It's almost Christmas, again. I am putting ideas together for gifts, parties or get together's and holiday fun! Anyone can participate by sending in Ideas too! Here are a few that I think would be fun to do.

Click below and send some idea's . It can be party idea's, entertaining, unusual gifts, anything that you would do during the holidays......

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Hosting a Cookie Exchange
Guidelines for packing storage, and Mailing

 

Cookie Mix in a Jar

 

Dog Treats
Chocolate Dipped Spoons
Food Gift Decoration Ideas Hot Cocoa Mix
   

It wouldn’t be the Holiday Season without a spectacular selection of festive cookies to munch on. Host your own Cookie Exchange this year and save your time and energy for what really matters, reconnecting with friends and family. It’s a merry and practical way to ensure you have cookie tins loaded with fabulous homemade treats to share with loved ones.

Kraft Kitchens is delighted to help you organize what is sure to become a favorite holiday tradition. Following is a quick list of simple steps to get your exchange going. Check our tips to guide you through the no fuss planning process



•  Invite a group of about 6 to 10 friends for the Cookie Exchange. The idea is to have each person bake and bring a cookie of their choice that they would like to share with others.
• When they RSVP, have them let you know what cookie they will be bringing. You can suggest they go online and use one of the cookies featured here in our cookie exchange.
• As they RSVP, ensure there is no duplication of cookies they are bringing in order to guarantee the best variety of cookies for guests to take home.
• Ask everyone not to forget to bring enough copies of their cookie recipes for all participants – you know they’ll be some recipe swapping going on!


•  When you know how many people will be participating, you can figure out how many cookies each person will need to bring. For instance, if you want people to go home with 1 dozen of each cookie type, and you are having 5 people plus yourself (6 people total) over for the exchange, guests will have to bring 6 dozen of their cookie. Let guests know the amount they will need to bring.
• If the number of people participating in the exchange gets too high and let’s say 10 dozen cookies sounds like too much for people to bake and bring, you could cut it down to each person getting 1/2 dozen of each cookie to take home instead of a full dozen. This cuts down on the amount of baking.
• Search our recipes for easy and delicious make ahead snack recipes to serve your guests. Some ideas are: Feta Spinach Dip, Bacon, Cheese & Fruit Bites, or Zesty Shrimp Spread.

• When celebrating the Holiday Season, it's nice to remember the less fortunate. One way is when speaking with guests, ask them if they would like to bring a non-perishable food item that the group could use in creating a food basket to donate to a local charity.



•  Remind folks to bring large containers to collect and take their cookies home in. When they get home they can divide and wrap up their “stash” to give out as they please.
• Bake your own cookies and store them in airtight containers or freeze them.

• Try and have your house clean the day before the party so that on the day of the exchange, you can just tidy and turn on carols.
•  Spend a few minutes decorating and preparing an area to display the cookies. This could mean clearing off the dining room table, or setting up a large folding table in the living room. Where ever space allows!
• Have large platters or even clean box bottoms ready for cookies to be displayed in on the display area.

• Direct guests to our Guidelines for Storing, Packing and Mailing Cookies for helpful hints about what to do with the cookies once they are home.
• Have a selection of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sparkling water, fruit juices or other refreshing beverages to enjoy.



•  As guests arrive have them place their cookies on a platter or in a box you have set up in your display area.

• Place copies of the recipes along side each cookie.
• Enjoy some holiday music, delicious food and each other’s company.
• Then, each person takes their large container they brought with them and walks around the table and takes their fair share of cookies, whether it is 1/2 dozen of each type or 1 dozen of each type.

• Everyone goes home with a great assortment of home-baked cookies for the holiday season! And all they had to do is bake one kind!

After all is said and done, you may have just started a wonderful holiday tradition! Twists to this idea are endless. You could have a group of mothers and daughters get together. Or a group of coworkers could get together after work one evening. Or perhaps a set of neighbors joining forces on a Saturday afternoon.

Regardless of who or where, the idea of “many hands make light work” surely applies when it comes to a cookie exchange!

