Cookie Exchange

[Mistress Muffy]

Have any of you ever hosted or attended a cookie exchange?

Muf

[JackFrost]

Never heard of it...please elaborate!

[skullboy]

I only make cookies from a roll or box.:DI know the wife is planning a Mother/Daughter cookie exchange this year.Each pair will bring 6-8 dozen cookies they made together and swap them for what others have made.Mrs.Skull will do a brunch type meal for all and of naturally adult bevvies will be served.I will be hiding in my basement quietly sneaking cookies when noone is looking.:)

[Ms. Parker]

Yes, sort of.

A friend that I used to work with LOVED baking. Back in the 90's she considered a career change and went to pastry chef school.

Even though she never switched careers, she sure can bake!

Every December, she holds a "Cookie Bake". Beginning early in the day, she just starts baking one cookie recipe after another, into the evening. Everybody helps with the baking or decorating and when you leave, you take a tin of cookies. She provides drinks and appetizers too.

It's a lot of fun.

[Mummy deer-est]

I held a cookie swap last year. It's a fun way to get a lot of different treats -- and recipes -- for your christmas plessure!
We also had some kids for it, so I made some Gingerbread men and let the kiddies decorate with all sorts of goodies. Needless to say, they were all kinds of crazy and sugared-up by the end of the party. :)

[Mistress Muffy]

Thanks for the feedback everybody.....I been thinking about doing one of these & had been putting some notes together. Jack.....the Food Network had a show on this and here is the link of the lady on the net that offers the most info & ideas for having one of these.

http://www.robinsweb.com/cookies/index.html

The pictures are terrific and they all look like they have so much fun. Also the forum section is full of so many ideas.

If I do this it will definately be next year.....I gotta find some freinds around here first!!lol

Mistress Muf

[Mummy deer-est]

It might be a good way to meet some neighbors? You don't have to offer a full meal, and people don't really have to stick around too long if they don't feel comfortable. The one I did last year had a lot of parents from my daughters class -- it made it easier to get to meet them, and coversation was easy, as it was all about cookies, christmas, kids, etc.

[Sickie Ickie]

er...well...I have a possible idea??? Why don't we do a cookie swap on this forum? Kinda like the secret reaper, or secret santa idea...only without the secrets and not as much money involved. heh

yes...no?

[Mummy deer-est]

oooo, I like it! the more (cookies) the merrier (I'll be)!

[Sickie Ickie]

Well, that's one for yes. Any other takers? Anyone want to organize this?

[buddytheelf]

That's diffrent. I'v never herd of a cookie exchange. Sounds fun though.

[Sickie Ickie]

[SI taps foot} still waiting for an organizer! :D

[Mummy deer-est]

So, I'm gonna try showing you guys these funny pics of the kids at the cookie exchange:
"Before"....making cookies/eating sugar:
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff252/amndaj/memorycard1690.jpg

and "After the sugar kicked in!"
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff252/amndaj/memorycard1695.jpg
There are 10 kids under that blanket! :D

[Sickie Ickie]

LOL Talk about a sugar rush! :D

[Johnny Thunder]

I did one in my office for two years, but I always ended up with way too many cookies and they went stale. :(

[Sickie Ickie]

stale cookies are good. :D

[Mistress Muffy]

at my house the word "Cookies" & "Stale" would never ever be in the same sentence!

When we look for cookies that we know are stashed in this house we go looking in bedroom drawers! There are only 2 other things that never exist in my house after I cook them along with the cookie thing! Polish Dumplings (pierogies) & homemade Eggrolls! We cannot have these things in our house because of the danger that comes with consuming this much of one food in a very short amount of time!!

Nope!!! Cookies, Dumplings & Eggrolls!!! Just typing this gives me goosebumps!!

The Mistress

[bethene]

It would be fun, but would they ship ok, with no breakage , or getting stale? I went to a cookie exchange, we didn't have alot of people exchanging but it still was fun!

[bethene]

that before and after pics of the kids is too funny!

[Mummy deer-est]

I think we could ship them okay -- just got to be creative. :) Like but em in those cheap tupperware, or an empty pringles container.
So, do we a have a few that are interested?

[Nancj]

I'm addicted to cookies so that would be a yes for me. the more the Merrier!!!

[Sickie Ickie]

Defnately! I like to be different, so I'll have to find a totally unusual yummy cookie recipie as a surprise. :D

[Mistress Muffy]

Ok... I've had my eyeball on this thread but I have so many things on the docket for Dec. I am afraid to take on anything else.

SO>>>>>if we all agree to this, would it be possible for me to send my chocolates that we make instead of cookies? That would be so much more easier for me.

Muffy

[Sickie Ickie]

It's okay with me. :) Maybe it should be a candy/cookie exchange? How do you send chocolates so it doesn't melt?

[Nancj]

Fast I assume :)

[Mummy deer-est]

Candy and cookie is exchange-able in my book!

[Mistress Muffy]

Well Sickie chocolate ships ok this time of year! When we open the web site we will be using styrofoam containers w/ ice pacs in them during the hot months. We deliver our candies on routes & come spring we'll be adding a Therma-king unit to the truck to refrigerate it.

Muffy

[Sickie Ickie]

Dang, you are goin' all out gal! When a friend and I were thinking of starting a retail biz, we looked into 'fridge trucks, but the expense made us swoon! :eek:

[HollyDaze]

Oh, I love cookie/treat exchanges! Count me in.

