Last night I hosted my annual Christmas Exchange. We exchange cookies and an ornament. It is always a fun, festive time with my girls. I started doing this when we lived in Mississippi and enjoyed it so much I have held the event each year since (except in 2009 when Henry arrived at Christmas).
Every year I have new faces to add to the group and I always count that as a blessing. As you well know, there is never a good date in December where all invited can attend. I am always pleased with the turn out though. Small or large, sweet times at Christmas with friends is always precious. The cookies are always fun and the dirty Santa with the ornaments is always a hit.
This is my signature cookie for this event.
The white ones are 2 Ritz crackers with peanut butter in the middle. They are dipped in almond bark and sprinkled with peppermint
The red ones are Oreos dipped in red Wilton melting chocolate and sprinkled with peppermint.
Red Neck Caviar is always a crowd pleaser. The bowl is always empty at the end of the night. It is so yummy! You take a 2 cans on black-eyed peas, 1 can of mexi corn, 2 cans of rotel and some chopped green onion and put it in a bowl. You pour a bottle of Italian dressing over it with salt, pepper and garlic. You let it sit overnight. Drain the dressing off and serve with corn and tortilla chips. Don't you love the Christmas chips I found at Walmart?!
This year I attempted Smores dip. It is a bag of semisweet chocolate chips and a can of Eagle Brand melted in the microwave for about 2 minutes....stirring often. Then I put 1/2 a jar of marshmallow creme on top and melt it for about 30 seconds in the microwave. You serve it warm with graham sticks, crackers or teddy grahams like us! I put it in my fondue pot to keep it warm and I do not suggest that. It burned on the bottom because I did not stir it often.
Wassail is a must. This is a family recipe and a staple at Christmas for all our little gatherings. It is apple juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice and sugar. You simmer until it reaches a boil and add cinnamon sticks. It is way yummy and sweet.
Stacy, Emily, me, Betsey and Norenda are some of my sweet friends who came to the party. I love that my church friends, club friends, work friends and neighbor friends can all come together in one group. What a treat!
Meagan, me, Elizabeth and Sara are super sweet girls. Sometimes I wonder why God gifts me with such wonderful friends. I truly don't deserve such happy, Godly people in my life, but I am so glad I have them!
Candace, Leslie, me and Amie keeping it real in the kitchen. It always makes me laugh that there are two sitting rooms in my house and no one goes in them....we just stay in the kitchen! Candace hid the tree that I won at the employee party (previous post) and had a plot to steal it and take it to work the next day but she got cold feet and hid it in a cabinet instead. Leslie won the ornament I gave. Her face was priceless when she opened it. She is my polar opposite and the ornament was all me. I am still laughing. Amie is Piper's mom and she took home the ornament she brought due to a little dirty Santa action. Needless to say, these three made me laugh. I love laughter.
Becoming friends with Meagan has been a treat this fall. Her son and Henry are 1 week apart and best buds at church. She is a wonderful mother, so cute and fun. She insisted we take a "facebook" picture. I think we nailed it! :) I have a great group of friends who make fabulous cookies and bring fun ornaments! Have an exchange....you won't regret it!
Every year I have new faces to add to the group and I always count that as a blessing. As you well know, there is never a good date in December where all invited can attend. I am always pleased with the turn out though. Small or large, sweet times at Christmas with friends is always precious. The cookies are always fun and the dirty Santa with the ornaments is always a hit.
This is my signature cookie for this event.The white ones are 2 Ritz crackers with peanut butter in the middle. They are dipped in almond bark and sprinkled with peppermint
The red ones are Oreos dipped in red Wilton melting chocolate and sprinkled with peppermint.
Red Neck Caviar is always a crowd pleaser. The bowl is always empty at the end of the night. It is so yummy! You take a 2 cans on black-eyed peas, 1 can of mexi corn, 2 cans of rotel and some chopped green onion and put it in a bowl. You pour a bottle of Italian dressing over it with salt, pepper and garlic. You let it sit overnight. Drain the dressing off and serve with corn and tortilla chips. Don't you love the Christmas chips I found at Walmart?!
This year I attempted Smores dip. It is a bag of semisweet chocolate chips and a can of Eagle Brand melted in the microwave for about 2 minutes....stirring often. Then I put 1/2 a jar of marshmallow creme on top and melt it for about 30 seconds in the microwave. You serve it warm with graham sticks, crackers or teddy grahams like us! I put it in my fondue pot to keep it warm and I do not suggest that. It burned on the bottom because I did not stir it often.
Wassail is a must. This is a family recipe and a staple at Christmas for all our little gatherings. It is apple juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice and sugar. You simmer until it reaches a boil and add cinnamon sticks. It is way yummy and sweet.
Stacy, Emily, me, Betsey and Norenda are some of my sweet friends who came to the party. I love that my church friends, club friends, work friends and neighbor friends can all come together in one group. What a treat!
Meagan, me, Elizabeth and Sara are super sweet girls. Sometimes I wonder why God gifts me with such wonderful friends. I truly don't deserve such happy, Godly people in my life, but I am so glad I have them!
Candace, Leslie, me and Amie keeping it real in the kitchen. It always makes me laugh that there are two sitting rooms in my house and no one goes in them....we just stay in the kitchen! Candace hid the tree that I won at the employee party (previous post) and had a plot to steal it and take it to work the next day but she got cold feet and hid it in a cabinet instead. Leslie won the ornament I gave. Her face was priceless when she opened it. She is my polar opposite and the ornament was all me. I am still laughing. Amie is Piper's mom and she took home the ornament she brought due to a little dirty Santa action. Needless to say, these three made me laugh. I love laughter.
Becoming friends with Meagan has been a treat this fall. Her son and Henry are 1 week apart and best buds at church. She is a wonderful mother, so cute and fun. She insisted we take a "facebook" picture. I think we nailed it! :) I have a great group of friends who make fabulous cookies and bring fun ornaments! Have an exchange....you won't regret it!Happy Food Friday!
Abby
Abby
Comments
I think I will make those peanut butter Ritz crackers you made. They look lovely!!
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