephanie (gertdog) yesterday, and it's AWESOME!!! :D As I carried it into the house and started to open it in the kitchen, DH walks in and asks, "What's that? Who's it from?" I said, "Oh, it's my holiday swap package from Stephanie on the BB." He says, "Holiday swap? Then shouldn't you be waiting until Christmas to open it??" :rolleyes: NOT. :p

Here's what I got, described in Steph's own words (with notes from me in brackets):

The ginger shortbread is my favorite holiday cookie. I hope they ship okay! [They are DELICIOUS, and they all made it just fine - not even a crumb in the bottom of the container!]

The spicy maple pecans are the first successful recipe I ever made up myself. [Okay, I want this recipe - they're soooo good!! We snacked on them last night while we were watching TV and DH kept saying, "Just one more." <long pause> "Okay, one more. That's it." ;)]

The votive holders are my first attempt at glass etching.... The Vanilla Cookie votives are one of my favorites this time of year. [The votives are beautiful! I'm so impressed. I didn't even realize they were handmade until I read your card!! And the Yankee votives are one of my favorite scents too!]

The postcard from Cascadilla Falls shows a scene just a block from where I lived in Ithaca. The town is divided by three gorges; I used to walk the path up Cascadilla Gorge, past the falls, to Cornell every day. Hence the town slogan, "Ithaca is Gorges." :) [Ithaca IS gorgeous!! Upstate NY is top on our list of places to visit, hopefully soon. What a beautiful place!]

The Moosewood dressing is made by - you guessed it - Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca. The creamy basil is their house dressing - they make it fresh daily. The bottled version tastes different but it's good in its own right. [I actually squealed when I opened this. :o I can't wait to try it - it looks wonderful!]

The Hoboken Eddie's sauce is made right here in New Jersey. You'll have to let me know how it compares with real Texas hot sauce! [Will do!]

The Wegman's Menu magazine is from my very favorite grocery store. Since I can't seem to shut up about Wegman's on the BB, I thought I'd enclose something that provides a glimpse of what the store's about. [I had a million things to do last night so I was disappointed not to be able to delve right into this magazine, but when I crawled into bed at midnight, after DH had already turned the lights out, I pulled out a little reading light so I could skim through really quick. :rolleyes: I felt like a little kid at night, reading under the covers with a flashlight. The recipes look amazing! I can't wait to try some.]

I'm embarrassed that my package hasn't gone out yet, but I PMd Steph a few weeks ago and told her it would be late. I want to include some homemade Christmas goodies, but I won't be baking until this weekend and early next week. I hope it will be worth the wait. :o

Stephanie, thank you SO MUCH - you're AWESOME!!! :D

[gertdog]

Hooray! Eva, I'm so glad you liked the package, and I'm also really glad everything arrived intact. :D

The recipe for the pecans is pretty basic. I have never measured anything except the pecans!

Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Place 1 pound of pecan halves in a bowl. Pour enough maple syrup over the pecans to coat them w/o a lot of syrup puddling in the bottom of the bowl. Grade B maple syrup is preferable. If I don't have Grade B syrup, I use regular maple syrup and a little maple extract, to taste.

Add some granulated sugar and stir. Add enough sugar so that the pecans are coated (you should be able to see the grainy sugar on the pecans, but they should still be wet).

Sprinkle on cinnamon, cayenne, and a little salt. Stir to distribute. Taste a pecan and adjust the seasonings.

Spread in a single layer on a large, foil-lined baking sheet. Bake until pecans are toasted and coating has begun to harden, but don't let it get too dark. Stir every 10-15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet and break apart.

[Lrimerman]

Gertdog-- Those pecans sound great, about how long do you bake them (since you said to stir every 10-25 minutes, I just wanted a total cook time)?

Lisa

[Judii]

These posts are all so fantastic. Well, before I rush back to the office, I have to tell you I just brought in a great big box from the mailbox from Sneezles, with the most beautiful Texas cow on the label, jingle belled around the neck, nibbling on a candy cane, and decorated with Christmas tree patterns and a Christmas cap!!

I can't wait till this evening, when I eagerly open it. Oh, the yellow rose of Texas, tra la la!!

Judii

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Lrimerman
Gertdog-- Those pecans sound great, about how long do you bake them (since you said to stir every 10-25 minutes, I just wanted a total cook time)?

Lisa

I bake until they are lightly browned and the sugar coating has crisped a bit... I have never actually noted the total time. I do check on them more frequently after 1/2 hour or so has gone by, though. I'm guessing it's usually around 45 minutes, if that. Sorry I can't be more precise! :o :o

[Guest]

I just got back from an afternoon full of errands and the first one was a trip to the post office. Sarah, the package is on the way. And just to let you know, it isn't from Crate and Barrel or fragile. Hope it gets to you soon.

[lhall]

I got my package today!

I got some Mulling Spices from Williams Sonoma (we have them here, but they are all the way on the other side of Marietta and I never go!:o ). This is good because I have a jug of apple cider in my fridge!!!

Some Frango Chocolate Mints from Marshall Fields. YUM! I had one already.

Two Chicago lollypops for the kids from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. If (this is a big IF) we can get Mariel to sit still we will let her have some. They are red with blue icing and the Chicago skyline in black with yellow windows. Thanks for thinking of the kids too.

Some postcards of Chicago. One is a "Build Your Own Chicago" with a 1:4000 scale of the Sears Tower. Melissa, you know I'm going to have to build it don't you?!

A beautiful card with the lions outside the Art Institute in Chicago. The original work is by Jack Simmerling.

Some homemade mini-gingerbread men. YUM. I've had 4 of those. I did share some with the kids too. DD2 (age 2) ate the head of hers.:rolleyes:

Oh, and one final thing! Which, as far as my kids are concerned, it the absolutely best part....

Bubble Wrap!!!! :D :D

They had great fun stomping on it in the kitchen while I dug into all my goodies.

Thanks Melissa!

Leigh

[Lrimerman]

Ihall- What a great package, I bought some of those mulling spices from Willam-Sonoma when I was in WI (we have them here, but a good 45 minutes away in Troy and I never go there). They are the best I have ever tasted with Cider. DH and I inhaled a gallon of cider with them.

Lisa

[Jasmine-Rose]

Are Joyce (jmarie) and I the only ones who've agreed (actually prefer) to wait until Christmas Eve to open our packages? We were both thinking the same thing from the very beginning! Perhaps we're the only two, which makes it a good thing we were matched :) .

[Judii]

I sat down this evening with my holiday gift from dear Sneezles, and everyone, I wish you were all here with me to see the treasures in this box of gifts! Where to begin? A set of cookie cutters, in the shape of the state of Texas, with a star cookie cutter in the center filled with white epicurean Jelly Belly jelly beans. In the surrounding spaces there are red and blue jelly beans, making the lovliest and most delicious-looking red, white, and blue design. I absolutely can’t want to bake Texas cookies!!!

The daintiest little gold-beribboned bag of white chocolate Peppermint Bark from Texas. A box of Cowtown Cookies, Chocolate Cow shapes! (The cows on the box are wearing red lipstick!)

The most unbelievable box of Sam Houston Liquid Center Chocolates. What do you think the liquid is? Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey!!!

Three elegant jars of Texas Pecan delicacies: Blackberry Pecan Preserves, Pecan Fudge Topping, and (are you sitting down?) Peach Pecan & Amaretto Preserves! A bottle of Texas Mesquite Marinade, whose red hot letters against a silvery background tell me hot, baby, hot! The most beautiful wood motif “Deep in the Heart of Texas” ornament, hanging from a red ribbon, in the shape of the state.

A book of Texas Trivia, filled with the most wonderful things, for instance: the name “Texas” comes from the Indian word “Tegas,” which means Friends. You should see my new Official Texas Passport. I’d tell you all about it, except that I can’t stop laughing.

A big, beautiful blue pen shaped at the top like the state of Texas. It’s on my desk already.

Could there possibly be more? Yes! A delicate, sparkling red toille pouch, dripping with a red-beaded trim and pulled tight at the top by two fringe-tossled ribbons, containing two pair of silver hoop earrings. Each one is studded with red, white, and blue beads and round silver balls, and each has a different silver Texas charm: a silver cowboy hat, a silver cowboy boot with detailed design and a silver spur, an intricately detailed silver saddle, and lastly, a solid silver armadillo. They can be changed and interchanged, and are just so beautiful.

And—Sneezles sent me a photo of herself and DH! A beautiful couple—Sneezles, you have a lovely million-dollar smile. I think I can see pictures of your boys on the shelves behind you, too! Thank you for your treasure chest filled with such sweet surprises and delights, they are all loved.

Judii

[Sarah]

Originally posted by MWS
And just to let you know, it isn't from Crate and Barrel or fragile.

That's intriguing :D Miranda, I'm hoping that you get my parcel soon. It is fragile, and while it's well packed (IMHO), my father saw no need to have it tracked, or to send it priority :rolleyes: But it's been a week...

[little_bopeep]

Sneezles!!! What did you do--send her the whole gift shop??? :p Your package sounds so awesome, that mine to LisaNumbers is bound to be a horrible disappointment. Shoot, I LIVE in Texas and never got anything so cool!

HOWEVER...what can you possibly do for an encore-- the next swap??? :D

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Jasmine-Rose
Are Joyce (jmarie) and I the only ones who've agreed (actually prefer) to wait until Christmas Eve to open our packages? We were both thinking the same thing from the very beginning! Perhaps we're the only two, which makes it a good thing we were matched :) .

Eva and I didn't discuss this, but we were perfectly matched in this regard. She didn't wait to open hers, and I wasn't planning to wait to open mine! :D I actually am glad she opened it now since the package contained homemade baked goods... I would have worried about them going stale.

[sneezles]

Judii,
So glad you liked your box! I had so much fun hunting for Texas goodies...helps to have a unique place called the Jersey Barnyard where Belle" the mascot of BlueBell Ice Cream lives (couldn't figure how to send you some of that! ;) ). Just so you know those are not earrings ;) , they are charms for wine glasses! :p And I made them myself!! (I don't think the marinade is hot just smokey...will have to check my bottle)

And I'm writing while munching away on some goodies in the box you sent me. Although you said they aren't New England these Hot Wasabi Peas are addicting! YUMMMMMM.
Everything was individually wrapped. What a nice touch! I received a package of hazelnut Liberty coffee, Old Harbor Tea-cranberry flavor, 2 Yankee candles-hazelnut coffee and chocolate truffle (certainly gets my senses going!), a packet of spices for New England Indian Pudding and a lovely handwritten recipe, a beautiful tea towel from Historic Deefield Musseum with 10 of the historic buildings located there (it's blue on white and will look wonderful in my kitchen). Plus post cards with pictures of the candle factory and the Deerfield Museum. And a lovely box of Maple Blend Candy, it's in the shape of maple leaves.
Thank you so much, Judii! With this lousy rain were getting again and the cold temps the house will smell lovely and cozy! Off to make some coffee!

