Dear Robin,

We did it again!! My 2nd Annual Cookie Exchange was held on Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 1 to 5 pm. In early October I sent the "Save the Date" cards for the exchange and on October 31st I sent 20 invitations by snail mail, as some of my guests still don't have e-mail (go figure). We all had a great time. There were 18 ladies in attendance; most of which attended the 1st Exchange. We had a few new faces, (those who were not able to attend last year and some who were also first time cookie bakers and exchangers), which was really nice. We had such a good group. Everyone bonded and made new friends.

Everyone was asked to bring a $10.00 gift to exchange during "The Ever Changing Gift Exchange Game" and everyone had a blast. I could not believe the wonderful things everyone was able to get for $10.00.The most popular gifts this year were a fleece snowflake blanket, snowmen ornaments, and a cake stand. Favors this year consisted of a reusable shopping bag, to carry their cookie packages home in, homemade chocolate covered pretzel dipping sticks, and a recipe book with all the cookie recipes in it, as well as pictures of the exchange. The recipe book was sent out later as a thank you gift.

I wanted everyone to be festive this year, so I asked everyone to wear a red or green sweater/shirt. Everyone looked great (as you can see from the picture).

The food spread this year consisted of meatballs in marinara sauce, pigs-in-a-blanket, shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, spinach dip and sourdough bread, mini quiches, stuffed mushrooms, and a hot (as in temperature not spice) sausage dip and chips. Dessert was Tiramisu, Yule log, and Chocolate cake with buttercream icing. My guests enjoyed Sangria, Wine, and soda as well.

Everyone was asked to bake 9 dozen cookies and pre-package them in sets of 6. The packaging this year was fantastic. As you can see from the pictures, everyone was very creative with their presentations.

Cookies this year were Almond-Raspberry Shortbread Thumbprints, Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies, Chocolate-Cherry Tea Cookies, Coconut-Cranbury Chews, Easy Lemon Cookies, Hungarian Nut Horns, Kiss Cookie, Lemon Refrigerator Cookies, Mantecaditos, Oatmeal Cookies, Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Iced Pumpkin Cookies, Raspberry Cookie Bars, Roll Out Sugar Cookies, Snicker Doodles, and some bakery cookies.

I had prizes for 1st person to send me their recipe, 1st person to arrive at the party, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes for most creative cookie display/packaging (voted on by the ladies in attendance).

Once again the greatest gift my guests walked away with, was the gift of friendship.

Thanks again for your website. It is so helpful. I hope you and your family had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Lysette Toro-Mays
Langhorne, PA