Archive for the ‘Christmas’ Category

Last week I shared the Save the Date invitations for my annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. Here are some pictures from the party (please ignore the hideous wallpaper, we are in a rental property while our new house is being built!).

I used white tablecloths on the tables with wrapping paper runners for the center (Target Dollar Spot roll wrapping paper is just the right width & price).

The savory buffet included sweet & sour meatballs, mini pigs in a blanket, pepperoni dip with bagel chips, holiday tortilla chips with hot queso dip and vegetable tray with ranch dressing. The dessert buffet included peppermint chocolate cupcakes, Oreo cheesecakes, mini eclairs, dipped Milano cookies, Rice Krispie Treats and Rolo pretzel turtles.


I am so excited to have 2011's Cookie Exchange at our new house!

For the past few years, I have hosted a Christmas Cookie Exchange for my friends and family. Even though the party is always on the 2nd Sunday of December, I still like to send out Save the Date invitations in late October.

The holidays can get so jam-packed with parties, decorating and shopping that I always look forward to a laid back afternoon with cookies and my girlfriends!

This year the Save the Date was a recipe card with a mini Christmas cookie cutter attached. I purchased the Wilton cookie cutters on clearance after Christmas last year 6 for 80¢. A magnet strip on the back makes it perfect to hang on the fridge. The recipe card reads:

Recipe for: Save the Date for a Cookie Exchange
From the Kitchen of: Brenda

Ingredients:
1 Calendar and pen
1 Refrigerator
3 tsp Holiday Excitement
5 cups Christmas Cheer
20 Great Friends
Lots of Cookie Recipes

Recipe Instructions:
1. Take pen and mark calendar for the 3rd annual Holiday Cookie Exchange on Sunday. December 12th at 2pm
2. Place this recipe card on your refrigerator as a reminder.
3. Stir together Christmas Cheer and Great Friends until Holiday Excitement bubbles to the top.
4. Search for the perfect cookie recipe and creative packaging.
5. Check email November 30th for Evite with party details.

The winter holiday season is finally here & I wanted to share an easy treat. The kids & I made these marshallow snowmen for a Christmas party we attended last week. They were a hit with everyone and the kids had so much fun making them.
Take a long lollipop stick (found in baking section of most craft stores) and stack 3 regular-sized marshmallows. Dip the marshmallows on the stick into melted white candy melts, white chocolate chips or almond bark (also found at craft stores, Walmart & Target) until fully coated. Allow excess chocolate to drip off - I found it easiest to gently twirl the stick above the bowl for a few seconds. Place on wax paper and decorate.

As far as decorating, anything goes! We made the top hats with mini peppermint patties and a Rolo candy "glued" with a little melted chocolate. You could also use a miniature Reeses cup, but we needed to keep this dessert peanut-free due to allergies.

We used mini chocolate chips for eyes, a fruit roll-up for the scarf, pretzel sticks for arms & assorted decorating sprinkles for the nose & buttons.

If your snowman hardens before you have a chance to decorate him, just adhere your decorations with a bit of the melted chocolate.

A super easy, fun & cute holiday treat that the whole family can enjoy!