[Leisa M]

ellenita PM me with your address, I will be ready to send your package by this weekend.

[honeygirl1971]

Leigh--I'm so glad you liked the package. I can't remember if I told you this or not, but I know Jack Simmerling--he's a local artist and the father of a friend of mine. I think he's best known for his beautiful watercolors of Chicago landmarks, and also for a lot of salvage and restoration projects of some of the beautiful old houses in the area.

I knew William-Sonoma was a national store, of course, but I just love mulled cider and couldn't resist!

I'm glad you like the stuff. You were a GREAT partner, and I had fun thinking up stuff to put in the box.

Oh yeah, and LOL about the bubble wrap. I love bubble wrap too! :D

[lhall]

Originally posted by Lrimerman
Ihall- What a great package, I bought some of those mulling spices from Willam-Sonoma when I was in WI They are the best I have ever tasted with Cider. DH and I inhaled a gallon of cider with them.


It also says they are good in Burgundy....If I ever get over this virus I'll try that too.

I also forgot, I got some pencils from the University where Melissa is a PhD candidate. I'd already put these in my briefcase to bring to work.

Melissa, that's cool that you know the Artist. I was in Chicago (sort of) 3 years ago, but it was for a conference and I didn't have time to visit downtown. I was in Rosemont (I think), the company the conference was for is in Des Planes.

Leigh

[Laura B]

HARRYET (Ann), I mailed your package today!! :D I sent it priority mail, so you should have it no later than Monday, but maybe even by Saturday.

[claire797]

Originally posted by Judii
These posts are all so fantastic. Well, before I rush back to the office, I have to tell you I just brought in a great big box from the mailbox from Sneezles, with the most beautiful Texas cow on the label, jingle belled around the neck, nibbling on a candy cane, and decorated with Christmas tree patterns and a Christmas cap!!

I can't wait till this evening, when I eagerly open it. Oh, the yellow rose of Texas, tra la la!!

Judii

LOL. Is Sneezle's proud of her fine, Texas heritage or what?

[sneezles]

Originally posted by claire797


LOL. Is Sneezle's proud of her fine, Texas heritage or what?

Technically I'm not a native but being an ESFJ, living here suits my personality! :p

DS#3 is the only native in the family and a couple of years ago I got him one of those Texas frameable Birth Certificates (pretty cool 11x14 with the State outline in the background and done by hand in caligraphy). He proudly hung it in his room! ;)

[little_bopeep]

I just got the coolest swap package! Lisa sent me a sourdough starter (which I had been thinking about getting myself, so she must be psychic... or psycho...or something :D ), a jar of pineapple/jalapeno jelly (which I fear will be spirited away by DH if I don't hide it), and the most awesome book!!! It's The Practical Encyclopaedia of Baking, and it's gorgeous!!!

Thank you, Lisa...I only hope you like yours half as much. It left us yesterday and should arrive in Oregon by Friday or Saturday via USPS.

You're the best!

Susan

[Judii]

Originally posted by sneezles
Judii,
Just so you know those are not earrings ;) , they are charms for wine glasses! :p And I made them myself!!

ROFLMAO!!!

Sneezles, THANK YOU for enlightening me!! They are so gorgeous. The instant I read that they aren't earrings but wine glass charms (I'm laughng so hard) I jumped up and ringed them around four goblets! I have been wanting wine charms. Whenever I see some, I've been thinking how I would love to have some. And now I do, but the most gorgeous of all, and hand-made by you! Texas wine glass charms. I'm trying to decide which will be mine exclusively, but it's not easy--I like them all! Hand-made, the most special gift of all. Thank you, Sneezles.

Judii

[sneezles]

Just couldn't bear the thought of you going out in public with wine charms in your ears!!!:p So glad you liked everything!
I had to hide the wasabi peas...

[lhall]

Ok, we let Mariel have some of her sucker. Remember I metioned black icing....

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid42/p7585998d631cb322391c16f7a477ef5e/fcf08a72.jpg

well, it wouldn't come off.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Leigh

[lhall]

Originally posted by lhall

well, it wouldn't come off.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Leigh

MWHAHAHAHA.....

Just Kidding!!!! It wiped off just fine, but I couldn't resist.:D :D :D

Leigh

[honeygirl1971]

Leigh--
Well, as long as she isn't permanently tatooed or anything! LOL

That picture is priceless!!!! :D

[Julia1Pin]

Susan (slknight) - I sent out your package last night. They say it should be there on Tuesday!

[Kiko]

This is so much fun! Ebobbitt (Elizabeth) is my wonderful swap partner. We have been emailing each other since we were first matched up.

I received her lovely package on Monday. She gave me treats from her state of Arkansas. The candle set was Christmas tree scented and made in Heber Springs. It was one of her favorite scents and DH and I loved them!

Elizabeth sent peanut brittle made in Arkadelphia. It didn't last long....DH and I finished it before the day was over! The brittle was so yummy.

She also gave me a bottle of wine from a winery, Wiederkehr, located in Altus. It's a beau noir which is a mellow, red wine. We haven't tried it yet since I'm saving it for a special dinner.

Finally, Elizabeth enclosed a Razorback foam cup holder (from the football team) and a road atlas to look up the neat places in Arkansas.

Thank you again Elizabeth!

[sharon kopenski]

m4star, aka Melissa saved me from a full blown panic attack.

My daughter is flying today on Friday the 13th because her plane was grounded due to weather in Huston(Melinda is from Texas) yesterday. She had been doing volunteer work in Mexico, I had just spoken to her on the phone and I got scared. Here it's Christmas, I'm putting up the tree and wrapping gifts and I panic---big time. Total irrational fear that consumes you and then,-- the mail man came!! The box from Melinda had arrived and was full of wonderful treats to delight me amd distract me enough so that I could become rational once again. Melissa, thank you so much for your wonderful timing and the great gifts. Wine and marinade from Texas and Texas grapefruit!! Also Texas almonds and pistachios that my DH will love and chocolate just for me. Friends are a blessing, even the ones you have never met.

[Guest]

Mine just came from Sarah!! I am going to wait until DD gets home from school so that we can open it together.

[Molli526]

Erin-

I got yours out today. You should have it Tuesday. Please open it on the top - where the label is :)

[Wendy w]

I mailed Jen's (JHolcomb) last night! Finally!!

[lisas3575]

Originally posted by little_bopeep
I just got the coolest swap package! Lisa sent me a sourdough starter (which I had been thinking about getting myself, so she must be psychic... or psycho...or something :D ), a jar of pineapple/jalapeno jelly (which I fear will be spirited away by DH if I don't hide it), and the most awesome book!!! It's The Practical Encyclopaedia of Baking, and it's gorgeous!!!

Thank you, Lisa...I only hope you like yours half as much. It left us yesterday and should arrive in Oregon by Friday or Saturday via USPS.

You're the best!

Susan

I'll take psycho over psychic. :p ;) Glad you liked everything, and sorry I wasn't very creative! Let me know what you think of the starter, I've been contemplating getting some too. Peggy gave me a packet of Goldrush starter that I'm terrified of. Dunno why.

[lisas3575]

Originally posted by little_bopeep
I only hope you like yours half as much. It left us yesterday and should arrive in Oregon by Friday or Saturday via USPS.


Wow! It just arrived. I'll open it tonight. I can't believe how fast it got here!

[swquilts]

Agghhhhhh....I sent mine to Peggy C on 12/2 and it still is NOT there yet!! Grrrrrr.......was sent first class too! :mad:

[LaraW]

I got my swap package from Mamasue today! I was at a meeting, and it had arrived by the time I got home!

She had put together a stocking, and it contained the following:

An orange ornament, to signify an orange in the toe of a stocking; a package of scented wooden apples, that signify the apple orchards in the area where she lives (they smell wonderful, by the way!) Genoa pesto - yum! I love pesto! There wasl also a package of dried beans to make Boston Baked Beans and some fun stocking-stuffer type things, like recipe cards and a little measuring shot glass, and some drink clips.

Some labels for my kitchen wall - I have one wall of my kitchen that is decorated with vintage ads, and these will be a great addition!

A lobster lollipop and a can of clams, to signify the lobster and clams that you can get in Massachusetts, a vanilla bean, a weather stick to hang outside (this looks fun!)

Sue also gave me some of her hand-made goodies, such as a snowflake ornament for the tree, and a larger wooden cutout snowflake, which is hanging on my front porch right now, sugared walnuts that I am snacking on while I type, some milk chocolate and white chocolate candy with peppermint crunch in them....wow! What fun! :D

Thank you Sue, and have a wonderful wonderful Christmas!

Lara

[lisas3575]

I seem to be the only person who didn't do a "regional" package. Sorry again, Susan! :o

Susan's arrived today. It was so fun to dig in and discover all the great, creative things! She gave me Texas shaped pasta (so cute I'm not sure if I can boil it up!), a jar each of Kickin' Salsa and Jalapeno Relish, a beautiful box full of yummy chocolates (OK, I ate one while I was digging around in the box!), a mini-Texas license plate with my name on it :p (that's going on my bike!), a Texas food magazine, a Texas shot glass (would you believe we don't own any?? Cool!) and a Tequila flavored lollipop-- with the worm inside! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :D

I love it all, thanks so much!

[dcornelius]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by lisas3575
[B]I seem to be the only person who didn't do a "regional" package. Sorry again, Susan! :o


Never fear Lisanumbers... I didn't go regional either. I started scanning some of Jennifers latest posts and noted her recent adventures in baking bread and went that direction. I thought I would do something she could have lots of fun with.... I am most certain Susan LOVES her gift package you sent her!

[Mamasue]

Your welcome Lara and I am glad that you enjoyed it. I certainly had fun doing it! ;)

[Natasha3]

I got my swap package from Melman yesterday and was just like a little kid opening it. It was so fun! :D She put together a bunch of goodies with some food gifts nad some things that she just knew I'd like for other reasons. I'll write more later about what she sent, but just wanted to thank her again:

Thank you, Melanie!

Natasha

[ErinM]

Originally posted by Molli526
Erin-

I got yours out today. You should have it Tuesday. Please open it on the top - where the label is :)

Awesome! Thank you! Yours is in transit (sent Tuesday) but I don't remember them telling me when you'd get it...

I think you now have the email with your letter in it...I hope everything gets there okay!

I have noted your instructions and will act accordingly on Tuesday! :D

[Jewel]

I got my package from Meg yesterday! (1MegMeg) After opening that box I now feel like a dork for what's on the way to her! :o Nothing compares!

Meg sent me a really cool cookbook called The Sunshine State Cookbook! I have never seen more recipes for fruit dishes in one place! Thanks Meg! She also sent me a indoor Cala Lily! :cool: I have my very own Cala Lily bulb and planter, complete with the finest Florida dirt! Can't wait to get it started! She also sent me the coolest 7" ceramic snowman candle holder with tealight candle. He's proudly perched next to my stuffed Snowman Family on my mantle. :D

To top it off she wrapped everything individually and tied each box with gorgeous wired ribbon bows that I now have nestled in my Christmas tree! :) Thanks for the wonderful and thoughtful gifts Meg!

