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!

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/sh...ht=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

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!!!

[LaraW]

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

[KathrynY]

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

[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!!!

That's what I get for thinking!

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

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!!!!

[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
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
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

Blush! 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. 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. 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. 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!!! 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??" NOT.

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. 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. 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.

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

[gertdog]

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

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