I’m sorry for going M.I.A. this weekend! I was a bad blogger.
In my defense, it was jam-packed with babysitting, teaching at Mind Body Barre, working, and another Christmas party with good friends. To make up for my absence, I’m giving you cookies!
This is my “You forgive me, right?” smile. 
The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2011
When I heard about the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, hosted by the fabulous Lindsay and Julie, I knew I wanted to join the fun! The premise is simple: You apply to participate, specify your dietary preferences (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, etc.), and are matched with three other food bloggers who have the same dietary preference(s). You then bake three dozen cookies and send one dozen to each of your assigned food bloggers.
It was so much fun to become acquainted with food bloggers on a more personal level. Not to mention it was SO organized! Not one bump in the road. I was so impressed and owe a HUGE thank you to Lindsay and Julie for all of their hard work. It was amazing. Thank you, girls! …Can we do a cookie swap every month? Cool. 
Package 1
Arriving home to two boxes of cookies on Friday afternoon was nothing short of glorious. I grabbed the boxes and drove over to Matty’s house so we could open them together!
The first batch of cookies was from Danni at Healthy Kitschy Vegan. She made her grandma’s famous molasses-ginger cookies. Included was a sweet letter and recipe with top-secret ingredients that were passed down through the generations. I loved that! They were soft, chewy, and shaped like gingerbread men and snow angels. Danni, you’re a girl after my own Christmas-lovin’ heart. Thank you so much!
Package 2
The second batch of cookies came from the Shelley at Rosewater and Thyme. She made what might be the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever tasted. And, to boot, they came wrapped in an adorable, festive candycane-inspired box, compete with a polka dot bow! Another girl after my own heart.
Saliva is swarming in my mouth just looking at that picture. Your saliva would swarm too if you tasted these cookies! I’m not sure how or why they aren’t gone yet. That will probably change tonight soon. Thank you, Shelley! They are incredible.
Package 3
The final package arrived yesterday, just as I was prancing off to work. How convenient! Nothing like a cookie or two to enjoy while on your break, right?
These, my friends, are “nog cookies” from Kate, the voice behind A Healthy Passion. Kate has her own business, Simply Nutritious by Kate, so she is no stranger to baking in the kitchen.
Oh. My. Word. I don’t have the recipe (gimme!) but if I did, I would make these every week. Saliva is swarming again. Kate, these babies are true gems. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Overall, the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2011 was a huge success! It was organized, fun, and most importantly, so darn delicious! I can’t wait to participate in the next one.
*Part 2 comes tomorrow, featuring the recipe for the cookies Matty and I made. You won’t want to miss this one, folks. Trust your cookie-loving hearts on that one.
Stay lovely,
Heather
Question of the Day: What is your favorite cookie recipe? Share!
Ah! That’s so fun! reminds me of those underwear swap emails my friends used to try to do… except this one actually worked! And it’s such a neat way to get connected to new blogs!
Haha, underwear swap? Sounds raunchy.
You should totally do the next cookie swap!