Cookie Night! Contest results ...

Over 20 residents showed up for the cookie contest/chili/movie night, several with entries in hand for the cookie contest sponsored by our daughter Molly (above). Who knew we had such outstanding, imaginative bakers in our midst?

Entries were judged based on taste, appearance, and the baker's explanation of his or her efforts and intentions.

Every entry was high quality--bordering on professional!--and Molly reported that the judging was extremely difficult.


We had a haunted pirate ship, owls, a pumpkin patch, a chocolate cemetery, and assorted halloween cut-outs to choose from. Bakers offered their explanations to the group:

Karina described lessons learned making her large, buttery sugar cookies, which she frosted in chocolate and lined with white chocolate chips.












Caroline (representing herself and roommates who couldn't be there in person) had created intricate owls -- with details made of Werther's toffee, chocolate chips, slivered almonds, and cashews:















Patrick had created a pumpkin patch using chocolate pudding for mud -- which made for nice dipping.














Katey made chocolate graves -- little cookie cups filled with peanut butter -- each with its own RIP headstone:











The most elaborate explanation came from Andrea and Michelle, whose pirate ship had an entire backstory of shipwreck, sharks, and eternal haunting:





After much deliberation, Molly decided to split the $50 iTunes prize between two entries: Karina's and Caroline's.

An additional award -- the audience choice -- went to Patrick.

(My own preferences were split: I loved the peanut-butter-filled graves and the owls based on taste; the pirate ship certainly had the liveliest explanation.)

Once we'd consumed an enormous pot of chili (principal ingredients were Halloween colored: black beans, acorn squash, sweet potato, and orange peppers), we collectively demolished these gorgeous baked goods.

As for the East Village vampire story that followed: the "psychic fax" may not have been the most memorable scene, but it certainly got the most laughs. Nadja: recommended NYC Halloween viewing, and not too gory.