[little_bopeep]

Originally posted by dcornelius
[QUOTE]Originally posted by lisas3575
[B]I seem to be the only person who didn't do a "regional" package. Sorry again, Susan! :o


Never fear Lisanumbers... I didn't go regional either. I started scanning some of Jennifers latest posts and noted her recent adventures in baking bread and went that direction. I thought I would do something she could have lots of fun with.... I am most certain Susan LOVES her gift package you sent her!

She does! I does... I DO!!!! The book is incredible--huge and colorful, with step-by-step instructions and pictures. Any novice baker (like me)would treasure this book, and it will still be a fav when they're past the novice stage. And DH is salivating, waiting for the sourdough bread so he can try the pineapple/jalapeno jelly. :D

Thanks again!

[1MegMeg]

Originally posted by Jewel
I got my package from Meg yesterday! (1MegMeg) After opening that box I now feel like a dork for what's on the way to her! :o Nothing compares!

Meg sent me a really cool cookbook called The Sunshine State Cookbook! I have never seen more recipes for fruit dishes in one place! Thanks Meg! She also sent me a indoor Cala Lily! :cool: I have my very own Cala Lily bulb and planter, complete with the finest Florida dirt! Can't wait to get it started! She also sent me the coolest 7" ceramic snowman candle holder with tealight candle. He's proudly perched next to my stuffed Snowman Family on my mantle. :D

To top it off she wrapped everything individually and tied each box with gorgeous wired ribbon bows that I now have nestled in my Christmas tree! :) Thanks for the wonderful and thoughtful gifts Meg!

Awww! I am glad you enjoyed everything. :D

(((Jewel)))

[Natasha3]

Melanie (Melman) sent me a lovely package, as I said earlier, and it included the following:

Homemade peach jam that Melanie made, fresh as can be. We are truly looking forward to trying this. I think I'll wait until it's realllly cold out there and then will open it for a taste of summertime at its best. :)

Peach gummy candies from Dean & Deluca. Delicious, so fragrant and just the right amount of chewy and sweet! Even my fiance, who said that he didn't usually like candies like that, gushed that they were really good. I caught him dipping in the box again today. Better hurry if I'm going to get my fair share... ;)

A soft pecan praline from Dillon's. Mmmmm...I ate this all myself. :o

A cookbook of peach recipes from a peach recipe contest a while back. I am looking forward to trying these recipes, as peaches are one of my most favourite fruits of all. Nice, too, to know that all the recipes are authentic peach country recipes!

A postcard of the Palmetto Tree, very classy in cream and gold. It has a place of honour on the fridge right now.

All of these gave me a real taste and feel for Melanie's state and region, and are not things I'd find around here too easily. Other goodies in the package were:

A Christmas tree ornament that looks just like a decorated and frosted sugar cookie. I keep wanting to pick it up and eat it! ;) It's hanging on my tree in a prominent place, and I keep telling guests how it's from "my swap partner in SC". :D

An adorable little Boyd's Bear, wearing a sweater that says "Ho Ho Ho" on it. Melanie knew I love and collect bears, and she was right that I would love this one too!

An angel, which seems handcrafted and delicate and is simply lovely to look at. She's sitting on one of my front windowsills, near the tree.

What an incredible blend of food- and non-food items, of things Southern and things Melanie knew I would like for other reasons...Melanie, you prepared a perfect package. Thanks again. :) I hope you like your package close to as much!

Natasha :)

[Guest]

I love my swap package!!!! It came on Friday from Sarah and what a treasure chest it is. She sent the most wonderful collection of things. It was so much fun going through the box. It included a lovely letter, a beautiful tatted angel and adorable snowman pin both made by Sarah (I wish I had a digital camera so I could share them with you) and a handpainted glass with picutes of a snowman, gingerbread boy, wrapped present and evergreen tree.

Then there was the edible part of the box, some bags of Tim Hortons Cafe Decafeine ( I can't figure out how to get those accents in there). Oh how I wish she had thrown it a donut or two, but instead there was a great selection of chocolate bars that are not sold in the States, Cadury Caramilk and Crunchie and Nestle Aero and Coff Crisp. To round out the selection, I am now the proud owner of a maple moose, a maple lollipop in the shape of a moose's head and a small bottle of Canadian maple syrup.

This was so much fun.

Miranda

[Mamasue]

What a beautiful day it is today! It’s a wonderful day because it is snowing and I received my package from LaraW. I was so excited to open the box that I forgot about the last pan of cookies in the oven. :D First thing up was a envelope with a letter of instructions and explanation of each numbered item that I opened. Number 1… was an envelope of pictures of her new home…..a front view and a back view of the deck that her husband, Jeff and her built last summer. Also a picture of a beautiful view of the mountains from her backyard . Lara included a few pictures of her adorable kitchen showing me the wall that she told me about which is covered with pictures of vintage labels. A picture of Lara and her husband Jeff at Pikes Peak and some postcards of Adolph Coors Golden Brewery which my husband would love to tour and taste. :D, Denver Airport, Colorado National Park and a postcard of the states flower, Columbine, which grows wild in Colorado. Number 2…. A copy of Sunset magazine which is for the Western part of the U.S. I have heard of Sunset but never viewed one and looking forward to that moment tonight with tea in hand. Number 3…a pound package of Dark Muscovado sugar which was purchased at a kitchen store that she took cooking classes from. This sugar is very dark and the label states that it is very high in molasses content. This should be good for gingerbread and I will be foodsaving this to preserve for special baking! ;) Number 4….was a jar of her homemade Pumpkin Butter that she made and was her first experience in canning. The pumpkins are grown on Colorado’s Western slope. It looks yummy Lara ! Number 5 & 6…..a can of cocoa and delish looking peanut butter cup that were made and purchased from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory candy store. It is Lara’s favorite place to buy candy and chocolate. Yummmmm. Number 7….a jar of Colorado Salsa which was purchased at her favorite gourmet store in Boulder. There is a legend on the jar that I will have to read later when I take out my reading glasses. :D Oh, and a magnet for my frig of Colorado mountains with Columbines in the foreground.

Thank you so much, Lara for a wonderful visual and soon a tasteful experience of Colorado. I really enjoyed this holiday swap and had a good time putting yours together as well. I will scan and post pics of your kitchen later on the “kitchen thread”.

Hugs…..Sue

[LaraW]

You are so welcome, Sue! I had fun putting it together! :D

[Sarah]

I had so much fun looking for things, making the angel and snowman, and packing it up, and I'm thrilled that the glass arrived in one piece!
Now, I have to be calm and wait for my box...:( I'm not very good at waiting. I think it comes from working with elementary aged kids near Christmas!!

Sarah

[jphilg]

I jsut got a call from DH, telling me that there is a "huge box from K. Graham here for you" WHOOOPEEE! Now I want to go home and open it, but I spent too long loitering here this afternoon instead of working so I can't leave for a while.

Yay huge box!
Yay kgraham!

Kim, the box I sent you is not huge. But you know what they say...good things come in small packages!

[Molli526]

I got my package today from Erin! Thank you!!!

She wrapped everything so nicely! She also sent a nice note, which included some background on what she sent:

A postcard with a picture of the Fountain. Fountain Hills has the largest fountain in the world, or at least they used to. It looks so pretty there!

A cool bookmark, green b/c we both have Irish heritage. It has a sun cut out to remind me that the sun is still out there. Erin said she knows how those endless gray days can be.
She also knows how I love to read.

An ornament. It’s the “official” ornament of Fountain Hills, and a new one comes out every year. Erin, it goes great with the tree and it has a great location - eye level :D

A cookbook! As a nod to our shared love of cooking and our reason for even knowing each other. It is an Arizona themed cookbook and there were some yummy looking recipes, I can't wait to curl up with it tonight!

A bag from Gridley’s because of the picture of the quail on the front. Erin's words:
I believe these birds are native to Arizona, because I have never seen them in the Upper Midwest. They are cutest things! They travel in families, so you always see babies with their parents. They can’t fly very well (only for short distances) but they do run quick! I love the little curlicues on their foreheads. They also have make the cutest sounds! I can’t even begin to describe it, but I have heard them calling to each other.
These birds are so cute that people will stop their cars in the middle of the road so that they can cross… or at least, I do that! Anyway, I wanted you to see what they looked like.
I will have to ask my parents if they remember or see if we have pictures from when I was there as a kid. They seem like something I would like!

[JenZen]

I received my package from Little Bit a while ago, and it was wonderful. So many things I never heard of or tried before, like cane vinegar, mayhaw jelly, bananas foster mix, etc. Lots of Cajun spices and some hot sauces. Oh, and a really decadent pecan fudge sauce.

Little Bit, your box was truly the highlight of my month. I will have yours out this week. I have tomorrow off, and I'll be on a search for some Wisconsiny sort of things. :)

Thanks again.

Jen

[Little Bit]

Originally posted by JenZen
... Little Bit, your box was truly the highlight of my month. Thanks again. Jen
You're very welcome. :)
I had SO much fun putting it together. :) :)
I'm glad you enjoyed it, but, really, you don't have to eat the boiled peanuts if you don't want to, lol!

Anna

[jphilg]

Oh my goodness.....I just recieved the most GENEROUS, THOUGHTFUL swap package a girl could desire. WOW kgraham, you are the best!

In my package, I got a warm letter from Kim telling me about her life with her DH, a gorgeous picture of them (I hope you still have the honeymoon-happy look that you both have in that picture!). Then, as I sifted through a very thorough packing job, I discovered an issue of Sunset, which will be my entertainment this evening, a lovely bottle of chardonnay along with a note explaining Kim's personal experiences with the vineyard, some Sharfen Berger Chocolate, some Gerhidelli (sp!) chocolate, some delicious looking Napa Valley mustards,and a jar of Napa valley berry jam. AND THEN, on top of all of that, Kim sent me lemons from her own trees (2 varieties! My goodness!) and the most delectable assortment of goodies, largely culled from these boards! I got to try Kickback popcorn, ginger cookies, lemon macadamia cookies, tiger butter fudge, and multigrain biscotti.

Oh. My. Goodness. I feel so pampered! And everything was so nicely wrapped and annotated...Kim, I really appreciate all the thought and time that went into this gift.

(I feel a little inadequate, too....Kim, I hope that you aren't disappointed with your box.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Ha ha to the rest of you....I got the best swap partner!

