Culinary Adventures with Camilla

You can find the  original post  at The Little Kitchen , one of this event's esteemed hostesses. Thanks so much for organizing this, Julie. What an amazing event! In case you're new to the fun and games, here's the skinny: 555 bloggers baked and sent three dozen cookies to other bloggers around the world. And, through participation fees and more, we raised a total of $13,778.40 for  Cookies for Kids’ Cancer . Like I said - amazing. And I'm proud to be part of it. Here are my top three picks from this round... Chocolate Truffle Cookies  by  Chocolate & Carrots Cinnamon-Chipotle Crinkles by  Healthy. Delicious. Cardamom Cookies by  Hot Dinner Happy Home Looking forward to participating again next year!

You can find the original post at Love & Olive Oil , one of this event's esteemed hostesses. Thanks so much for organizing this, Lindsay. What an amazing event! In case you're new to the fun and games, here's the skinny: 555 bloggers baked and sent three dozen cookies to other bloggers around the world. And, through participation fees and more, we raised a total of $13,778.40 for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer . Like I said - amazing. And I'm proud to be part of it. Here are a few that caught my eye... Rosemary Lavender Shortbread  by Brooklyn Locavore Panforte Bites by Juls' Kitchen Passionfruit Shortbread Biscuits by The Cook's Companion Challenge And, remember, I made  Matcha-Black Sesame Shortbreads ! Look for the Round-Up, Part II...and my favorites from that round!

When I was trying to decide what cookies I would make for  The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap of 201 3 , I toyed with a couple of possibilities, including  Salted Mayan Chocolate Cookies   and Rosewater-Cardamom Crisps .  But the reviews from my local taste-testers were tepid. Dylan suggested I lose the white chocolate chips and sub in more dark chocolate. I thought about trying it with a smoked paprika versus the Aleppo pepper. My mom declared that they were "nothing special and not really worth the calories." Don't worry, I'm not thin-skinned about my cooking! And only two people who tried the rosewater cookies liked them. Those are not good odds. So, I went back to the drawing board.  Then a friend of mine, whose family owns and operates Ocean Sushi Deli , offered me a canister of matcha green tea.  And I was instantly inspired!  I considered making matcha macarons or matcha meringues; but I knew that my selection had to be hardy en...

Inspired by a delicious hot chocolate drink at a local coffee shop, I decided to create a rich chocolate cookie with some salt and some heat - in the form of ground Aleppo pepper. Even though these won tonight's cookie testing round (versus Rosewater Cardamom Crisps ), I will be changing the recipe based on the boys' suggestions. So, this version can be posted; the actual recipe that I send to my recipients for  the 2013 Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap  (#FBCookieSwap) must be kept secret until reveal day. Makes 4 dozen cookies 4 C semisweet chocolate chips/morsels, divided in half 2-2/3 C white whole wheat flour 1 t baking soda 1 C butter 1 C organic coconut sugar 1/2 C organic granulated sugar 3 large eggs 1-1/2 C white chocolate chips 2 t ground paprika 1 t ground Aleppo pepper 1 t instant espresso powder freshly ground sea salt for garnish Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt 2 C chocolate in a small, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat. Stir until smooth ...

With a vote of two to one - and Dylan being the voice of dissent - my taste-testers voted the Rosewater Cardamom Crisps out of the running for the 2013 Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap  (#FBCookieSwap). I abstained from voting, but Dylan and I agreed on the complexity of the flavors. We loved it! Riley and Jake objected to the rosewater. And...I figured that if my boys, who consume my oddball flavor combinations on a regular basis, think it's weird, my cookie swap recipients will probably agree. Okay, these are out. But if you like rosewater, definitely give them a try. They are a delicate, crisp, and exotic delight! 1 C organic coconut sugar 3/4 C (1 stick) butter, room temperature 1 large egg 1/4 C ginger syrup 1 t rosewater 2 C white whole wheat flour 2 t baking soda 1 t ground cardamom 1 t ground cinnamon 1/2 t ground coriander 1/2 t ground nutmeg freshly ground sea salt (10 grinds) freshly ground black pepper (10 grinds) 3/4 C chopped crysta...

I just signed up to participate in the  3rd Annual Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap . Co-hosted by  Love and Olive Oil  and  The Little Kitchen , I figured this was a great way for me to get some new cookie recipes and support a great cause at the same time. Besides, I loved it last year! My required $4 donation goes directly to  Cookies for Kids' Cancer . Oh, and I get three dozen cookies in return, from three different bloggers. Sweet! One of the agreements, though, is that I have to make cookies that I've never made before. So, I can't make anything we've made and blogged before. No  Kurabie  (Albanian Lemon Cookies), no   Lavender Sugar Hearts , and no   Honningkagehjerter  (Danish Gingerbread Hearts). Last year I sent my recipients Boozy Salted Fennel Pollen Shortbread   to rave reviews! And one of the cookies I received -   Potato Chip Cookies from Kathy at The Cheap Gourmet   - became a family favorite. ...

When I came home and told my husband about the   Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap , he was excited and suggested that I make "those chocolatey, nutty cranberry cookies." I just stared at him in disbelief. I knew exactly what he was talking about. I have not made those cookies since the Great Oklahoman Cookie Diss of 2003, though I made them plenty of times before that. But I am definitely still scarred from the experience. Here's a little background and a disclaimer. Heavy on the disclaimer. When this happened, my brain was addled by pregnancy hormones and a fervent homesickness for California. So, it may not have happened exactly like this, but it's how I remember it. Friends who live in Oklahoma, apologies in advance! You know I love you; I just was not cut out to be a mid-westerner. We definitely could not afford to live on a golf course in California! I had just moved to Oklahoma with my 16-month-old toddler, my husband, and a 7-month-pregnant belly. Wh...

I just signed up to participate in the 2nd Annual Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap . Co-hosted by Love and Olive Oil and The Little Kitchen , I figured this was a great way for me to get some new cookie recipes and support a great cause at the same time. My required $4 donation goes directly to Cookies for Kids' Cancer . Oh, and I get three dozen cookies in return, from three different bloggers. Sweet! One of the agreements, though, is that I have to make cookies that I've never made before. So, I can't make anything we've made and blogged before. No  Kurabie (Albanian Lemon Cookies), no  Lavender Sugar Hearts , and no  Honningkagehjerter (Danish Gingerbread Hearts). So, I'm asking for any favorite cookie recipes from you, to expand my cookie repertoire. Please. Pretty please! Leave me a comment or email me: constantmotioncamilla [at] gmail [dot] com. Thanks in advance. And, if you'd like to join the fun, check out the cookie swap announcement .