There's No Noodle Like a Star Noodle - and No Bowl Like an Empty Bowl

Tonight, instead of a total eclipse of the heart, there is a total eclipse of the moon.       

Here is the Maui moon in partial eclipse.   Before it started to rain.  

Maui being Maui, I may hop in my car and drive a few miles away where there will possibly be no rain and more eclipse.     And so, before I get sidetracked by the moon (or lack thereof), I wanted to share with you the fun and good cause that was the Empty Bowl Project at Star Noodle on Saturday.

I haven't been to Star Noodle yet for lunch or dinner - but now I've at least been in their parking lot.    And had a bowl of colorful and savory ramen.   Not the same as the 10/$1 college special ramen.   Ramen with a poached egg.  

The Empty Bowl Project raises awareness and money for hunger in our community.   You purchase a locally handmade bowl for $25 (check out that bowl in the bottom right of the picture - that baby is mine) with the proceeds going to the Maui Food Bank.     And in return, you get a visit to the noodle bar.      I might have also had some Thai basil lemonade and a chocolate chip and sesame seed ice cream sandwich.    You know me and ice cream.  BFFs for Life.   

I've walked, biked, ran, worn ugly sweaters and more for good causes.   I'm glad to add noodles to the list. 

And now back to our scheduled total eclipse.... 

Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2012!

 

 

Today's the day!    All the food bloggers who participated in the Food Blogger Cookie Swap are posting their pictures, recipes and sharing the cookie love.   

 

My cookie choice:  Peppermint Mocha Cookies.    Dark chocolate, cocoa, peppermint, white chocolate drizzle....all good things.  

 

What You Need

 

2 sticks butter, softened

1 1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp peppermint extract
2 eggs
1 tbsp instant coffee powder
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups flour   (add an extra 1/4 cup of flour if you're baking at altitude, like I am)
1  10oz bag of Nestle's Dark Chocolate Morsels
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
crushed candy canes for garnish

What You Do

Preheat oven to 350.

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add peppermint extract.

In another bowl, whisk together the cocoa, flour, coffee, baking powder and salt. Add to wet ingredients and fold in chocolate chips.

Drop tablespoons of dough onto silicone mat lined cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Let cool.

Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave (use low heat and stop and stir every 20-30 seconds....you can go too far and it will burn and start to smell before you know it) .  Use a spoon to drizzle chocolate over cookies.  While chocolate is still wet, sprinkle cookies with crushed candy cane. 

Recipe Source:   I found this great recipe over on Eat Live Run.   I made the adjustment in flour due to altitude and made smaller cookies, I ended up with about 45.


Where Did These Cookies Go?
Every blogger participating received the contact information for three other bloggers.  
All my cookies went east of Colorado:  North Carolina, South Carolina and New York. 

Wine and Plum  (picture on twitter)
Bonbons and Biscotti     
This Is For You  (and a special cookie shoutout) 

And I Got Cookies Too!

My first gift of cookies arrived courtesy of Mercer and Sage.  



My second gift of cookies arrived courtesy of CopyKat.



My third gift of cookies arrived courtesy of Sweet Jeanette.

 

Cookie Love and Merry Christmas from Traveler in the Kitchen!

FB Cookie Swap: 3rd Arrival!

 

The cookie madness continues!   Today I got my third and final arrival of cookies.    These praline cookies from Sweet Jeanette arrived today.    They had a long journey from warm Florida to snowy Colorado but were worth the wait.     Will there be any left by the time I'm done watching The Voice tonight?  I couldn't even spare a whole cookie for the picture, I had already started snacking.

 

These cookies didn't travel simply by luck.    All these cookies are being sent to and from food bloggers participating in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap.   All participants made a donation to support Cookies for Kid's Cancer in partnership with OXO.

 

In other good news on a Monday, Passports with Purpose successfully raised $100k for wells in Haiti in partnership with water.org.   This holiday season if you have a few extra dollars, please consider donating to a charity that you believe in.      Giving to someone you may never meet is one of life's greatest gifts.

 

Peace.  Love.   Cookies. 

FB Cookie Swap: 2nd Arrival!

 

You can never get too many cookies in the mail!

 

My second "installment" of cookies came in the mail on Friday as a part of the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap.    These sweet goodies came from Stephanie over on CopyKat.com.    

 

Not only are baking cookies and sending them to complete (food-lovin' bloggin') strangers, all participants made a donation to support Cookies for Kid's Cancer in partnership with OXO.

 

Quick plug for another good cause....