Jen

[camNcurtsmom]

Got my box from Vanessa a.k.a. 401krep today! She is from Maryland and I was just there in late September and couldn't eat enough fresh crab and crabcakes. She couldn't send those so she sent me some crab dip mix and a beautiful crab ornament for my tree. She also sent me a blue teardrop ornament that beautiful as well. She als sent me some Sun Dried Tomato Bread dip from the Orange Crate Co. I can't wait to try it out. I also got some Irish Creme coffee, a kitchen magnet, Santa tissues and a pretty/great smelling Cheasapeake Holiday candle. She also got me two things from Amish country in Pennsylvania (another place I just visited and fell in love with): seedless Blackberry Jam and Chow Chow. She also sent my two boys these really neat fun capsules that you throw into warm water and they turn into foam shapes. My boys were enthralled with them. I also got two pictures. One is Vanessa and Ed in SC and the other is with Stinky the Ferret. I had a lot of fun opening this as today was a typically yukky Monday. :) Thank you Vanessa!

Tammi

[camNcurtsmom]

Vanessa (401krep):

I can't believe I am eating this late but had to try the Sun Dried Tomato bread dip...YUM! I am using some french bread I got from Central Market and it is sooooo good. Thank you!!!! :)

Tammi

[ErinM]

You're welcome!! I'm so glad you liked your package and that everything got there okay!

I had a lot of fun putting it together!

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by swquilts
Agghhhhhh....I sent mine to Peggy C on 12/2 and it still is NOT there yet!! Grrrrrr.......was sent first class too! :mad:

Never fear it arrived over the weekend. I would have posted yesterday, but the internet connection here at work was horribly slow.

Thank you so much Susan! My package contained a really yummy locally made chocolate peanut butter cup. This baby was huge! Like the size of a cupcake! It lasted a couple of days, but I managed to polish it off last night!:o A tex mex seasoning made by Susan's DH, that she says is great on grilled chicken. I can't wait to try it it smells divine. An apple cookbook, with great looking recipes, mulling spices, a honey mustard dip and a really cool silver salt cellar! Thank you so much I can't wait to try everything! and I swear you package is going out tonight via fedex. One part of it is homemade and we didn't finish it until this weekend. :o

[Lrimerman]

I sent out Jasmine's (JazzyJas) package today. I hope she likes it and am sorry about the delay.

Lisa

[wallycat]

I sent out my package out on the 4th...no posting of receiving it yet :confused: :confused:

Oh Dolores...have you gotten anything yet??

[ebobbitt]

I got my box of South Florida goodies from Kiko yesterday. It's such fun to arrive at the mailbox and there be prizes in it! I received real key limes from her parent's tree in Key Largo. After consulting with Kiko we decided I should squeeze the juice (it can even be frozen) because they might ruin before the weekend. I'm going to make a key lime pie with those. Also got candy (coffee mocha lentils & chocolate covered espresso candies) from Joe's Stone Crabs in Miami Beach. I've sampled both and the coffee mocha lentils taste like coffee-flavored M&M's. There was also Key West Lime Candy that was wonderful. The only thing not sampled is the papaya preserves. As I had noothing in the house to put these on, I'm waiting until I do a grocery store run--probably tonight. It was all packed in a very festive silver tin.

Thanks again to Kiko for a really fun package!

[Clover]

I received my wonderful package from AndreaU last week. It was so exciting to come home and find it waiting by the door. Andrea grew up in Buffalo and chose things typical of the city. I got some Weber's Hot Garlic Mustard, which also has horseradish in it, and I can tell you it is delicious on a ham and cheese quesadilla, though that may not be the traditional use. (I was out of bread, but had tortillas.) A bottle of Original Anchor Bar Wing Sauce (Hotter Recipe!) was also in the package, from the bar where Buffalo wings were invented. I'm looking forward to trying it when my sister and BIL arrive in a few days for Christmas. I happen to have some great California blue cheese in the fridge, so now I just need some celery. AND there's a jar of Chef's Pasta Sauce from Chef's Restaurant, which has been open for business in Buffalo since 1923. I looked at their website, and they have some recipes using their sauce. I think I'm going to make chicken cacciatore. Then there are two Christmas ornaments that were made by a friend of Andrea's; a hand-painted paper and wood ornament and a (Fimo?) Santa holding a small but happy reindeer. Andrea also sent a vacation map of New York State, a visitor's guide to Orange County(where she now lives in the Hudson Valley,) and guides to two wine trails in the Finger Lakes region. Wow! Thanks so much, Andrea. I love everything in the package and look forward to cooking Buffalo style.

[ErinM]

Yay! I was feeling in a funk for no good reason in particular (there are many options. One could conceivably take their pick!). I decided to check my front door to see if MAYBE all of my tolietries had arrived from Chicago (Long story. To make it short, I left the bag in the car and have been without hair products, makeup and my glasses for four days now. I'm wearing my hair in a bun and am getting rather sick of it, not to mention I have to wear my contacts all of the time if I want to see!) Instead, I found my swap package on the porch! This cheered me up!

Here's what Molli sent me....

A beautiful blue bottle of...homemade vanilla ! I could smell it as I took it out of the tissue paper! You can bet that will get used and maintained! All I have to do is add vanilla beans and rum/vodka, right?? :)

A container of Butterscotch Whirls with Date Filling ! I haven't tried them yet as I've just stuffed myself from lunch, but I plan to have one soon! They look so yummy!!!

A bottle of Sanders Milk Chocolate Fudge Topping. Molli says this is the best chocolate suace, made in Detroit, so Detroit is famous for something other than cars. (Whodathunk THAT??? :D )

A box of local chocolates from Morley Chocolates Mmmm, they must be good if the factory is right in town! I'll have to fight my dad for them. I will be sure to have one when I try the cookies.

And last, but certainly not least...

A jar of Cherry Jam. I knew Michigan was known for its blueberries, but not its cherries! She recommends that I eat it with baked Brie. I will try that (if I can find Brie in Wausau, I SHOULD be able to since we are Cheese country and all, but one never knows!) I'm thinking it will be good on toast as well.

She also sent me a picture of her house and of herself and DH (what a cutie!:D ) Molli, you are gorgeous, girlfriend! Your house reminds me a bit of my parents', although theirs is "longer" and is a ranch style. Thanks for sharing!

I love my package Molli! Thank you SO MUCH!!! It really made my day!:) :)

[wallycat]

My swap-mate PM'd me she got the package...
but after reading her thread (Saturn car)...my gosh, Dolores, I am so glad you are OK, I wish I could do more.

Dolores, I'm so glad you're OK; what a horrible sounding accident.
Take your time and regroup...
I hope job prospects are good in January and again, am just happy you are OK.

[Leisa M]

I sent my package to ellenita today. I hope you like it, and that it gets to you safe and sound.

[claire797]

"Tripletone" is the BEST!!!! She made my day. There's nothing like coming home to a package full of surprises. Here's what she sent. I love my swap partner :)

A Curry Cookbook -- beautiful and full of pictures.
3 bars of Belgian Chocolate (all different flavors)Now how did she know I liked chocolate? Hmmmmmm???
a tin of cookies from an Italian bakery in Nutley, NJ -- Martha Stewart's hometown. Cute.
Blueberry Wine from the Tomasello winery -- has anyone tried blueberry wine? I can't wait to taste it.
Snowman Cookie Cutters -- you can't have too many.
Elizabeth Arden Candle (how did she know I needed a candle that size?)

This has been so fun. There's nothing like getting a package in the mail, but what's even more special is that I have made a new friend. Thank you so much, MC!!!!

[mochadelsol]

Mine came today:D from Helene. My goodness thank you so much. What a wonderful package. Helene sent me:
"Flag" hot pad, handmade by a crafter from Mass. I could hang this :)
Minuteman tree ornament (on tree as I type, so cute)
Chocolate covered cranberries um, um
Maple sugar candy
Magnet & bookmarks with Helene's favorite scenes from the city of Boston. Just beautiful!!!
Yankee candle scents, Christmas berries, Spiced Apple, Vanilla Cookie. I love candles:D

Thank you Helene you have out done yourself. I wish I had done more for you.

[akairo]

I got my package from Heidi last Friday, but have been unable to post. No power, no phone, nothin'! I really appreciate electricity now.

I needed to post my thanks and I'll fill ya'll in later on the great gifts I got, but I have pulled a muscle and am in pain.

Tamara

[Julia1Pin]

I got my package yesterday (it came really quickly). With the taste of your chocolate peanut butter balls still lingering I am happy to report that I received the following:

Chocolate PB Balls - so yummy, my DH had 2 vefore I even tried one :)
Maple Syrup - I had just run out
Apple Pie Spice - DH loves apple pie and I've never made it before, so now I have an excuse to try it
Blueberry Jam - We love Jam! I'll try it this weekend
Postcards - Maine is gorgeous and looks so peaceful. I would love to visit
Maine Magazine - Reading for tonight (DH is working late)
Book for Abigail - I appreciate that so much. I'm sure it will be one of her favorites!
Lobster Bibs - Very cool!
Card of Mainee Lighthouse - Everything you wrote was so thoughtful

Thanks again for everything! I hope you enjoy what I sent as much as I am enjoying everything I received.

[MusicMom]

I received my package from Beth yesterday, filled with all kinds of neat things, from homemade peanut brittle and cookies to canned chipotle peppers and Texas shaped pasta (very cute!). She also sent mug trim - I've never tried that before. I'll trim the brim of my hot chocolate tomorrow.

Thanks, Beth!!

[Linda in MO]

Originally posted by jphilg
the most delectable assortment of goodies, largely culled from these boards! I got to try Kickback popcorn, ginger cookies, lemon macadamia cookies, tiger butter fudge, and multigrain biscotti.

kgraham, could you post the recipe for lemon macadamia cookies? thanks!

[Linda in MO]

I got my wonderful package from Julie (KValley) yesterday and I couldn't wait to dig into it! The box was packed full of all kinds of treasures...

D&M Lion's Rock blend coffee from a locally owned/operated coffee roaster. I am going to try this first thing in the morning.

Quinn's Peach Habanero Jelly-I cannot wait to try this stuff out. I love pepper jelly!

Anna's Blackberry Honey and Loganberry/Honey Preserves-doesn't that sound yummy?!

Rosemary Shortbread Mix -Mmmmm!

And then there was this really cool silver box filled with homemade goodies-Butter Nut Toffee, Cranberry Orange Walnut Butter Cookies, and Cranberry Almond Butter Cookies-all of this stuff is fantastic! I've eaten probably 5 cookies just today! :o And my 2 year old has been munching on them left and right, too. (one of his favorite foods is dried cranberries ;) ) The Butter Nut Toffee is amazing! I had to laugh at my husband though. He goes, "this peanut brittle is rockin'" :rolleyes: :p He is so not a foodie.

Oh, and this really adorable stuffed moose ornament. It's sooo cute!

And she also included a holiday letter and pictures. Hope I didn't forget anything.

Thanks Julie! You're a real sweetie! XOXOXO

[HARRYET]

I got my wonderful swap package from Laura B on Monday! I had no time to open it until that night after the kids were finally in bed. But the wait was worth it!

