How to Plan a Christmas Cookie Swap

A Christmas cookie swap is when family and friends gather together at another friend’s home, bringing their favorite baked cookies on a platter or tray. All the platters and trays are put on a table. The friends gather around the table; taking take two or three cookies from each dish or platter, to take home. This is the cookie swap. What makes this particular event so wonderful is each person may have a story about the cookies, i.e., where the recipe came from; anecdotes about preparing the cookies, etc.

Are you ready to plan your Christmas cookie swap? Let’s begin with the invitations.
Purchase or make your own invitations and send them to your friends. Set a date and time convenient for all, perhaps a late morning on a Sunday afternoon. Be sure to add an RSVP so you know how many are attending. This will determine how many cookies you need to bake.

The night before the event, begin baking your favorite cookies using either recipes handed down from your mother or grandmother, or new recipes you have made experimenting on your own. Place your cookies on your Christmas plate or tray, cover the cookies with wrap, and set aside in a cool area.

Decorate your main table with a Christmas tablecloth and matching napkins. Use your Christmas cups and saucers; dessert plates; creamer; sugar bowl; and flatware. Arrange a beautiful poinsettia centerpiece for the table. Next, prepare and decorate a second table on which the plates or trays of baked cookies will be placed.

On the day of your event, prepare your coffee pot and tea kettle about half hour before your friends arrive. Finally, your friends come bearing delicious baked cookies, filling your home with a wonderful aroma. Show your friends to the cookie table, and have each friend set down their plate or tray of cookies on the table.

After much conversation, call your friends together for the cookie swap. Gather everyone around the cookie table, and begin the process of each person walking around the table, taking two or three cookies from each tray. When finished, have everyone sit at your main table and the storytelling can begin. Every participant leaves with a selection of cookies that they can share at their homes with visitors and guests.

It is really helpful to have copies of the cookie recipes available for the guests to take home with them.

www.homeandfamilyezine.com

FREE Cookbooks

The Great Cookbook Giveaway is ready for you to download lots of free e-cookbooks. Please be sure to look for the ebook I contributed called Kids Craftivities Recipes with about 30 recipes that the family will love and that are easy to make.

http://www.greatcookbookgiveaway.com/jv/members/746

This is a recipe for oranges filled with mashed sweet potatoes.

6 oranges
3 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup butter, softened, divided
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Start off by cutting the tops off the oranges, about half an inch off the top should do nicely.   Scoop out the flesh of the orange leaving a nice shell to fill up.  In a mixing bowl mix up the sweet potatoes, orange juice, eggs, vanilla extract, 1/2 cup butter and the grated orange peel.  Fill up the orange shells with the mixture and put them in a deep casserole dish to hold them up.  That was the easy part; now let's really get into the work.  In a small pan combine remaining butter (1/2 cup) with brown sugar, flour and pecans.  Cook this until the sugar dissolves.  Spoon sugary pecan mixture over the filled oranges.  Fill casserole dish with about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom to help the cooking process and prevent burnt orange shells.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.

Check out http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com for more fall recipes and ideas.

Autumn Mix  

 
1(11 ounce) package of small pretzels
1 (10 ounce) package miniature peanut butter filled crackers 
1 cup sugar
½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 (10 ounce) package M&M's
1 (18 ounce) package candy corn 

In a large bowl combine pretzels and peanut butter crackers and set aside.  In a large saucepan combine sugar, butter and corn syrup.  Bring to a boil over medium heat and simmer for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda.  Pour over pretzel mixture and stir until coated.  Transfer mixture to a greased baking pan. 

Bake at 250F for 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and break apart while warm then allow to cool completely.  Transfer to large bowl and toss with candy corn and M&M's.  Store in an airtight container.

My post with the articles about Pumpkins has been included in the 17th Homesteading Carnival at Jocelyn's blog. It is all about the Autumn Harvest go on over there and check it out here is the link again:

http://www.homesteadblogger.com/Jocelyndixon/70775

Angela 

This article has some useful pumpkin tips and autumn recipes I hope you will enjoy.

Angela

Preserving Your Pumpkin Harvest

By the middle of September you already have a pretty good idea
which pumpkin is going to be your prize winner this year. The big
one with the round smooth face will make a perfect jack-o-
lantern come October, as will the tall skinny one that seems to
call out "Pick me!" as you gaze out over this year's pumpkin
patch with childlike anticipation.

