party: cookie exchange

STEP ONE
Who: adults or family
What: Small Budget
Why: to get together and to trade cookies for the holidays* see variations at bottom

STEP TWO

Theme: Cookie Exchange – it allows guests to bring baked cookies, pick and choose from the selection at the party and package up and take home a large assortment. It allows guests to save time and money and have fun with family and friends.

Menu: You can eat cookies, but I suggest you forgo them as they will be a take-home treat.
Dinner: Homemade chili and cornbread
Drinks: Water, sodas, coffee

Atmosphere: Usually decorated for the holidays, a home won’t need much added to it with the exception of some furniture rearranging. Make sure you have a large table covered with a nice linen and serving trays at various heights for cookies to be placed. Have small pieces of cardstock folded in half for guest to write the kind of cookie they brought and place by cookie selection. Serve meal in a different room from the cookies.

Invitations: Send 3-4 week in advance. The holidays are busy and guests will need to plan what to bring and gather ingredients, etc.
Brownie Mix in a Jar - hand deliver with invitation.

Entertainment:
-If children will attend, have baked sugar cookies available to be frosted and decorated.
-Music – holiday CD’s
-Mingling
-Cookie Exchange

Misc:
Supplies – have bakery boxes or other containers for guests to package up their cookie choices. Large ladle for chili, (serve from stove top to contain any mess and keep hot or in a chaffing dish – remember the chaffing fuel), bowls, plates, grated cheese, tortillas, tortilla chips, crackers, butter, honey, spoons, glasses, ice, etc.
Parking –
Capture the moment -

VARIATIONS:
-Valentine's Day: homemade candies
-Contest: all guest bring their homemade fudge, chocolate chip cookies, etc. label the treats with a number and provide voting ballots. Remember a prize for winner, trophy, certificate, etc.