I got:
* Pralines, I can't wait to try them, they look yummy.
* spicy North Carolina peanuts these are very good, I had to force myself to stop before I ate them all. I didn't know NC was big into peanuts.
* Mama dip's Kitchen Cookbook there were several recipes in this that caught my eye. I can't wait to try them.
* lollipop with the "tarheel" emblem on it, it looks to cute to eat!
* a beautiful snowflake ornament that Laura made herself! It's all beads! I'm going to hang it on my Christmas tree, but after Christmas it will hang in my kitchen window, so everyday I can see it, and be reminded of Laura and all the wonderful people from this BB!
*Anna's almond roca this needs to description, as most of you are probably familar with it! Laura it shipped perfectly well, and tasted great! I did make a batch myself befor Thanksgiving, and it didn't come out quite as wonderful as yours did, now if I can just not eat it all.

Laura, again thank you for all the neat stuff, I'm
like a kid in a candy store! This was alot of fun, and I hope you like/enjoy the stuff I've have sent to you!

Happy Holidays Ann

:cool:

[Canice]

Ohmygosh, I just opened my box from Linda (pwrmom) and I am overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness and kindness!!! Not only did Linda knock herself out to put together a great box, but I know how crazy-busy her life is!! One of the cool things about this exchange has been having an "off-line" relationship with another BBer, and I've really enjoyed exchanging email with Linda. I love the fact that Linda and I are almost the exact same age, yet live on the exact opposite coasts (me in California, her in New Hampshire). Linda has been married for about 15 years (correct me if I'm wrong) and has 3 big, growing-up kids that keep her very busy; I have no children and have never been married -- but we're pretty similar in a lot of ways!! This is much more fun than the pen-pals of my grade school days!
Anyhow, here are the wonderful things Linda selected and boxed up for me:
A lovely and warm Christmas greeting card... Stonyfield Farm Yogurt Cookbook -- can you imgine??! I LOVE Stonyfield Farm Yogurt! I remember once reading on the BB that someone had driven out there to collect fresh yogurt...*sigh*.....Also, Linda inscribed the book, which means it will be all the more valuable to me over the years....
Gorgeous, "Healthy Solutions - A New Hampshire Made Product" seasonings packets - are you ready? OK, here goes: "Roasted Herbed Potatoes"; "Chili"; Shrimp Scampi"; "Mesquite Honey Barbecue Chicken" -- I am sooo looking forward to trying these seasonings; you wouldn't believe how great they smell!!!
Linda also sent some wonderful local, rustic food items that I know I'm going to love! My mouth is literally watering looking at "Ode to Pickles", which promise to be "raucous" and "playful". Next is apple butter from Sanford Farms -- I've heard of apple butter all my life but, honestly, have never tried it (don't laugh) -- I'm looking forward to this new experience! Linda also sent a bottle of Busy Bee Farm honey from Raymond, NH and a little bottle of New Hampshire Pure Maple Syrup -- I look forward to trying both of these, especially now that the winter storms are hitting the Coast!!
Linda, you sure knocked yourself out... and I love it all!! Wow - thanks a lot! ...

[KValley]

Originally posted by Linda in MO
I got my wonderful package from Julie (KValley) yesterday and I couldn't wait to dig into it! The box was packed full of all kinds of treasures...

:D Linda, putting the package together was so much fun- made me wish that Christmas was more than once a year!

Merry Christmas!!!

[tripletone@hotm]

claire797
Anna, I am very glad that you liked your package, and that we have become friends, I sure do look forward to your emails, you have a way of putting things into perspective!!!!

This is the first time I did the swap and I am very lucky to have gotten such a wonderful swap partner as you!!!!!! You too are THE BEST

[kgraham]

Jen, You're very welcome! I'm thrilled that you are so happy with your package and I'm sure that what you've sent me will be wonderful :)

Linda in MO, I will be happy to post the recipe for Lemon Macadamia Cookies tonight when I get home from work. How about if I post the recipe over on the Virtual Cookie Swap 2002 thread?

[Laura B]

Ann, I am so thrilled that everything shipped OK and that you like what I picked out! I cannot wait for my package from you to arrive. :D

[ccooney]

Robin C!!!
I WILL get to the post office this afternoon to mail your package out!!! It is wrapped and addressed (finally). Sorry it will be late :(

[Linda in MO]

Originally posted by kgraham
Linda in MO, I will be happy to post the recipe for Lemon Macadamia Cookies tonight when I get home from work. How about if I post the recipe over on the Virtual Cookie Swap 2002 thread?

Thanks, that would be great!! Wasn't this swap so much fun?!
This morning I had a cup of Julie's coffee (with a splash of Bailey's :o ) and a couple of her cookies. Deee-licious! (the breakfast of champions, don't ya know :D ) Will my taste buds ever be able to go back to Folgers?!

[RobinC]

CCooney,

No worries. :) I am out of town 4 days a week, so if it was in my mail box, it would be sitting there for several more days. Whenever it gets here is fine with me. :)

Have you received yours yet? I shipped via UPS. I don't have the tracking # with me, but I can easily get my hands on it.

Cheers!
Robin

[eas11]

JenniferJJ, your package is finally in the mail!
Ellyn

[KathrynY]

Thank you Melissa (Missi)!! :D

I arrived home from work and evening class exhausted, having been up extremely late last night finishing my final graphics project, and found your wonderful package sitting on the kitchen table :). What a nice surprise!!

Here's a description of the wonderful items that Missi sent:
Locally ground coffee and leaf tea from Tahoe stores. We are big coffee and tea people, so these will be consumed with gusto!
Peppermint bath salts - homemade by Missi. Man, am I going to enjoy these!! What a treat :).
Sugared/spiced almonds, also homemade by Missi (Mmmm.. made with Chambord!) - ok, I must admit that we chowed on these while dinner was in the oven :o and they are fabulous!!
Adorable Lake Tahoe bear magnet for my fridge


Thanks again for my great swap package :).

[d_ferrero]

I'm so sorry I've been remiss in thanking Ana (Wallycat) publicly for the beautiful package she sent me. Goodies include:

Honey Acres brand Honey Hot Mustard and Natural Creme Honey (the latter of which Ana says "spreads like butter"... and I can't wait to try on homemade muffins this weekend!) made in Ashuppin, WI

Homemade Blueberry Buckwheat Pancake Mix with instructions (which I bet taste divine with creme honey drizzled on them!)

Roth Sugar Bush brand Pure Maple Syrup (also yummy on the pancakes) made in Cadott, WI

and...

Taste of Home's 2003 Annual (from which I've already chosen a partial menu for brunch Christmas Eve), published in Greendale, WI.

Please hang tight Ana... your package is ready to go to the post office at my first opportunity between job interviews and meeting with insurance adjusters. I'm sorry I'm not a better swap partner -- but you'll have something neat to open AFTER the Christmas holiday.

Hugs,
/dolores

[kgraham]

My swap package from jphilg arrived today just as I was finishing up a long day at work. I was so excited that I couldn't wait to get home with it! :D

Jen sent me a lovely tin of Fleur de Sel de Camargue - artisan sea salt. I can't wait to start cooking with it as my supply of sea salt is running out (and its not nearly as fancy).

She also sent a tin of Old Bay Seasoning which she says is used heavily in DC area cuisine. Since I've never used Old Bay before, I'm looking forward to trying it.

I also received some homemade Peppermint Bark which is YUMMY!

Thank you, Jen! I really enjoyed our SWAP :)

[MKSquared]

I got my package today - and I'm still packaging the last of mine to go out! :eek:

slawrence sent me a wonderful package! :) :)

First, a few days ago, Sue included me in her Christmas card list and sent me a newsletter (in the style of a tv listing!) and a beautiful picture of her and her DH this summer at their wedding! What a cute couple!

Today, a huge box was sitting in my living room! YAY!

A tin of homemade butter cookies! These are a real treat, because I only see these at Christmas time, and only from the hands of my grandmother! (These are better! :eek: !!)

The other gifts were wrapped, bundle-style, in a Winter-themed kitchen towel! Cute presentation, and the towel goes really well in my kitchen! :) To boot, everything inside the bundle was wrapped, too!

In a tiny lunchbox tin, there were Peppermint Bath Salts - which I believe may be handmade. I love peppermint, and I can't wait to come home from work one day, covered in restaurant stink, and slip into a minty bath! Wooooo!

Kissing potion - again, peppermint, and again, I believe it's homemade! I'm a lip balm junkie! :D

Gray Salt - being a self-confessed salt snob, I was so excited to get this great tin of French sea salt.

A jar of gourmet mustard- my favorite condiment! :) I'm cracking this baby open for my party on Friday as a dip for pretzels! Yummmmmmm ....

Keeping with a theme of my favorite things - Chocolate! A box of Chocolate Mints from a Denver chocolatier - sampled one right away. (Sorry, Chicago, but I like these better than Frango!)

A Visitors' Guide to Denver. It's a gorgeous city, and I mean to visit there one day.

Two baking items: Yeast, which I'll probably put to use in pizza dough, and an offset spatula that will be useful when I try to frost cakes!
Chocolate, mint, salt, and mustard! They don't make the best lyrics, but they're a box of my favorite things ... :D THANK YOU!

[Laura B]

My package from Ann just arrived, and I tore right into it. THANK YOU so much, Ann, for an incredible package!

From Arizona I received:

Wine Charms Ann made these herself!! They are beautiful, and I didn't have any wine charms already. They have Southwestern charms and dark green beads and are just georgeous. Thank you, Ann.

Margarita Marmalade and Prickly Pear Jelly I can't wait to try these!

Rio Verde Tomatilla Salsa made by Goldwaters. Ann told me that Goldwaters is related to the former Senator Barry Goldwater.

See's Chocolate Ann sent the cutest little holiday drum filled with See's chocolate balls. I have heard about See's before but have never had any, so I am very excited to taste it!

Candle I got the prettiest gingerbread scented candle that was made in Ann's town.

Snowflake Plate with Kahlua Swirl Fudge Ann made the plate herself , and it is so pretty! I love snowflakes, Ann, which you probably have gathered by now when you got your package! I copied the recipe for the Kahlua fuge last year but have never made it. Now I have some straight from the kitchen of the original poster. YUM! I ate a piece as soon as I opened the box.

Arizona Oranges picked from Ann's neighbor's tree on Sunday! One of them still has the pretty green leaves. I love oranges.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANN!!

Happy Holidays! :D

[Missi]

I recieved a GREAT package from my swap partner, KathrynY!!!!!! Tahoe has been hit with a huge storm (3 feet in 2 days, and another foot expected tomorrow night). My package came last night while I was in my 38 hour of no power (read: no heat, the temp inside my house was 40 degrees :eek: ) when the UPS guy knocked on the door. It was a much needed lift to a dismal day! It included:

Maple Syrup-- made in Connecticut in the CUTEST bottle shaped like a maple leaf.

Maple Kettle Corn-- have to admit to opening this on the spot. It is OUTSTANDING!

A great cookbook-Claire's Classic American Vegetarian Cooking- from a restaurant in New Haven-- so many great sounding recipes I can't wait to try :)

Chamard 2000 Chardonnay--- Oh I am SOOOOO excited to try a wine from Connecticut!!!!!!!!!! :):):) DH convinced me to put this in our special wine cellar and save it for a special occasion.