So after you've picked the best pumpkins to carve and display,
what do you do with the rest of them? I've discovered some
interesting and unique ways to use up every last bit of your
pumpkin crop this year.

Everyone knows you can toast and eat pumpkin seeds, but did you
know you can also sprout them? First soak them by placing them in
a glass jar with just enough tepid water to cover them. Cover the
jar with cheesecloth, holding the cheesecloth in place with a
rubberband at the neck of the jar. Let the seeds set in the water
overnight to make sure they're nice and soft. The next morning,
drain the water from the jar by gently turning the jar upside
down until all of the moisture is gone. Place the jar out of the
light (in a closet or cabinet). The temperature should remain at
about 70 degrees. Rinse the seeds in the jar 4 to 6 times a day.
After 3 days you should have approximately 1/4-inch sprouts.
Rinse them once more and set the jar in a sunny window for about
a day until the sprouts grow tiny leaves. Eat them in salads,
sandwiches, or add them to soups and casseroles. They're very
healthy and easy to make!

You can also make flour out of fresh pumpkin. Cut the raw pumpkin
into chunks, cut off the skin the best you can and dry in the
oven. Grind the dried pumpkin in the blender or a food mill. Use
pumpkin flour as a partial substitute for all-purpose flour in
your favorite breads and other baked goods. Store in an airtight
container.

Last but not least, why wait to enjoy the fruits of your labor?
Try these easy quick bread recipes. Quick breads are easy to
prepare because you don't have to mess around with yeast and
waiting for the dough to rise. You just mix a few ingredients
together in a bowl, pour into a loaf pan, and bake! It's really
that easy.

Cranberry Pumpkin Bread

2 eggs, beaten slightly
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup cooked pumpkin
2 1/4 cups flour
1 cup chopped cranberries
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine eggs, sugar, vegetable oil,
and pumpkin, mixing well. Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice,
baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center
of the batter and add the pumpkin. Stir in cranberries. Spoon
batter into 2 greased and floured loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour.

Autumn Bread

2/3 cup shortening
3 cups sugar
4 eggs, well beaten
1 1/4 cups cooked pumpkin
2/3 cup water
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
Chopped nuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and pour into two greased loaf pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of
the Creative Homemaking Recipe of the Week Club Cookbook, a
cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner
ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating,
crafts, frugal living, and family fun, visit Creative Homemaking
at http://www.creativehomemaking.com

Strawberry Icing Recipe

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 stick butter

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup strawberry preserves

1/2 cup mashed strawberries, sweet to your tase with sugar

Cream butter and cream cheese. Mix the remaining ingredients until smooth and then apply to your cake or cupcakes.

Angela

http://www.amotherspurpose.com

April 30 Monday is Oatmeal Cookie Day and I have 3 recipes that you might like to try:

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com/oatmeal-cookie-day.html

The recipes are Oatmeal Cookies, Oatmeal Lacies and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.

Have a little "green" fun with the following activities.

Valentines Day is tomorrow!

Sweetheart Cake

2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
3 eggs
1 large bar baking chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350F.  Lightly great a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.  In a large bowl beat butter, sugars and vanilla until creamy.  Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each addition.  In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture.  Gradually stir in the milk, mixing well after each addition.  Fold in coarsely chopped chocolate.

Pour batter into pan and bake for approximately 30 to 35 minutes or until golden and baked through.  Decorate the cake with kiss-shaped chocolate pieces.

Happy Valentines Day

Angela

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com

If you have a great and easy recipe for Mississippi Mud Pie would you please share it with me?

You can leave it in the comments or email it to me here asb68@twlakes.net

I can't wait to hear from you.

Thanks,

Angela

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com

Yesterday we made Heart shaped mini pizzas. It is really simple.

We used a premixed pizza crust that all we had to do was add water and mix. But you can use your own homemade recipe for the crust or even one of the refrigerated roll out kinds of crust.

We then used our largest heart cookie cutter and after pressing the crust dough into a flat shape on the pizza stone we put the cookie cutter on it and cut out the heart shape and used the scraps to fill in spots that didn't make it to the inside edges of the cutter.

