1588

Does this number mean anything to you? It is my magic number this year. It is the number of cookies I put away for my family's annual Cookie Party. Wanna look in my freezer? Yes, there are only cookies in there.

Here is a look at my table from last year.

Now, here is a look at my table, at the beginning of the party, from this year, as well as some close-ups of the cookies.

This was the peppermint plate. My candy canes came out GREAT this year, so I finally found the keeper recipe.

This is the peanut plate, set way back in the middle of the table for the few attendees that have a peanut allergy.

My kids helped decorate the sugar cookies this year. They showed tremendous restraint helping me by not licking fingers or sneaking the fun stuff. Instead, they just loaded down some of the cookies with a little bit of everything.

Oh my goodness, these are so good. I found this one - Super Duper Chocolate Kisses - in the 2008 Better Homes and Gardens Cookie magazine.

Some simple shortbread and one of my all-time favorites, Knock You Nakeds. These are so rich and yummy, I cut these small so that they last a little bit longer.

These are my apothecary jars that I added to the center of the table at the last minute. I adorned the necks of the jars with some of the Martha Stewart gingerbread boy felt ribbon.

Last, but not least, a look at the bag of cookies that went home with each household. Most of the bags had one of every kind of cookie that was made. We had more family and friends than ever before and I actually ran out of three (of the 31) varieties of cookies! I guess that means I need to make even MORE cookies next year!