Kathryn also sent a wonderful letter telling me all about herself, and some travel brochures in case I ever make it to the east coast.

THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH Kathryn. You don't know how much your package really lifted my spirits! I hope you and your family have a very happy holiday season!!!

[1MegMeg]

I GOT MY SWAP PACKAGE FROM WONDERFUL JEWEL! :D

Thank you so much Miss Jewel! :D:D:D

I got:

A package of Seattle's Best Blend whole coffee beans. YUM!

Almond Decadence Italian Biscotti from Seattle Baking Company. I will definitely be moving into these after dinner.

Smokehouse Salmon Chowderfrom Seabear Pacific Northwest Seafood. I cannot wait to try this. It looks absolutely delicious! I want to eat it NOW but dinner is already cooking.

I love my package Jewel. THANK YOU!!!! :D:)

[jazzcat]

I received a very nice package from Erin.

It made my day!

In the package was Frango Mints made by Marshall Fields, Candied Almonds, ( I love almonds!!!!), a beautiful pewter snowflake ornament , and Fanny May hot cocoa. More farvorite things of mine as I love snowflakes and a nice mug of Hot Cocoa.

Also I received a beautiful card , including a sweet picture of Hanne Rose.

Again, Erin, thank you.

I hope you will receive my package very soon as it went out on Monday.

Beth

:D

P.S. I love the box the Chocolate Mints came in. A dog, cat and mice waiting by a Christmas tree. Those mints are delicious!!! .and Willow is so curious about the box my goodies came in!!!

[slawrence]

Mary Kate,
I am SO glad you liked your package! I had a blast with it, and had I gotten more baking done, you would have sampled some more of my cookies. But, alas, I am still getting there.
Yes, the bath salts and lip balm are homemade.....the Martha Stewart kits-simple, but they are so fun to package up.
To be honest, I have had more fun filling this box for you, basically a 'stranger', than some of the people on my own family list! That sounds bad, I am sure, but there is a kinship with co-cookers and bakers. It was a fun thing-Have a great holiday! Sue

editing to say, Denver is beautiful, so is the rest of Colorado! I hope you DO come out some time to visit. We have some great restaurants here as well as gorgeous mountains, etc.... I can make those dinner reservations any time............ :)

[Judii]

We had a quiet Saturday evening last week-end, watching a Peter, Paul, and Mary concert. It seemed a great time for a cup of coffee and some of Sneezles’ chocolate-covered Sam Houston Bourbon-center bon bons. I made coffee and brought in one chocolate each, and wow!! This is not bourbon-flavored liquid centers, my friends! This was a quarter shot of straight bourbon!! Yummy!

Saturday Night Live was funnier than usual after we ate our chocolates!

Thank you, Sneezles!

Judii

[HARRYET]

Laura,

I'm so glad that you received your swap package (and I'm so pleased our postal service was prompt w/delivering it to you!). I am happy that you liked the items I selected for you.

I hope you and your DH have a very Merry Christmas!

I also want to wish everyone else on the BB a very Merry Christmas, and a safe holiday season!

Ann :cool:

[Wendy w]

I received JHolcomb's package today and it made my day! Although we had our departmental potluck today and it was a success, work has been especially hectic with one more work day to go. I have been feeling like a foreigner when I check in here anymore as I have not had time for any "quality" time here lately. What a great package!!

For starters: she sent the package in a recycled a box from a Penzey's order.:)

She sent some lovely candles that were handmade by economically disadvantaged women in Durham, NC. I also received some Elizabeth's Chocolate Covered Peanut Brittle, Peach Buds candy (an over 70 year old tradition), Morovian Spice cookies. North Carolina has a large population. She also sent some Bert's Bee's lip gloss. I have seen the products but have never gotten around to purchasing them for myself. Great stuff!! She also sent a beautiful contemporary handmade bowl from Seagrove, NC: which is a big pottery center. Lastly, she absolutely impressed the heck out of me with some homemade meyer lemon marmalade!!

Thank you so much Jen!! I hope that you enjoy your package too!!!:)

[Sarah]

My box came from Miranda (MWS) yesterday. Someone mentioned that they had more fun shopping for this than some of their family, I've had a harder time waiting patiently than I have for Christmas. Thank you so much!!!
I got:
- A San Fransico pen with little floaty cars you can send up and down the world's crookedest streets
- A gigantic candy cane
- A box from Peet's coffee with 1/2 lb of House Blend Decaf, 1/2 lb of Holiday Blend Decaf, and 1/2 lb of Dutch process cocoa
- A 1 lb box of See's chocolates

Miranda said this is some of the good stuff from California. If the chocolates are any indication, she's right! I wrapped presents and had a few of them last night! :)

This has been fun. Thanks so much.

Sarah

[ccooney]

Oh, My Goodnesssss!!!!
Robin C, you are very generous and I am an astounded swap recipient! I can't wait to try out the Oregon hazelnut pancake mix, the Marionberry Syrup, the Oregon chocolate, and the Oregon lavender/rosemary soap! The whole package was redolent of lavender when I opened it yesterday - what a wonderful, refreshing greeting.
And I can't wait to get over to Border's to use the gift card. I have several thoughts for what I'd like to get, but am not sure if I'll do a CD or a book.

Thank you sooooo much for the regional gifts - you clearly put a lot of thought into your selections. :)

[erinl]

Jazzcat, I'm so happy you liked your box. I just wish I could've been inspired to include some homemade treats. Unfortunately, the mood struck just after I sent the box! (I made some wonderful chocolate fudge cookies from Fine Cooking Monday afternoon)

I, too, got my box yesterday. Beth had it full of all sorts of cool stuff. I got:
1) a jar of Raspberry Honey Mustard Pretzel Dip which I can't wait to try
2)a beautiful ornament
3)itty bitty gingerbread men
4)postcards of the CT shore
5)shortbread cookies
6)Village Candle air freshener
7)snowman dishtowel

I think that was it. Thank you, thank you!

I'm already thinking about next year!!

[RobinC]

Connie,
I am glad to hear that you are enjoying your package. :)

[gertdog]

May I just say this? Eva ROCKS!!! :D :D :D

I got my swap package from Eva (Aggie94) today. She took a lot of pains to get it to me before I leave on vacation tomorrow morning. It was on my doormat when I returned from dropping Gertie off at the kennel... just the thing to make me forget my guilt for a while! I had the package open before I had my coat off. :o

Here's what was inside:
A jar of New Canaan Blackberry Jam made in Dripping Springs, TX (I LOVE blackberries)

Cinnamon Bee Butter made in Austin. It's whipped honey. Eva recommends it in tea. I'll be trying it in tea, on toast, on pancakes, etc. :D

A bluebonnet scented candle made in TX. I have never seen a bluebonnet but have always wanted to... now that I know they smell wonderful, I have to make a trip to see them!

Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce... Eva chose this after I expressed interest in it on RebeccaT's cocktail party thread. I can't wait to try it!!

A Don't Mess With Texas postcard... did you know that slogan is from an anti-litter campaign? I didn't, but it makes sense now!
Homemade biscuits for Gertie! So thoughtful! She will love them.

A container filled with homemade treats, including sugar cookies, Lemon-Honey Drops, Coconut-Chocolate Macaroons, chocolate-almond crescents, and Anna's Almond Roca. WOW! I tried a Lemon-Honey Drop and a chocolate-almond crescent... absolutely wonderful. I am considering forgoing lunch in favor of a cookie feast! But DH will be bitter if I don't save some, so I think I'd better be good.

And last but definitely not least, an exquisite handmade-by-Eva Christmas card. I will not do it justice with a description, but I will try. It's a little paper box with a clear window front. There is a cute picture of a snowman inside, and snowflake sequins and crystal beads that slide around across the scene when you move the card around. The box is mounted on light blue snowflake-print paper with a dark blue border. There is a little silver string in one corner with little glass beads on the ends. It is really lovely and I feel lucky to have received one of Eva's handmade creations! :)

Eva, the package was absolutely wonderful! Talk about jumpstarting my holiday spirit... your gifts just made me feel really happy. Thank you so much.

Stephanie

[aggie94]

You're so welcome, Steph!! I had a blast putting your package together. (and thank you to Vanessa for organizing the swap!).

Sorry the post office didn't get it there when they were supposed to :mad:, but I'm sooooo glad it made it there before you leave. Have a safe trip and a wonderful Christmas!!!!

:D

[AndreaU]

Woo hoo! I am such a happy swap partner... Clover (aka Rachel) rocks!! Oh what fun it was to open my swap package tonight...

We did a true bicoastal swap. I'm in NY and she's in CA. I've never been to CA so I was really excited to see what I'd get. Here's what I made out with:

**Organically grown roasted almonds

**Shaymee's Aussie Toffee (dark chocolate- mmmmm!)

**Sukhi's Tandoori Marinade

**Santa Rosa Plum Conserve

(food items obtained from various area farmers' markets)

**A River map bandana (now I'll have to pack up the kayak and paddle around out west)

**The book Our World: The Children of Oakland, about Oakland's diversity, with beautiful photographs and interviews with children. As a teacher, this is right up my alley!

**Photographs around Oakland (with descriptions, thank you)- some awesome architechture!

**Brochures and maps of the area

Wow! I'm so excited I don't know where to start... I'm thinking Tandoori chicken for dinner tomorrow!

Rachel, thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much! :D

[Jewel]

Originally posted by 1MegMeg
I love my package Jewel. THANK YOU!!!! :D:)

You're welcome Meg! I was hoping you two didn't have a problem with whole bean coffee! DH asked after I brought it home "Does she have a grinder....?" :eek::eek::eek: Hope I didn't blow that one... :o

Have fun with that Biscotti, it's one of my favorites! And by the way, DH didn't realize I'd gotten the Smoked Salmon Chowder for your basket, and I came home from shopping one afternoon to find him inches away from opening it for lunch! Yeesh! :o

Merry Christmas!

[jazzyjas]

I received my swap package from Lrimerman and it was fantastic. I sent a gushing thank you by PM and her box was full. Here is what I got

*** a calendar of Michigan

*** Snders Icecream tipping in Butterscotch caramel that looks so yummy

***votive candles and candle holder from Davisburg candle factory (they smell yummy)

***chocolate truffles -- the best I have ever had and I am not exaggerating here

***stained glass hard candy that she made -- the whole box smelled of yummy cinnamon, there is also raspberrry and lemon

*** and a treat for my dog Tigger

Thanks so much Lisa it was amazing!! You are the best

Jasmine

[Lrimerman]

Jamine,

I am so glad it arrived in one piece. I am glad you liked it.

Enjoy your goodies. I am so glad I got to know you and had you as a partner.

Happy Holidays.

