December 03, 2006

Scenes from a Cookie Exchange Party

My 1st annual Christmas cookie exchange has come and gone and all I can say is, it was worth the wait! I had a wonderful time and want to thank my sweet friends Amy, Beth, Carrie, Claire and Jolene for making it so much fun and for sharing all of their wonderful cookies. I think we all agreed that the best part of the event was getting to socialize without kids or hubbies and to just take time for ourselves during this very hectic time of year.

I wish I had taken more pictures but as usual I got so caught up in the moment that I forgot. Although I was too full from all the real food to test too many cookies during the party, I had the chance later in the day and they were all wonderful!

This is what everyone took their cookies home in. I had the labels made here and they say:
homemade
The Christmas Cookie Exchange
baked with love
I highly recommend these labels that can be customized with whatever you want. The tags were made with red and white cardstock cut in graduated size ovals, an eyelet threaded with red and white string and these twinkle letters glued on. After the party it can be used as an ornament.

There were cookie place cards that went in front of each plate of sample cookies on the table.


Everyone also brought copies of their recipes and this is mine for the Cinnamon Roll Cookies I made which I printed on parchment style cardstock. I'm sending out a big thank you to my sweet hubby for doing the graphics for the cookie place cards and my recipe cards. You saved me sweetie!

Carrie wins the award for prettiest presentation. I didn't even know we were going to be giving an award for it, but after seeing these, I had no choice. What she did is so clever and simple that I have to share it with you. She took cardboard and covered it with Christmas scrapbook paper which she attached with tape, put her cookies on it, covered it with saran wrap and tied a bow around. Easy peasey lemon squeezie. I'm so stealing this idea.



I wish I had gotten a picture of all of the food. I overestimated how much we girls could eat so I will be feasting on it for days. We had roquefort pinwheels, yeast rolls with ham, sausage balls, artichoke dip & pita chips, a peppered cheese ball and crackers and veggies with a savory dip. Guess what I'm having for lunch? I did manage to snap a picture of the hot chocolate with peppermint stick stirrer, snowman marshmallow, whipped cream and sprinkles. Can you imagine a better way to drink your cocoa?


So ladies, mark your calanders for the 1st Saturday of December 2007 because I can't wait to do it again. I promise I'll have more wine next time.

15 comments:

  1. Wow Jen it feels like I was there that is sooo beautiful and the cocoa looks scrumptious. Glad you all had a wonderful time thank you so much for sharing I love the ornament tags too cute.
    RaNae
    http://ewecreekcottage.blogspot.com

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  2. This looks like so much fun!!!! Love the twinkle type letter on the tag. Too cute!!!

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  3. ooh why! oh why! can't you live next door? What a fun fun time!! I wish I had a cookie swap to go to!! Everything looks fabulous! Loving your tags/bags! I am sure everyone had a GREAT time!! Thank you so much for sharing!

    Enjoy your cookies!!..Eat a few for me!

    xoxo Jenny!

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  4. yummy and fun, a perfect combo! do you have the recipe for the roquefort pinwheels?

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  5. I'll admit, I love cookies and what a great idea to host a cookie exchange party. But I have to say that the hot chocolate looks so yummy. How are the faces on the marshmallows created? Too cute.

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  6. Love the idea of cookie exchange parties ~ everyone sharing their favourite recipes. Your glitter tags are gorgeous - and using them after as a tree ornament is a great idea.

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  7. Wow, what a party! I love those tags and bags, too.

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  8. Looks like you gals had a ton of fun! My 6th annual cookie exchange was today. I'll post pix in the next couple days :)

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  9. I love the cookie exchange pics. I have just found your blog. It is so nice to visit with you!

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  10. Jen, cookies look yummy and DH is to be commended. All the tags, printouts menus are great
    I got your message on my kitty snowflake and answered there, I never can figure out how to comment on "comments".
    I just posted recipe for chocolate covered cherries on my "other" blog.

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  11. Thank you all. I wish you all could have come! It would have been my pleasure to share cookies with you.

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  12. oops! Shirlee- I forgot to say that the snowman marshmallows are down with edible food markers. You can buy them at your local craft store.

    Bethy- Here is the recipe for the pinwheels- So easy!

    Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter or spray a cookie sheet. Defrost puff pastry and then open and flatten with a rolling pin. Crumble 4 ounces blue cheese on the puff pastry, leaving a good inch-wide border all around. Roll up the pastry the long way; cut into 12 to 14 1/2-inch-thick slices with a sharp knife. Place the rounds on cookie sheet; brush with egg wash (1 egg beaten with 1 tsp water). Bake until puffed up and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.

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  13. As a cookie exchange participant I must say what an AMAZING job Jen did with every little detail of this party. The food was to die for, the decorations were darling, and the hostess was the bestess. Thanks for a wonderful time!

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  14. Wish I was your neighbor! Looks like fun was had by all!

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  15. thanks so much for the recipe. i am making those for sure :)

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