I have to admit that I sometimes get my terminology wrong.  It was not, as my husband reminded me, a cookie toss; it was a cookie swap sponsored by the Bella Vista Neighbor’s Association and organized by BVNA board member Liana Ottaviani,  and held at the Charles Santore Library on December 16.  

Everyone knows that cookies are special.  I mean, have you ever met anyone who professed not to like cookies?  Cookie Monster is right when he says “Today me will live in the moment unless it’s unpleasant in which case me will eat a cookie.”

Christmas Cookies are even more special but it’s hard to find the time to bake more than a couple of varieties.  That’s why a cookie swap is so much fun.  Liana asked each of the participants to bring six dozen cookies.  Everyone got at least a half dozen cookies from the other cookie swappers. 

Fante’s   donated coffee (really good coffee by the way!) and bakery boxes so we could tote our treasures home.

Children’s book author and neighborhood resident Martha Freeman not only baked cookies, she brought copies of her books  including her latest one, the Secret Cookie Club, to autograph.

Liana and Martha

Meeting neighbors and enjoying that great coffee with our cookies.

Here are the cookies we made and exchanged with one another.    I contributed the biscotti in the lower right hand corner.  You can find the recipe here.  Liana collected everyone’s recipes and printed a little cookbook for us.

Thank you Liana, thank you Fante’s and thank you Bella Vista Neighbors!