Bad Cookies

[Cathie]

As I am getting ready for this year's exchange, I am thinking of a problem I had last year. One of the gals made cookies that clearly were rancid! A few of us made mention to each other, but of course the baker of the rancid cookies was not aware.

I would never want to hurt anyone's feelings, however should I be leary of inviting this person again, as it is kind of hard not to. Has anyone else had this problem?

Thanks in advance

[Bonnie]

Well.........the cookies were not rancid but they were the "health food" kind of cookies. They were interesting to say the least. I think they were like a no carb deal too. Anyway, some of the gals didn't even bother to pick them up because they looked iffy. I really like this woman BUT personally I didn't care for them either. Not to sound awful but it was the holidays and that is not the time to make those types of cookies.

I do encourage everyone to at least take the cookies that everyone brings. I don't like to have anyones feelings hurt.

One thing I am considering this year is to have each person put their cookies in decorative cello bags. This way we just have to grab so many bags and the cookie flavors won't gel together. Have you ever noticed that by the time you get home all the cookies in your tin taste like each other.

I use zip lock bags to separate mine as I am picking them up which I could also offer to my guests.

Anyway, back to the dilemma at hand - I mentioned the cookies to a mutual friend hoping she would somehow find a way to bring it up nicely. I know it's a cop out but I just didn't know what else to do. This year I am going to try to mention bringing traditional type Christmas cookies on the invitation. Hopefully I can do it in a fun way.

I really don't know what else to say Cathie except that putting them in a decorative cello bag would at least keep them separated from the others.

[Cathie]

Hi Bonnie:

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the cookies were individually wrapped in dozens. If the gal attends this year I'll hope for the best.

[gourmetgal]

maybe poke fun at it by saying "No Healthly Cookies! The more Fattening, the better!"

[ejs mom]

I had my people package their cookies seperately and even gave a prize for "Best Packaging". That way none of the cookies mixed - which is very important. I had each person bring 10 separately wrapped dozens and as they arrived I placed each of their large batches at a station around the table. At a certain moment everyone was told to grab a spot at any "station" and then we each took ten steps around the table and got a dozen from each station we passed. It was totally random which cookies you got.
We didnt have any healthy or "bad" cookies but we did have some definitely less creative than others but these are my friends and this is a social event, not a bake-off. Well, for us anyway

[Bonnie]

I like that idea - adding the No Healthy Cookies, etc. to the invitation. This is the one time of year we should enjoy the homemade treats.

I also like the idea of a prize for the most decorative packaging. Some of the ladies are very creative. This could be really fun.