 

Over on Traveler for Good, I'm participating in a travel blogger fundraiser called Passports with Purpose, raising money for water.org to build wells in Haiti.  Tuesday, December 11, is the last day to make a donation with the chance to win a prize.  For every $10 you donate, you can pick another prize you want to win.   Good luck!

FB Cookie Swap: 1st Arrival!

I'm participating in the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap this year! 

In addition to baking cookies and sending them to complete (food-lovin' bloggin') strangers, all participants made a donation to support Cookies for Kid's Cancer in partnership with OXO.

I was really excited to get my first gift of cookies in the mail.   They are lemon slice cookies of awesome - and were packed smartly in this gift wrapped tin, courtesy of Susan at Mercer and Sage. 

I also got word from one of the bloggers that I sent my cookies to that they arrived safe, sound and delicous.    Caitie posted a picture of them on her blog This Is For You.  

There is nothing like getting treats in the mail.    Hooray for cookie swaps of all kinds!  

Safe Drinking Water & Chances to Win!

 

I posted this over on Traveler for Good on Wednesday. It's a great cause and a lot of fun.  Why not share the love with food friends as well?



 

 

Passports with Purpose is here!

This year travel bloggers are helping to raise $100,000 to build wells in Haiti in partership with Water.org.

Access to safe drinking water is one of the most basic keys to good health. Right now, 780 million people, three times the population of the US, lack access to clean water.

In a world that can seem so connected and modern, it's sometimes easy to forget that the ability to drink a glass of clean water is not a guarantee.

If you're sick due to a water-borne illness or have to travel long distances to obtain water it's hard to

• Go to work and earn a living
• Go to school and get an education
• Take care of your family
• Spend time with friends and neighbors
• Play sports or enjoy a hobby
• Cook / Serve foods safely

You Can Help!

Click here to make your donation. The widget on the right column of this page will show you the progress we're making towards the goal of $100,000!

You Can Win a Prize!

The 2012 fundraiser with prizes started on November 27 at 11:59pm EST and ends December 11 at 11:59pm EST. During this time, if you donate $10 or more, not only will you feel warm and fuzzy about supporting a good cause, you will also have a chance to win a prize. A great prize. Most likely, a travel related prize.

In fact, every person blogging about Passports with Purpose has secured a prize. There's bound to be one that you'd be happy to win.

Including this great prize...

I live in beautiful Denver, Colorado.
If you live here, you know it's a great place.
If you don't live here, wouldn't you like to visit in 2013?

Enjoy the best of downtown Denver with Hyatt Hotels!

The Hyatt Regency Denver and the Grand Hyatt Denver each generously donated a one night stay just for Passports with Purpose. Read on to see what you could enjoy if you are the lucky winner.

I've stayed at both these hotels and enjoyed their service, restaurants and amenities. These are the hotels I recommend to friends and family when they come to visit or when they want to stay downtown or celebrate a special occasion.

These hotels are two blocks away from each other in downtown Denver and the winner will have a chance to stay at both properties. Or, if you're feeling generous, you could give one gift certificate to a loved one for the holidays, and still have one for yourself. Your call.

Photo Credit: Hyatt

One night weekend night stay at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center including breakfast for two. This Hyatt is right across the street from the Colorado Convention Center and one block away from the 16th Street Mall, within easy access to anything you want to do in downtown. Peaks Lounge on the 27th Floor has an amazing view of both the city skyline and the mountains.

AND

Photo Credit: Hyatt

One night weekend night stay at the Grand Hyatt Denver including Grand Club access. The Grand Hyatt just started a $28 million redesign that includes the guest rooms, lobby, and much of the meeting space. The renovation finishes in June 2013, so if you visit in the second half of the year, you'll enjoy a "Grand" new hotel! The Grand also introduced a new restaurant, Pub 17, in July of this year including a lot of locally sourced food and craft beers (this is Colorado, after all, and we're serious about our beer).

Whether you give the gift of water or win the gift of a Hyatt stay, thank you in advance for your enthusiastic participation and support of Passports with Purpose!


The fine print:
The winner of this prize will receive two gift certificates by mail (they will arrive together in one envelope/package). Each stay must be booked following the directions on the gift certificate. Each certificate is good for a one (1) night weekend stay (includes room rate + tax). Parking and other incidental charges are not included. Certificates are not valid for December 31, 2012.

Hyatt Regency Denver Certificate: Good for a weekend night accomodation and breakfast for two.
Expires December 1, 2013.
Grand Hyatt Denver Certificate: Good for a weekend night stay for two with Grand Club access.
Expires December 15, 2013.

*Passports with Purpose will determine and/or draw all the prize winners. As the writer of this blog, I am not involved in any of that, but my fingers are crossed that it's someone awesome, like you. Good Luck!*