New mommy cookie exchange

In one of my recent posts I mentioned that I was participating in a cookie exchange. This was a special cookie exchange - it was just for new mommies (or for repeat new mommies). I can hear you all now, "What new mother has time to bake dozens of cookies for a cookie exchange?" The answer is "no mother I know."

Here's how a New Mommy Cookie Exchange works: Rather than baking dozens of cookies for this exchange, I asked each participant just to bring along one dozen cookies - either homemade or store-bought. To ensure no one went home with the same cookies they brought, everyone passed theirs to the next youngest baby in the group.

It worked like a charm. We each got a sampling of delicious cookies that we didn't have to make ourselves and rather than bringing home dozens of cookies to overwhelm our waistlines, we only walked away with a dozen - a far more reasonable amount.

I came home with some delightful treats from my friend Kathy and her little guy Mason, while my friend Kim and her babe Logan (the youngest baby in the group who slept peacefully throughout) wound up with my last-minute, never-fail gingersnaps (though I've already mentioned this lesson in an earlier post, I think it bears repeating: do not attempt a new recipe the morning of a cookie exchange).

Here's the recipe if you're interested. I think it originally came from The Joy of Cooking.

• Cream 3/4 cup shortening, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup molasses, and 1 egg till fluffy.
• Sift together 2 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (which I never seem to have so I use allspice)
• Stir into molasses mixture.
• Form into small balls
• Roll in granulated sugar and place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet
• Bake at 375 for 12 minutes
• Make about 5 dozen (more like 3)

Just consider yourself warned...if you make a batch, you will likely wind up eating more than any sane person should in one sitting.