[Mistress Muffy]

Yes Sickie it gets expensive! This is the 2nd round for me....had this business open for quite a few years out west...Made candy for 167 stores from western Nebraska all the way into Metro Denver. Finally got the Diner out of the way so I can focus on the candy this time!

Had that Diner for 11 years, trying to run both businesses made 100 hr. work weeks a way of life....plus we did catering, wedding cakes, and made gift baskets. It was a crazy time for sure. Think it really aged me!!!lol

Holly Daze: Its look'in more & more like we are gonna make this happen!!

The Muffster

[Mummy deer-est]

Allright gang -- when should the cut off be for getting on this cookie train?

[Sickie Ickie]

That depends. I have so much on my plate right now with "Santa's Projects" and all, for me to organize this is close to impossible, but I still want to participate. Who wants to volunteer to lead this? Mummy? Muffy?

[Mummy deer-est]

I will if there are no other takers....

[Mistress Muffy]

Oh Mummy I would appreciate that so very much my friend!! I have news! I been trying to pull together a halloween group of people from our HalloweenForum & I'm so excited because everybody seems to want to get together.We all live kinda close to each other. SO I told them all I would love to host a Xmas dinner where they could come & bring their families & we can all meet each other & figure out what we want to do as far as starting the group & building Halloween projects.

Honestly I will be thrilled just to be in the company of people that just love Halloween as much as me!! So now along w/ candy show, open house (the 19th) for all my Trick or Treators that came here for Halloween (I handed out 60 invites on halloween night), company flying in from out of town to stay here from the 5th-12th and now my dinner for new halloween group......man I'm excited ....BUT scared to take on much more!!!lol

BUT....I will mail chocolates!!!so count me in!!!!

The Muffster

[HollyDaze]

I did a cross-country cookie swap via US Post a couple of years ago. I can't find the exact details but it went something like this:

1. The # of swappers was limited to 10 per round. (There were multiple rounds because so many participated.)
2. Everyone sent 10 dozen cookies (each dz. wrapped individually) along with a recipe card and postage $$ for a USPS Priority Box.
3. All cookies were sent to the organizer between uu/vv and xx/yy date via USPS Priority.
4. Organizer put one dozen of each of the cookies into a Priority box and shipped them out within a day or two of the deadline. Everyone got 10 dozen different cookies back. Voila!

[Mummy deer-est]

I like it, Holly! So who's in? Should we keep it open for another week or two to get more involved?

[Mistress Muffy]

Do you guys think that some on the board only read what interest them? Might it be an idea to post a notice on the general board? Just a thought!

Mistress Muffy

[Sickie Ickie]

Also, post a name list of who is participating. I'm no baker, but I'm in!

[Mistress Muffy]

Sickie...are you gonna add those mealworms to your cookies to see if we all have a sense of humor??!!!!lol

Muffy

[Mummy deer-est]

LOL muffy....you guys really need to get over this bug thing! :D

[Sickie Ickie]

Now lets see...who was really into BBQ? LOL

[Clarice]

I'd like to give the exchange a try. Am I too late to be on the list?

[Mummy deer-est]

not at all! Your in!
Still time left, for any lurkers...

[Nancj]

count me in

[Mummy deer-est]

So, I obviously got a little (read = overwhelmed with family cr@p) busy, so this has fallen by the wayside...I apologize. But, I also didn't think we could do it since we didn't seem to have too many takers, and some have been (explainably, and expectedly) unavailable. If there is still a want, we could still do it, but I am more inclined to pass for this year - but, don't get me wrong, if there are any takers, then I will step up!

So, it was looking like:
Nancj
Clairice
Sickie
Muffy
HollyDaze
Bethene

Any input, ya'll?

[Blinky]

That sounds like so much fun.. My biggest down fall is GOOOOOD Cookies.

[Sickie Ickie]

I'll have to bow out this time folks. I was really looking forward to it, but with the recent family challenges, I'd rather bow out now than leave someone disappointed. Plus, the moola isn't there now with money going toward real-life stuff right now.

[Clarice]

I'm going to have to be out also this year. Getting sick at Thanksgiving has put me behind in my baking. I can't believe I only have 6 days to finish 40 dozen candies. If anyone would like to shoot for after Christmas I may be up for it.

[Mummy deer-est]

Whew! I feel relieved -- didn't want to let anyone down. We can try next year!

Or I'll just ship ya'll my leftover after the 1st when I need to go back on the diet...:D

[digbugsgirl]

We've done a cookie exchange for the past 12 years. Didn't do one this year because my grandma is dying. My SIL actually had one this weekend, but I didn't go because my mom and I went to go see my grandma. Actually, nobody in my family went because nobody was in the spirit this year. She said it turned out very well, though. We'll get back to normal next year.

[Blinky]

Sorry to hear about your Grandma..Our prayers are with you and your at this time.

[Sickie Ickie]

Man that sucks. You never really get over the death of a loved one, no matter what people say...you just learn to deal with it over time.

[Mummy deer-est]

I'm so sorry digbugsgirl....the holidays are so hard when you are going through the loss of someone. You feel mornfull, but know it is supposed to be a happy time. And sometimes have the added feeling of guilt - for not acting the way the loved one would want, or not acting how others think you should be. But we all deal with it in our own ways, and it is all okay. You'll find yourself on the other side of this hard time in due time - and were always here for a distraction in the mean time.

[digbugsgirl]

Thanks all. Mummy - you are right. I do have a little guilt because I want to be happy right now. I went to see her for the last time (I'm sure) Saturday so I've made my peace with it all. She's been lonely for a long time. She'll see my grandfather before too long, so I know she won't be lonely anymore.