I’ve seen quite a few Foodie Secret Santa 2014 posts going up but the rule was to post photos of ALL three packages and I got the last one today. The Secret Santa foodie gift swap is the brainchild of Claire from Clairekcreations.com, a great blogger and even better blogging friend.
I’m no different than anyone else at this time of year, Christmas is always a big surprise when I look at the calendar and say out loud, “It’s Christmas already??” I’m never ready. I always think I have more time and then I have to hurry.
I made some gingerbread men that John’s dad and the other oldies at the nursing home loved so much, I decided that I’d send those. I didn’t think about the heat and high humidity we were experiencing. The cookies were nice and crispy when I decorated them. I packaged them up and headed to the post office.
When I got home I ate one and it was already soggy with bendy arms and legs. My heart sank because I knew that’s how they’d arrive. My apologies to the three bloggers. Next year it’s chutney.
Speaking of chutney. My first secret santa gift was from Charlie Louie at Hotly Spiced and the box arrived quite soggy. I thought the box had been caught in a rain storm. No. The gorgeous homemade cranberry sauce leaked. We ate it right away and it was delicious. The other jar is going to be happily consumed at Christmas lunch.
My second secret santa was from someone I don’t know. It was supposed to be a secret and she kept it. I did too. I’ll know better next year. I received two large bags of pecan ball cookies that didn’t weather the trip very well. I did say it was really hot and humid. John’s dad didn’t know they were for me and ate the ones that were whole.
My final package arrived today and it was a beautiful box from Louise Rhodes from Willunga Wino with 4 lovely dark chocolate shortbread wreaths. The package got here just in time for dessert with the oldies from the nursing home.
Thank you to all three bloggers for making the Foodie Secret Santa 2014 another fun event.
This is a fun idea! Sorry to hear some of them didn’t make the journey very well, but I’m sure everyone still enjoyed it! Merry Christmas!
What a fun idea! I always want to do this every year but like you, it’s almost like Christmas sneaks up on you (which I know doesn’t make sense) 😛 Merry Christmas to you and John! 😀
O what a shame of all those packages with the weather. Well I guess you can’t have it all and weather is always a tricky thing when sending food items. But great idea to do this.
Whishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas Maureen!
Love these Secret Santa events! Happy holidays! Have a great one and eat lots of cookies! 🙂
I love how everything is edible—how neat! I so want to do this next year …Merry Christmas!!!
Maureen, that secret santa must have been a fun project. I saw on another site that there was a cookie swap. Next year I will watch for these fun ideas so we can participate. Merry Christmas….those chocolate shortbread wreaths look awesome. 🙂
Oh, yes our Southern Christmas weather can be challenging – Maureen. This is such a fun idea.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND JOHN!! Even if they didn’t travel so well, I would have gobbled up every bit of every present, including the crumbs 🙂 I hope to be invited to join next year!! How fun!!
Yes! and I want YOU to get my name 🙂
What a fun idea. I couldn’t participate this year but look forward to making the fun in 2015. I’m sure your gingerbread cookies would have been nice (and soggy ones make great gingerbread cookie ice cream when mixed in with some vanilla ice cream). Merry Christmas Maureen and John. Have a blessed holiday season and a happy start to the new year.
Unfortunately, you can’t do much about the weather/humidity or the post office but the intentions were great and the cookie crumbs and remnants of the leaky sauce still tasted good. And next year, the lessons learned this year will result in more intact presents, I’m sure. 🙂
Merry Xmas
Cool idea and a lot of delicious goodies!! Merry Christmas to you and your family Maureen!! 🙂
Michael
What a FUN idea indeed Maureen! Too bad there were a few minor issues but it doesn’t seem like any of them prevented you from enjoying the spirit of Secret Santa and a few extra goodies:)
Thank you so much for sharing, Maureen. A Very Merry Christmas to You and Yours!!!
I love getting presents of any kind. What a great idea. Have a Merry Christmas, Maureen!
I’m so sorry the cranberry sauce leaked. I sent out quite a few bottles and yours was the only one that arrived damaged. That’s such a shame! I was quite sure I tightened those lids with as much force as I could muster. The chocolate wreaths are gorgeous but they sure did take a while to get to you! I also got the pecan biscuits but unfortunately by the time they arrived they were nothing but crumbs. Working out what you can make that survives the postage system and the heat and humidity is quite a challenge xx
I might have had a loss with the cranberry sauce but the cherry chutney was AMAZING!! I have instructions that I must learn to make this right away. 🙂
How delightful! Such fun to receive delicious things from far away friends, even if they are broken. 🙂
I love the Secret Santa idea! Looks like you got some nice stuff, too bad some of the gifts did not make it safe to you! Unfortunately weather / humidity was not on your side and of course it is weird how the postal service treats some stuff…
Merry Christmas Maureen!
Hi Maureen, what a great concept, hard to imagine sticky weather this time of year. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Merry Christmas to you and yours Maureen!!
What a fun idea and what lovely gifts Maureen! Such a shame some of them weren’t as perfect arriving as they were when they were posted out, but I bet they still tasted great. Hope you have very Happy Holidays sweetie xox
What an awesome fun idea. I am sorry about the condition of what arrived on your end. But whomever are your secret Santas next year—hopefully they read this post. Happy New Year!
Literally secrete food Santa. ^.^
Happy holidays dear Maureen!
What a great way to share a love of food!