Lisa

[pwrmom]

Yay, my package arrived yesterday from Canice and I sat down with my kids to share the surprise. Canice, very creatively I might add, wrapped and numbered each item individually as follows:
[list=1]
Preserved Meyer Lemon & Rosemary Marinade
Pistachios
Scharffen Berger Cocoa Powder
Eduardo's Noodles
Gourmet Magazine
Ghirardelli Chocolate
[/list=1]
She then included a 3 page description of the items and a background explanation as to why each item was thoughtfully chosen. I read the descriptions of each product and how it related to Canice's history - some memories were from 8th grade!! I can tell you that MY 8th grader really got a kick out her stories!
Thank you so much, Canice, for your considerate choices....I will think of you and your detailed "behind the scenes" stories when I use these special gifts!
Linda
P.S. Oh, and by the way, you're not the only sheltered BBer. I must have missed that thread because I've lived in only 2 counties (10 minutes away) by entire life as well. One more thing we have in common!
:D

[Canice]

I'm glad my little stories were well-received! Something I didn't tell you about the famed 8th-grader dinner party where we served Eduardo's noodles was that I STILL get teased about something that happened then! Something we were making (Chicken Cordon Bleu?) called for a bunch of dried parsley and we didn't have enough. I freaked!! :rolleyes: :p I mean, I was really, really concerned about the implications of this poor planning :p ...Heidi's mother still thinks of me as a "panicky" person because of it. LOL! I was 13 years old!!

Say, I made the chili recipe last night from the wonderful spice mix you sent me, and it was sooooo good! The first time I ever made good chili in my life! Could you send about 25 more packets? ;) Just kidding, but thanks again -- DBF was happily munching up leftovers when I talked to him earlier!

PS: I'm making cornish game hens with maple-mustard glaze for Christmas, so I'll be thinking of you again on Wednesday when I pull out the maple syrup you sent! :)

[slknight]

Although I thanked her privately, I have been woefully remiss in posting the results of the great swap package I received last week from Julia (Julia1pin).

Here's what I got:

LA Magazine - I love reading magazines from other cities
Tree Ornaments from Disney - Julia works at Disney - these are so cute
Toy - her daughter likes one so she thought I'd like one for the baby-to-be. It's very cute and right now I like to torment my dog with it. :D
Bottle of Orange Muscat Wine - Yum! Although I've got to wait another couple of months before I give it a try.
California Wine Lovers Cookbook - all of the recipes in here look amazing!


Thanks again!
Susan

[wallycat]

My swap package came from Dolores!!! YIIIPIIEEE....
Dolores, so very sweet of you to get the package out to me even after your horrible automobile accident!!

My package contains:
California Cheese :D (jalapeno jack...yummm, one of my favorites!)

A beautiful Chocolate Rose from the recent "bay Area BBS Coffee Klatch" trip to SCHARFENBERGER Chocolate facotry. YMMMMMMMMM.

Diablo magazine; a local magazine that is one of Dolores' favorite.

A bag of Chocolates from CIA in San Francisco made my students. DH is pacing and sniffing as I type :rolleyes:

Pomegranate jelly made by a dear angel who helps care for Dolores' mom.

Cipriani's Pasta...though not made in California, her dad grew up with the Cipriani's and they always help support the business by buying a case or two for holiday gift baskets.

Finally, a beautiful tin of cookies from the cookie exchange in the Bay Area BBS Coffee Klatch....Pecan Sandies made by Kjente2, biscotti and pumpkin chocolate chips made by tbb113, Snicker doodles by MWS, ginger raisin by Gina O, Cinnamon spice by Jena_lockwood, sugar cookies by h_hawethorne, Earl grey tea cookies by Clover, and The toffee crunch made by Dolores herself. I hope there are some left--I think DH is into the stuff already :eek:

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

An extra thanks to Airborne express...the bottom of the box must have come open somehow, but everything inside was beautiful and in perfect condition!!

Happy Holidays!!! THanks again :D ;)

[Lrimerman]

I got my swap package from Jasmine (Jazzyjas) today, it is so COOL!!!!

She picked out all stuff I like, amazing! Thank you so much.

I got:

1. A "Virginia is for Lovers" pencil.

2. A beautiful card detailing all the items, and the card has a painting on the front of a place that is very close to the house where Jasmine grew up, so cool!!

3. Two bottles of sparkling cider from VA, one is mulled sparkling cider and the other is Scuppernong sparkling cider. Both look wonderful and are such cool bottles, I almost don't want to open them. I love mulled cider and have never seen it sparkling, can't wait to try it.

4. A Spoon bread mix which represents the historical nature of Colonial, VA. I have never had spoon bread, so this will be so neat.

5. A bag of Crab House nuts. DH will go for these I am sure. They are gourmet VA peanuts with a seafood seasoning on them.

6. A note pad with a sketch of Captain's row, Alexandria, Va. with a magnet on the back, I will definitely enjoy using this.

7. Goat's milk hand and body lotion which is scented like VA hyacinth. Smells so good.

8. A postcard of VA and a postcard of Mount Vernon, these will go in my scrapbook!!

9. Tigger (her dog) threw in a dog bone for my dog Beau.

10. She also included a container of homemade pear crisps,these are so good. Please post the recipe.

Thank you so much Jasmine, it was a fantastic package, I hope to visit VA someday.

Lisa

[Beth]

I was on a dead run last week and didn't get a chance to post about my swap package from MusicMom. It arrived Wednesday -- the same day DH worked from 4:00 am to 1:30 am, so I was on a run and in need of a treat.

She sent some barbeque sauce and hot pepper sauce from Virginia (I guess she didn't want me thinking TX has an exclusive on those good things). They look great, and the box sure smelled good when I opened it, so we are looking forward to trying those. She also sent a can of Crab House Nuts -- Virginia peanuts with Chesapeake Bay seasoning. I opened those right away -- a taste bud explosion! There were also 2 candy cane reindeer and a house cookie cutter, but the most special thing of all was a CD with her son's musical group playing Christmas music.

It was a very special and thoughtful selection. Thanks Virginia!

[sunberst]

what wonderful timing!
vicci (VitoriaL) sent me a package full of local delights.

* steuben wine vinegar from a vineyard in falls creek. it has tons of rosemary, oregano & peppercorns floating in it. she tells me that it makes a great marinade for grilled chicken.

* carrot cake & plum pudding candles which i am going to burn tonight for dinner!

* a jar of fuzzy navel jam it sounds so good, i am trying to think of something to try it on right now, hell i will just eat a spoonful!

* a jar of penna mountain wildflower honey i am a huge honey girl, but i have never tried wildflower honey before. how exciting!

* cinnamon macaroon & sugar plum coffee perhaps christmas morning breakfast? or an after dinner drink tonight? i just love coffee.

* pecan truffles from a "famous" confectioner in pa. pecans are my favorite nut, how did you know vicci?

* antique chinese coin earrings that vicci made herself! they are fabulous! totally my style, down to the details of the amber colored beads.

thank you do much vicci! it has been so much fun! she made me roll with laughter & excitement while i was opening the package especially about the comment about the "hillbilly bees". ;) it has been a great time getting to know her. vicci received her package from me, but she is playing it by the book and waiting until christmas to open...
will you hurry up already!

[slknight]

Originally posted by sunberst


* a jar of fuzzy navel jam it sounds so good, i am trying to think of something to try it on right now, hell i will just eat a spoonful!
[/B]

Wow! That sounds good. Please let us know how it tastes and if it's great, where we can get some too.:D

[swquilts]

I got mine at work just NOW from Peggy C!!!!

A bottle of Three Wise Men Xmas ale made at a local microbrewery! (Peggy and her DH make their own beer too!)

A bottle of Reisling from a local Ohio winery.....hmmmm...methinks this could be the wine I imbibe whilst cooking tomorrow!!

Some homemade spiced pecans and smell wonderful!!

A couple of postcards with her office window marked :p in Cleveland

AND some homemade wine glass charms!! These are sooooo COOL!!! There are four and they have little foodie charms on them. A frying pan of eggs, a cheese grater, measuring spoons (too cute!) and a little grinder (coffee or pepper?).

THANKS SO MUCH PEGGY!!!!!!! This has been a ton of fun :D :D

[slawrence]

I got my swap package two days ago and haven't been able to get to my computer since then.....
It is a wonderful present! Homemade biscotti in four flavors-wrapped so beautifully it will be hard to open one...(ok, twist my arm, the flavors sound SO good....
A coffee mug from a local coffee/dessert house
Those heavenly smelling cinnamon ornaments-made with Penzey's cinnamon
Two pair of the cutest socks-with foodie-friendly themes...
Truffles-I almost hate to open them as well since they look so beautiful-
AND, a Columbus Symphony CD that Mary Kate was involved in-it was my last-minute cookie baking inspiration music the other night. A welcome break (for the moment) from the same holiday CD's I have been playing.
This was so much fun! Thank you Mary Kate!
Sue

[Melman]

Oh my!! What a wonderful surprise! Natasha shipped my package out of Ontario a couple of weeks ago. Every time I've pulled into the driveway, I've anxiously glanced at the front porch. No package. Bummer. As the last couple of days before Christmas came and went, I figured it would eventually arrive after Christmas. I helped my mom with lots of baking and treats on Christmas Eve day, rushed home to head back out to our church's candlelight service, and then back home around 9:30 or 10:00ish. When I got home, my neighbor had brought over my mail from Tuesday along with a box!! They had to sign for it since I wasn't home!!!

ANYWAY...I got a wonderful package from Natasha! She sent the coolest bathball from a company called LUSH. LUSH is a British store with all kinds of great products (lots are on their website!!) It smells heavenly. I'm going to have to check out the website a little more closely!

I also got two Christmas tea towels crocheted by Natasha! Both have really cute patterns on them. These will definitely be used often!!! Since Natasha knew I liked mooses, she sent me an adorable moose ornament. It's so cute...and so CANADIAN! :D There was also a precious little sparkly stuffed penguin...complete with Santa hat (and a bell).

AND....Natasha sent the Holiday 2002 issue of Canadian Living!! It's called Holiday Best, and this magazine looks wonderful!! I've only made it through a few pages so far, but I'm going to really enjoy this magazine!

Thanks so much to Natasha for being such a great swap partner!! It was so much fun picking out things to send northward...and I loved the Canadian surprises!! Thanks to everyone involved with organizing this swap...it was wonderful!!

[Leisa M]

The package was waiting on me when I got back Christmas Day. I tore into it immediately. She sent a bread pan, some pizzeries that she and her sister have a tradition of making, soem Lone Star Grill Raspberry Chipolte sause and Gormet magazine with lots of cookie recipes and candy (her first attempt).

The pizzaiere cookies were very good. My DH told me to get the recipe. She had sent a note saying she was mailing the recipes. I hasven't tried anything else yet.

Ellen, I look forward to remembering you every time I use the bread pan. I hope that your package arrived OK.

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by swquilts
I got mine at work just NOW from Peggy C!!!!

A bottle of Three Wise Men Xmas ale made at a local microbrewery! (Peggy and her DH make their own beer too!)

and a little grinder (coffee or pepper?).

