My first annual cookie exchange plans!

[SJayneW]

I think I'll have anywhere from 8 to 14 people there (they have until Wednesday to RSVP). Here's the scoop:

We are all baking 7 dozen cookies (I haven't decided if we are sampling or not).

We are also having an ornament exhange game (I adapted the left - right game).

Everyone is bringing an unwrapped childs toy for the Salvation Army.

We are playing a Santa hat mock game (I need a name for it); we will all be wearing a Santa hat, and at some point I'll take mine off, and the last person to mock me by taking theirs off as well will have to wear a blinking Rudolf nose until the next round.

I'm serving tea sandwiches and a veggie tray along with some spiced tea (I need a good recipe).

If we sample the cookies, I'll make homeade hot chocolate or Christmas punch (I need a good recipe); if not, I'll make some kind of dessert.

Let me know what you guys think!

[Bonnie]

Sounds like you are off to a good start. I'm not a big fan of sampling the cookies. I don't serve a lot of sweets at my exchanges anyway. Sometimes when you have a sample tray and someone doesn't like anothers cookies they may not take them when it's exchange time - that could cause hurt feelings. I love serving hot spiced apple cider but I also use cranberry juice (same spices) which is usually a hit.

The left right games are always fun. I went to a ladies Christmas party last week and we did the game with an exhange of pot holders/oven mit (we also included our favorite recipe). It was so much fun and everyone loved seeing the different types of pot holders/mits. Some of the ladies even included matching tea towels which I thought was nice.

That is really nice of you to include the giving of toys for needy kids.

[lpokas]

Name for your game:
"Hats Off to Santa!"

[SJayneW]

Well, my exchange went off very well!! Only one person there (including myself) had ever even been to an exchange, and now everyone is already talking about next year; we may take turns hosting, we'll see. I had so much fun planning it that I don't think I want someone else to do it.

We had a blast with the Left Right ornament exchange game, and the raffle was an awesome idea (I wish I'd had more prizes though!).

My mini cheesecakes were a BIG hit; I had more requests for that recipe than any of the cookies.

And, everyone remembered to bring an unwrapped toy for the Salvation Army.

I had so much fun, and my party was so successful thanks to this message board and your site.

Thank you so much; Merry Christmas!!!

[SJayneW]

Oh, my Christmas Champagne punch was VERY well received. It really was awesome!

Here's the recipe:

1 liter of Ginger Ale
2 small cans of frozen Lemonade concentrate
1 large can of frozen Orange juice concentrate
1 bottle of Champagne
Frozen strawberries
Frozen Orange slices
Frozen Lemon slices

Mix 1 small can of Lemonade with 1 can of water; add strawberries; keep this mixture in freezer until ready to serve (I like it only slushy; not frozen).

Punch: Mix remaining ingredients in punch bowl, and add slush and frozen slices.