Then we used spaghetti sauce for our sauce since we were out of pizza sauce. We added mild cheddar and mozzarella cheese and then we took the pepperoni slices and folded them together and cut them into heart shapes like the way you do when you are cutting out a paper heart.

Then we baked the pizza and ate them.

They were really cute and the kids enjoyed making them.

What kinds of food do you make for Valenitines Day?

Angela

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com

Cinnamon Candy

1 cup Brown sugar

2 tablespoons Butter

1/2 cup Corn syrup

1 tablespoon Cinnamon

1/2 cup Water

Combine ingredients. Boil to soft crack stage (275 - 280 F). Pour into well-buttered, shallow pan. When cool, cut in squares.

You might want to try these candy recipes here:

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com/chocolate-candy-recipes.html

Angela

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com

Another cooking activity for Valentines Day:

Victorian Gingerbread Valentines

2 1/2 cups unsifted flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup margarine

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/3 cup dark corn syrup

1 large egg

In large bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt.

Blend together margarine and brown sugar until smooth. Add corn syrup and egg; beat well. Add dry ingredients, about one-third at a time, mixing until smooth after each addition. Chill dough one hour.

Roll out half of dough on lightly floured surface to one-quarter-inch thickness. (Reserve other half for a second batch of cookies.)

Using heart-shaped cookie cutter, press out cookie shapes or use knife to cut around a cardboard pattern if you don't have a heart cookie cutter. Place hearts on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until golden. Remove and place on wire racks to cool. Decorate with icing and sprinkles.

Angela

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com

Here is my latest website and newsletter discovery that I think you all might enjoy:

Valentines day will be here soon, we made this easy activity the other day.

You will need:

2 Red Hearts Cut Out

Brown construction paper cut into square or round shapes (as many as will fill up one heart cut out).

Glue

Powdered Chocolate or dry choclate pudding mix

To Do:

Glue the brown pieces of candy onto the heart and then take glue and make designs on top of each piece of brown  candy and sprinkle with the dried chocolate. Let it dry and then glue or staple the other heart on top so it will open like a lid for your box of candy.

You can write someting sweet on top of the heart that will be the candy box top.

This smells like choclate candy and lasts forever and is not fattening. Great gift for the grandparents. You can even decorate one up really fancy for your Special Valentine.

Angela

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com

This weeks Home and Family Ezine is ready

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com

February 5 - 11, 2007

In this issue you will find lots of articles, recipes and activities for Valentines Day.

Download  the February 2007 blank calendar.

Download Free Ebooklet Healthy Dessert Recipes

Valentines Day Books

Monthly Bible Verse to Memorize

Articles

Recipes

Valentine Pie Recipe

Valentine Fruit Punch

Queen of Hearts Tarts

Pink Cloud Cake for Valentine's Day

Send in your favorite recipes here.

In The Next Issue - Healthy Heart Articles and Recipes

I hope you enjoy it,

Angela

Here are some fun activities to do for Valentines Day fun.

1. Help kids make their own Valentines using construction paper, lace, ribbons, sequins, butons, glitter, glue and anything else they or you can think of to add on!
 
2. Cut a heart shape from a household sponge and sprinkle with wheat grass seeds and keep the sponge wet so the children will have a growing heart. They can even give the hearts "hair cuts!"

3 .Make and decorate cookies or cupcakes. Use your favorite cake mix and icing and decorate with candy hearts, red hots, sprinkles and anything else you can think of.

4. Make a Valentine Box by decorating a shoe box with construction paper or wrapping paper and adding on lace, ribbons, paper cutouts, heart doilies and anything else in your craft pile.Kids can then put their Valentine cards in the box!

5. Use paints or food coloring to make Thumbprint Valentines by making two thumbprints into a heart shape and then add facial features . The child then can add the following - "Thumb Body Loves You!"

6. Play Cupid Chase by putting blindfolds on all but one (He will be Cupid) Tye a small bell to the childs shoe strings or on a string for a necklace.Then Cupid runs around the room anywhere while the blindfolded kids try to to catch him by listening for the bell.When Cupid is caught the catcher then becomes Cupid!

I have more here http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com/valentines-articles.html 

What are some fun things you do for this holiday?

Have a Great Day!

Angela

http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com