THANKS SO MUCH PEGGY!!!!!!! This has been a ton of fun :D :D

Susan actually that is our beer. We go to a place to brew it. So maybe it isn't really homemade, but we grated the ginger and zested the oranges ourselves. John is a graphic artist, so he made the labels.:D

That charm was hard to read, but I think it says pepper.

You're welcome I had a lot of fun. Thanks to those who had this idea and organized it!

[phantomcg]

I actually received my package from Tracey (Tracey67) last week, but I have not been able to access my internet at home so I haven't been able to post what I got (but I did send Tracey an email from work). I got a beautifully wrapped package. It was so beautiful that I almost didn't want to "dig in", notice I said "almost"........


Tracey and I decided to focus on a theme of "favorites".

I received:

The Wilson Farm Cookbook which is from a local farm that Tracey and her husband would visit once a week when they lived closer to it. The book looks amazing - I'm sure that I will be passing along recipes from it! There are lots and lots of veggie recipes in it.

Stonwall Kitchen Jam in Raspberry Peach Champagne and Wild Maine Blueberry. Both are outstanding!! But I do have to admit that the Raspberry Peach is almost gone...

Lake Champlain Chocolates. Tracey said that she and her husband splurge on the extra calories from these every year and I can sure see why - It was rather difficult to limit myself to one of these per day!

Thanks again Tracey - I love the package and I hope that we are able to meet "in person" some day.

Cheryl

[sunberst]

Originally posted by slknight


Wow! That sounds good. Please let us know how it tastes and if it's great, where we can get some too.:D i toasted some french bread from the bakery, and am sampling some of the fuzzy navel on it as i am typing. very good. it is sweet (sugar is the first ingredient), but i like sweet. it is a combination of peach & orange. not sure how to order it, but it comes from "prestogeorge fine foods" in pittsburgh if that helps anyone. :)

[Lauren]

My package arrived today! DS was so excited, he came running in to tell me the mail-lady brought the box from OK! :D

jjcokc (julie) sent me all kinds of goodies. There is Shooting Star Farms salsa, butter herb popcorn, Leonard Mountain 4-Amigos Tortilla Soup mix and Sleepy Hollow House dressing (has an interesting story on the bottle about the woman, OK's first woman attorney and later Assistant Attorney General, who opened a restaurant. Hence the famous salad dressing.) Plus, four packages of Shawnee Mills (run by the Ford family who homesteaded during the OK land run years) cornbread and muffin mixes. All things we love.

Julie sent me a holiday card with a picture of her three adorable kids, Sam and twins Caroline and John. So cute! Thanks for the fun package Julie! I know this was a hectic time with the holidays and twins under two. :D

[jjcokc]

Lauren, I am so glad you got my package. I used to babysit for the Ford family that owns Shawnee Milling Co., and as a former assistant attorney general, I thought the dressing was appropriate. I got my package on Christmas Eve, but we forgot to get the mail, so I actually got to open it on Christmas.

Lauren sent a great jug of McClures pure maple syrup which I can't wait to open, McClures cape cod cranberry honey, which will go great on biscuts; Vermont maple syrup kitchen buttermilk pancake mix, which is getting used either this Sunday or for New Year's Day; Cranberry Bog Frog, which are dried cranberrys, carmel, cashews and carmel, sort of like turtles, and which I cannot wait to taste; and finally for my children, 3 white chocolate sanddollar suckers which my 6 yr old has claimed, because in his words, "babies can't eat sucker!"

Lauren also sent a picture of her two handsome boys in New Mexico. She has truly been a great swap partner!!

Julie

[VictoriaL]

Sunberst-- what a great package!!!

Yes, I played it "by the book" and opened Beth's package on Christmas Eve. As I told her, I just love the anticipation-- I'm usually the last one opening since I do it so slowly!

Her packages inside the (huge) box were wrapped so nicely that I wish I had opened the (large) box earlier so the individual packages could have been displyed under the tree!

First, on top, were sections from the Chicago Tribune. The Food section was interesting (a recipe for chocolate-covered spoons that I'm saving to make for gifts next year and a recipe for pan roasted pheasant with pears, which I'll use with chicken breasts on New Years' Eve, were both appreciated!) as was the Women's section.

She sent postcards from around Chicago. She even marked, on one, the highway on which she travels to work! I love seeing photos of other places, especially when I know someone who lives there!

And, wrapped in pretty paper with sparkley bows, were:

Beth's Hot Chocolate Mix
She made this and packaged it in a decorative glass container (with her own label). She knew that I can't eat chocolate but, since she made this for other friends, sent it to me as well. Which is great because my husband immediately claimed it as HIS!!! He had been a little bummed that I was opening gifts and he wasn't...:D

Orino Cretan Mountain Honey
This is so cool! There are two jars-- one of plain honey (from the Cretan mountains)which has a sweet, very herb-y taste. The other jar is more decorative and contains the honey with whole almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, and other nuts, in it. I want to display this one in my kitchen for a while before I figure out how to use it!

a "Star Santa"
And this is incredibly adorable! It's a fabric sculpture ornament of a santa with his face in a star and fur trim around his hat made by a local artist It is soooo cute! I hung him on the doorknob of a cabinet in our dining room (the dark walnut wood makes the ivory "star santa" stand out beautifully). We collect santas, and this one is a great addition to our "family".

Thank you so much Beth-- your wonderful gift was the perfect start to my Christmas!!!

[akairo]

So I am finally going to take some time and post my gift contents from Heidi.

BENNE WAFERS She bought me the most delicious sesame cookies. Each one is about the size of a quarter and crispy. As I sat there munching on them I turned the box over and discovered "serving size: 2 cookies" :eek: :D Super yummy, but I have to space them out.

PECAN LOG ROLL I have yet to dig into this Georgian treat.

PEACH TEA This is so good I only share if I have to. (DH doesn't drink coffee, he drinks tea.) It came in a really neat box that is a replica of Parker House, a fomous restored home in in Savannah.

MAYHAW JELLY I will quote what heidi wrote: Mayhaw jelly is a rare delicacy made frome the tart red berry that grows in the swamps and bogs of Southwest Georgia. Colquitt, in Miller County, GA, is the center of Mayhaw growing area. Mayhaw trees grow wild in a small geographical area. The Mayhaw tree is in the Hawthorne family, a distant cousin to the rose. The plant grows like a small tree and bears fruit that resembles a crabapple." I haven't tried it yet, but I am looking forward to it.

She also sent a traveler's guide which tells all about Savannah and some local postcards. One of the postcards is a recipe for Savannah cornbread and the other for Low Country Boil. She also included some pictures of Savannah. One of the pictures if a statue called "The Waving Girl." She was a real person named Florence Martus. Her lover left on a ship and she waited for him, greeting every ship that entered the harbor for about 40 years by waving her apron, with her dog at her side. Her lover never returned to her. I am going to do an art quilt based on this story and the photograph Heidi sent.

Heidi, thanks alot for your gifts. Thay are wonderful.

Tamara

[JenniferJJ]

Ellyn (eas11) was my swap partner. I received an awesome cookbook of 300+ (maybe more) New England recipes and a Handel's Messiah CD. Thanks so much Ellyn!

[Jessica]

Islandgirl sent me an amazing package and a beautiful card that explained all the items and their relationship to her home in Nantucket. She said she remembers the cold Midwest winters and her gifts have a Winter Warmup theme. She sent...

Cranberry bread (her son picked the berries)
Grape jelly made with grapes from her own backyard
Cranberry honey from a friend's hives
Cranberry bark in a ceramic basket that is a replica of baskets that men used to make when they were stationed at a local floating lighthouse.
Cider mulling spices in a pretty red mug
A Nantucket Bay scallop shell on a golden string
A magazine about the food and entertainment scene in her region

What an INCREDIBLE gift. We have not even had a chance to taste everything but what we have tried has been delicious. Thanks again, islandgirl.

[BlueV8Dakota]

must have missed this due to having a toddler
running around

[jmarie]

Elaine was my swap partner and her package was wonderful! We had decided to go with a taste of the region, but I got sick and only came up with two Virginia items...but she did a FANTASTIC Job! We decided to wait until Christmas Eve, only I received an email from her later that her DH had taken a spill on ice, at a hockey event, and was in the hospital over Christmas...She has since written that he is doing fine now!
What I received was:
Wild Maine Blueberry Jam...I tried it and it is WONDERFUL!Little teeny-tiny flavorful blueberries!

Lindt Candy---one of my favorite brands!

New Hampshire Syrup--I was really hoping she'd send me some of this!

Vermont Fire Roasted Garlic Mustard...Can't wait to try this!

Apple butter made with Hew Hampshire Apples!

Two meat rubs- Made in NH--Honey ginger for Chicken and also
Lemon Pepper--for chicken or pork!

It was a fantastic package! Elaine had everything wrapped seperately and it was so much fun opening it! My husband had as much fun as I did! He was like a little kid!

Thanks ELAINE for a WONDERFUL GIFT! All of my friends were envious!
Joyce!

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by BlueV8Dakota
must have missed this due to having a toddler
running around

BlueV8, this one is essentially over. It was organized in the early fall and then everyone was hooked up with another interested party and asked to send their gift out in the first couple of weeks of Dec.

Eveyone in enjoyed it, it was actually the second one we've done so keep an eye out and another one might be started.

[TitlePending]

I have been away from the office since mid-December and returned yesterday to find my wonderful package from Julie O.

She had a great time shopping and learning about her new home state of Indiana, I now know a lot more about it, too. From chocolate to soy, apple butter and wooden spoon; even a cookbook of local recipes! I had so much fun unwrapping each individual item and reading each note she wrote accompanying the item.

Next time I'll send more than just two items, more fun to open lots of packages :o

Thanks so much Julie, Linda~

[Robyncz]

My package from Sassafras (Sarah) just arrived and it was SO worth waiting for!!!!

Sarah made me a gorgeous floppy tote bag for carrying things from the farmer's market. I'm sure I'll find lots of other things to use it for as well.

I also got a set of notecards with photographs that her husband took in Cuba (very cool pics!), some neat beeswax ornaments handmade by Sarah's grandmother, some dried tart cherries, and some pure maple syrup.

What a neat and thoughtful package. Thanks, Sarah!

[Little Bit]

My swap package from JenZen arrived today. Her holiday schedule and my cancelled travel plans slowed things down a bit, but this box of goodies is AMAZING!

The star of the show, is, of course, Bratwurst, the real deal, which my BIL eagerly awaits, lol!! Other goodies: Cranberry Mustard, Sauerkraut, Cheese Curds, Sharp Cheese Spread, a beautiful print of a photo that Jen herself had taken (!), Notepad (very cute, love the cats!), Cherry Jam, TWO kinds of coffee, a copy of the magazine Jen works on, and a magazine from the Wisconsin tourist board folks.
Yikes! I'm worn out from writing it all down! (Guess I'd better eat some of it, to get my strength back, lol!)


Thanks again for making this swap so much fun!! Happy holidays!! :) :)