Cookie Exchange

Cookie exchange Nothing warms the heart more than a cup of cocoa, your favorite Christmas cookies and memories of baking them with someone you love. It's become a tradition at The Herald-Mail to ask readers to share their favorite Christmas cookie recipe. This year, we also asked them to tell us why the recipes are special. Here are some of their memories: - Teri Johnson, Staff Writer Mildred Burkett of Greencastle, Pa., says she came from a big family, and Gumdrop Cookies were the favorite of her mother, who is deceased.

In The Herald-Mail's world series of food contests, Carla Cardello is going two for two. In April, the McConnellsburg, Pa., resident's chocolate-and-coconut-flavored cupcake was the winner of our 2012 Cupcake Contest. This month, of the 17 entries in The Herald-Mail's 20th Cookie Contest, Cardello's recipe was selected by judges as the winner. Her entry was, um, a chocolate-and-coconut-flavored cookie. "I didn't even mean for it to be that way. It really was a coincidence," Cardello, 25, said with a laugh.

The Western Maryland Homeschool Association will host a homeschool/unschool potluck dinner and cookie exchange Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 5 p.m. at 27 Maple Ave., Smithsburg. RSVP is a must by sending an e-mail to westernmarylandhomeschool@hotmail.com ; include your name, number of people attending and whether you will be participating in the cookie exchange. Those interested in attending may also go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/westernmdhomeschool/?yguid=151256885 and put attendance information there.

Here are the top cookies chosen from the 47 varieties submitted for competition in The Herald-Mail Co.'s 11th annual Cookie Exchange. Only the first three recipes were ranked: Chocolate Peanut Butter Vanilla Cookies - Aubrey Muller, Myersville, Md. Glazed Apple-Craisin-Walnut Cookies - Sandra Miguel, Hagerstown Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies - Pat Bartlett, Hagerstown Texas Cowboy Cookies - Carol Hawley, Fairplay...

In The Herald-Mail's world series of food contests, Carla Cardello is going two for two. In April, the McConnellsburg, Pa., resident's chocolate-and-coconut-flavored cupcake was the winner of our 2012 Cupcake Contest. This month, of the 17 entries in The Herald-Mail's 20th Cookie Contest, Cardello's recipe was selected by judges as the winner. Her entry was, um, a chocolate-and-coconut-flavored cookie. "I didn't even mean for it to be that way. It really was a coincidence," Cardello, 25, said with a laugh.

Rhee Lightner of Williamsport entered this Lemon Ginger Sandwich Cookie recipe in The Herald-Mail's 2011 Cookie Exchange contest. "These cookies are vegan. I'm a baker at the Common Market in Frederick (Md.). I primarily focus on the vegans. I bake muffins, bars, cookies, cakes, quick breads. I'm baking a lot of low-sugar stuff right now. "I'm also a personal chef, specializing in vegan and gluten-free cooking. "For the cookie contest, I was trying different flavor combinations.

Brant Ridenour of Hagerstown entered this walnut cookie recipe in The Herald-Mail's 2011 Cookie Exchange contest. "I retired from the Maryland Correctional Institute 2 1/2 years ago after 33 years. I don't cook a lot," he said. "But since I retired  I've dabbled in it and other things to keep busy. This recipe has been in Ridenour's family since the late 1800s or early 1900s. "It's from Edith (Ridenour) Baker, my great-aunt. She and my great-uncle, Ed Baker, raised my dad," he said.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies   For the cookie: 1/2 cup butter, softened 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup flour 1 box chocolate fudge cake mix For the filling: 3/4 cup peanut butter 2 cups confectioner's sugar 4 ounces cream cheese 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoons 2-percent milk 12 miniature peanut butter cups,...

Cookie Exchange Top Five: Hazelnut Frosties For the cookie: 1 cup softened butter 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 2 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 1 cup grain-cluster cereal (see cook's note) 1 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted and chopped For the topping: 12-ounce bag white chocolate chips 1/2 cup Wilton cake decorating flakes Heat oven to 375 degrees and toast hazelnuts for about 10 minutes.

Salted caramel hot chocolate cookies   1 cup butter, softened 1 1/4 cups white sugar 3/4 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups flour 36 chocolate-covered soft caramel candies (see cook's note) 1 cup finely chopped pecans (see cook's note) 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt Cream together butter, and white and brown sugars in a large bowl until fluffy.

Carolyn Etzler of Hagerstown has returned to the top of the heap. Her Lemon Lavender Cookie Sandwiches were selected as the winning entry in The Herald-Mail's 19th Cookie Exchange Contest. She won $100, beating a field of 22 entries. Cookies were judged on taste, appearance, quality and originality of the recipe. This year, for the first time, entries were required to be original or significantly adapted from another recipe. The 10 judges liked Etzler's creative cookie, awarding it 181 points out of a perfect score of 200. The irony is that Etzler wasn't happy with her recipe.

With only three weeks until Christmas and 16 days until the start of Hanukkah, we are officially in the heat - or shall I say glow? - of the holiday season. It's a tradition-filled time of year.   Families adorn their homes with decorations passed down through generations or collected over the years. Ovens and stoves emit smells of treasured holiday recipes sweet and savory. The shopping frenzy is in full swing as people strive to find gifts that will make lasting impressions.