Entertaining Ideas
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holiday cookie swap?
I have a couple of questions if you've hosted or participated in a holiday cookie swap.
How big a group is too big? A couple of websites I found suggested a small group of 6-8, but this would be hard for me...if I invite everyone I want to it would be closer to 13-14. Could we do 1/2 dozen per person instead of a whole dozen? Any reason that wouldn't work?
Also, I don't want to schedule on a Friday or Saturday since those days are so busy during the holiday season. I was thinking Sunday afternoon/evening or Monday evening. Thoughts?
TIA!
Re: holiday cookie swap?
Tia
On of my favorite memories growing up was the cookie exchange that my mom and her friends have every year. They switch each year who hosts and it's determined by who gets the "white elephant gift" They make 3-4 dozen cookies and then everybody goes around and take 6 of each. There is usually 10-15 ladies at the parties and if your crowd is mostly mom's it will be great because the kids love the morning after when the giant try of cookies shows up. Let me know if you have any questions. Happy to give some pointers!
Gretchen
We're doing six, I didn't want to do larger than that b/c I wanted a dozen of each kind of cookie and didn't want to cook 150 cookies myself.
Our rule was that the cookies need to be freezable. We'll do it in a few weeks so the cookies can be frozen for Thanksgiving or Christmas use. It's happening on a Monday at work so we can cook them the night before. I'm planning to do a big cookie tray at Thanksgiving and may provide clear bags with bows so people can fill a bag and take some home.
This will be the second year our local board does one as a GTG. Last year they had way too many people and I think this year we're splitting up and shooting for 10-15 per house, 6 cookies each. I'd go ahead and invite all your girls--with that many it's likely some won't be able to come anyway.
I've found that Sunday afternoons always work best for girls' get togethers. Moms can bring the kids if they have to, ladies who don't watch football are looking for a reason to get out of the house and everyone is home in time to take care of stuff before the new week starts.
Have fun!
Our Share of the Harvest:How a couple cooks from a CSA share. Pick Up Day Week 15
I've been going to one for the past couple of years...
What she has us do is make as many at least 2 dozen cookies and she invites about 12 people. Everyone can have at least two. She has groups go to the table take two from each plate then another group comes up. Then if there are extras she has everyone do round two or round three until they are gone. She normally has it on a Saturday earlier in December (normally the Sat right after we finish school for the year, we're teachers) and it seems to work well.
Craft Blog
I go to one every year. The "rules" are something like this: The cookies have to be homemade; either 96 cookies or 20 bags of candies; no kids or husbands; the party lasts 2 hrs with snacks and wine provided; recipes must be sent in with the RSVP and no duplicates (except cut outs); bring your own containers. At the party the host puts together a book of the recipes and hands that out as a favor.
She invites 20 people on a Monday night. Monday keeps it from getting in the way of othere events and lets people that work have Sunday to bake. We put all of the platters on her huge island and kitchen table. Then in small groups we go around and take 4 of each cookie or one bag of candy. Then after everyone has gone there is a free for all for whats left.
We've been doing it for 6 years now and everyone has a blast, and we get good cookies!
the first year I did one we had about 10 people and everyone brought half a dozen. Less time baking that way.
We do it on a Sunday, that way people have all day Saturday/Sunday morning to bake. People tend to put it off til the last minute. On the years I've done the party on a weeknight or a Saturday, half the guest list flakes out as they don't get their cookies done in time.
Gretchen Evie, born 7/8/2012 at 35w5d
Copying my response to a similar post further down the board...
I have hosted several Christmas cookie swaps, and it takes a few times to figure out what works best for your group. Here is what I have tried and what I find works best...
1. I ask that everyone bring 1-3 dozen cookies of their choosing, depending on the size of the guest list. That way, everyone gets to try some of each. Limiting it to less than 1-2 dozen is silly to me... no cookie recipe makes 6 cookies or 8, but 12, 18, or 26. If they are going to make a whole batch, they may as well bring them all and spread them around. I also don't ask (after the first year) that people RSVP with their cookie type to avoid repeats... few people have the same ideas about what a good Christmas cookie is, and even similar ones can taste totally different. And tracking down people to get them to commit to a certain cookie is even harder than getting RSVPs.
2. I provide a pretty, reusable way for guests to transport the cookies home. In the past is has been decorative platters from the party store, or plastic buckets painted with holiday themes. Last year I splurged on the Martha Stewart bakery boxes from Michael's (something like 6 for $13?! look for coupons). They are very pretty bakery boxes that come with matching parchment/tissue paper (for separating cookies), ribbon, and to/from stickers. They come in a variety of themes and look classy. I got enough so that each guest could take home a box for their family, and a second for a gift for the boss, neighbor, etc. I am doing the same this year. No sense in everyone taking 6-10 Ziploc bags to separate and tote cookies.
3. We no longer play games. The second year I did a "fill in the blank" song game with Christmas tunes, and gave out oven mitts and other small kitchen items with a snowflake theme. Games just don't fit well into the flow of our gathering, so I nixed them. If you want to do a game/contest of some sort, I would suggest you do a "best cookie" or "most festive attire" award that all guests vote on.
4. We also don't swap ornaments. Home decor styles and tastes vary more than cookie preferences, and there is no real fair way to do a swap for this... someone will always end up with the glittered pinecone while another person gets that collectible Swarvski. Yes, you can put a price limit on ornaments, but it still puts pressure on people to come with the righ ornament, and they have to make an extra trip to the store to find one. The only gifts my guests take home are from me, all identical, usually small candles or lotion.
5. Food depends on the time of day, as with every event. The first swap I had was a wine party, or atleast I planned it to be. For the second, I picked up a few pizzas. The third was sit down soup and salad. My group is content to have cheese and crackers, quiche, and lots of milk to go with the cookies, even though I would prefer to have more substance. This year's menu is very likely the last few year's favorite appetizers.
Hmm, I think I have covered all the bases. Oh! Make sure everyone knows to bring their cookies already baked. You won't have time or space for anyone to make theirs at your house, I promise. I tried (once). And don't ask for recipe cards. It's very likely only 1 or 2 people will bother.