Guidelines for storing, packing and mailing cookies


When it comes to sending gifts to far-off loved ones, coming up with new ideas can sometimes be a challenge. But nothing says "happy holidays" like a batch of freshly baked cookies. To keep the cookies from crumbling en route, follow our simple guidelines:

• Always cool cookies before storing or packaging into a container.

• Store in an air tight plastic container, one that allows ample room and no "over crowding" of the cookies.

• Do not store soft cookies (chocolate chip or oatmeal) with hard or crunchy cookies (biscotti and shortbread). The moisture in the soft cookies will make the biscotti soft and visa versa.

• Package cookies for gift giving or mailing in air tight hard containers. Re-sealable plastic bags or wraps are not a good idea unless hand delivering.

• Harder cookies tend to mail the best but may be subject to breakage if packed too tightly, so leave ample room. Cookies should be packed snuggly, not overstuffed but also not under-packed.

• Delicate cookies such as meringues, are not good candidates to ship. Choose sturdy, heavier cookies.

• Most cookies are best at their freshest, so it's a good idea to express mail your handmade delectables.

• If there is room in the container, fill spaces between the cookies with crumbled wax paper (which won't cause moist cookies to dry out).

• Pack the container or tin with the cookies in a larger cardboard box for shipping. Place air popped popcorn (no butter please) on the bottom, top and around the sides - use a lot. Popcorn is cheaper and more degradable than shipping peanuts and won't crush like crumbled paper.

• Label the outside of box as "breakable" and mark with "this side up".




Chocolate Dipped Spoons
Stir a little chocolate sweetness into a mug of coffee, espresso or hot chocolate.

Plastic spoons
6 ounces white dipping chocolate
6 ounces dark dipping chocolate

1. Line 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper.
2. Put the white and dark chocolate in separate bowls and melt each type of chocolate in the            microwave. Microwave at half power for 1 minute. Stir thoroughly. Continue to microwave and stir at 15 second intervals until smooth and completely melted.
3. Dip a spoon into the bowl, covering both sides completely. Place the spoon on the cookie sheet & rest the spoons handle on the cookie sheet edge.
4. Make some spoons using white chocolate and others using dark chocolate.
5. Drizzle a contrasting chocolate color over each spoon.
6. Refrigerate until chocolate is completely hardened.
7. Wrap each spoon in cellophane, and bind it around with a piece of seam binding, or ribbon.

Food Gift Decoration Ideas:

Any way you wrap it, your recipient will be appreciative!

To decorate a:

Bag - It is easy to dress up a paper or cellophane bag. Line the bag with tissue paper. Use a hole punch, craft knife or scissors to poke holes or make slits in the bag; lace ribbon, string, buttons and/or decorative objects (sprigs of juniper, boxwood, greenery, jingle bells through the bags.

Bottle - Tie ribbons, raffia or twine around the neck of each bottle. Attach a homemade gift tag or small ornament.

Dish - Check discount stores and flea markets for unique plates, serving bowls, platters or tins. Stack the baked goods in a bowl, oversized mug, or canister and then wrap in cellophane and with a decorative bow.

Gift Tag - Personalize your gift tags! Start with scrapbook paper, cardboard, cookie cutters, felt, wood or premade tags. Then add your own special touches with glitter, ribbon, beads, stickers, puffy paint, or markers. Save your holiday cards and turn them into next years gift tags - just cut out the design or desired shape, thread and label it.

Jar - Cut a circle of fabric, tissue or wrapping paper 3" to 4" larger than the jar lid. Hold the circle in place with a rubber band and then tie a ribbon over the rubber band.

Hot Cocoa Mix

Everyone will love sipping on this rich hot chocolate!

For a hot cocoa twist, try different flavored coffee creamer.

5 cups powdered milk
2 cups powdered coffee creamer
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder, sifted *
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
miniature marshmallows, optional
1. With a wire whisk, thoroughly mix dry ingredients together. Stir in marshmallows. Divide mix into containers.
2. Attach instructions to jar: To use, fill mug one third full of cocoa mix and then stir in hot water