Julia Rochelle

I think Jesus was a foodie. Think about it: he feasted; he liked the GOOD wine; and when it came time to feed the masses, he didn’t hand out pb&j’s or mac & cheese – it was fresh-caught seafood. So, in preparing for a little party with my own foodie group, with all the things that went wrong, and yet worked out in the end, I think perhaps he can totally appreciate my sigh of relief. I mean, sure, his party would have turned out perfectly (duh) without question, but I have not only the disadvantage of not be PERFECT (yeah, I said it), but also of just plain being ME. There I was, the night before Party Time, staring down my invitation that tells me I have 4 dozen cookies to make for sharing. I mentioned this was a foodie group, right? So you know “slice & bake” wasn’t gonna cut it. And ON TOP OF THAT, this is ME we’re talking about. I’m an overachiever by nature. But put me in a room full of overachievers, and I’m going go Totally Overboard. Headfirst. SWAN DIVE, baby. However, call me a wimp, call me a poor-sport, call me what you will, I also believe in only playing the game you can win. Or at least have an outside shot at. Inventing the World’s Greatest Cookie Recipe is not a game I can win. Spending a Ridiculous Amount of Time & Energy Decorating Someone Else’s Cookie Recipe – now that I have a chance at! And with that, I give you Chocolate-Antlered, Googley-Eyed Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer Pecan Shortbread Cookies! Ta-dah!

So now that it has all worked out in the end, I know that Someone will understand when I say “THANK YOU SWEET BABY JESUS!” (Even though I know he isn’t a baby anymore, and probably doesn’t give two figs (haha! food!) about my silly cookies. Whatever.)
I have been to Foodie Heaven. It’s in Mrs. Wheelbarrow’s Kitchen. Where her bean soup lies simmering.

And where lovely people bring special gifts to share. (Where I could, I have included links to blogs and/or recipes. Click on pictures for the link.)



Oozy warm cheese? YES PLEASE!

And super creamy Radish Butter? Slather that on a cracker and hand it over!

And of course, COOKIES!!!

I’m hesitant to show these next confections. Salted Pumpkin Caramels and Chile-Infused Chocolate Caramels. Because I’ve been sharing most of my loot, but NOT THESE. My coworkers are going to ask “Where are the caramels?” and I’m going to have to be all “WHAT caramels?”

Besides the delicious Chocolate Covered Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, please notice the Sugarplums in the background too.

Get thee (as in, me) to a treadmill. STAT.

Other related links:
Food52: the online cooking community where we all first “met”.
Recipe-winning food blogger!
The nutritionalist, to remind us to put down the cookies.