White Carpet

As I tread ever so carefully over the paisley summer carpet it scrunched beneath my feet. The once vibrant colors lightly hidden with lacy, delicate snowflakes seemed offended that I dare trod upon them. The crispness in the air as my breath sends small billowy clouds that surround my face. A skimmer of ice forming on the Koi pond showing intricate designs that might compete with a spider’s web. Christmas is nearing a feeling of serenity envelopes our home as preparations are proceeding. The beginning of another day; more cookies to make, more cleaning inside and out and then more outside decorating. A brief respite the early morning hours afford me. All ready 10 dozen cookies ready for the Cookie Exchange for Guild. Still more to prepare, I am trying a new recipe this year. Chocolate Dipped Lavender Cookies Lavender has many wonderful qualities and tastes great. 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg, beat slightly 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour 1 Tbsp. snipped lavender flowers 8 oz. semisweet chocolate pieces Put parchment paper on a cookie sheet or butter and flour well. Beat butter well with a mixer. Add sugar and beat till combined. Beat in eggs and as much flour as you can get combined with the mixer, then stir in the rest including lavender flowers. Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet. Space about 2" apart. Bake at 350 for 15 to 18 minutes. Cool. In a saucepan melt chocolate stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Dip half of each cookie in the chocolate and set aside to cool for about 1 hour. YUM! This is one way this Exchange works. Invite a group of your favorite cookie-loving friends over and ask them each to bring a big batch of cookies (estimate 1 dozen multiplied by the total number of guests), a stack of recipe cards for the cookies they'll bring and containers to take cookies home with them. After a period of chatting and snacking, the cookie exchange can commence with all of the cookies organized buffet-style on a table and with everyone gathered around, merrily swapping cookies into their containers.