The invitations I sent out this year were surprise balls filled with candy, trinkets and, of course, confetti - because I LOVE a really big mess and nothing is messier than confetti.
The Whole Package - Jillian Hopkinson - Pacheco
Worth Defending
Jill sent these cookies to her husband Vinney while he was in boot
camp. Her display, recipe card, story and military apron and hat made
her hard to beat for the whole package. And they were delicious too. 
1 cup butter (softened)
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 teaspon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups oats
As much as you want of the following - Macadamia Nuts White Chocolate Chips Coconut Raisins
In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in egg one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Add nuts, chocolate chips, coconut and raisins. Drop cookies onto a greased cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
Best Tasting - Tecia Brinkerhoff
Toasted Coconut Truffle Cookies
1-8oz package Cream Cheese,
softened 32-Golden Oreo Cookies, finely crushed (abut 3 cups)
1-1/2 cups Flaked Coconut, toasted, (Heat oven to 350 and place coconut on cookie sheet or metal baking pan for 3 to 5 minutes. Watch closely so they don't burn.) Separate 1 cup out.
White Chocolate, melted
Mix cream cheese, cookie crumbs and 1 cup coconut until well blended. Shape into 42 inch balls. Dip in melted chocolate; place in single layer in shallow waxed paper-lined pan. Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Store them in tightly covered container in refrigerator.
Creative Ingredient - Abby Ollerton
White Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies with Lime and Toasted Coconut
12 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled until lukewarm.
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
1 cup chopped white chocolate or white chocolate chips
1 cup toasted macadamia nuts
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup coconut (toasted or untoasted)
1 tablespoon grated lime zest (1 - 2 limes)
If you haven't melted your butter yet, do that so it has time to cool off. Heat oven to 325 degrees.Mix flour, salt and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside. Either by hand or with an electric mixer, mix butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients, mix until combined. Add white chocolate chips, coconut, macadamia nuts and lime zest. Mix to distribute. Scoop cookie dough into balls and place on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are set around outer edges, yet centers are still soft and puffy, and appear slightly under baked, about 9 - 10 minutes. Cool cookies on cookie sheets for a few minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.
Thank you all so much for the time and effort you put into making fantastic cookies every year. You are fabulous!
Please save the date for next year -
the second Saturday of December -the 14th- at 2:00.
Here is a preview of prize catagories for 2013
1-The whole package (display, taste of cookie, recipe card etc)
2-It's Whats on the Outside That Really Matters (decoration/appearance)
3-Thinking Outside the Cookie Box - Non Cookie Item -cupcakes, candy, chocolate, divinity etc
4-Once Upon a Time - Christmas Cookie that has a story/history behind it - family tradition, unique origin - .
5-Audrey Hepburn Award - Timeless Classic Beautiful Cookie. If you win this in 2013 you get to pick the Audrey Hepburn Award winner in 2014.
