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Holiday Cookie Exchange
Wednesday, November 09, 2005

By Christina VanGinkel

For years, I have wanted to host, or at least attend, a cookie exchange. Some time ago, my mother arranged to do this with the other people who lived in her apartment building. They each baked up their particular holiday specialty and then spent a few hours together in the common room exchanging cookies, sampling a few, sharing a hot cup of cider, and bragging why so and so's cookies are just the best they have ever tasted. The concept was simple; the host invites a group of friends, family, or co-workers to each make several dozen cookies, each dozen being of the same type. To make the exchange itself more of a fun occasion, ask each person to bring a few extras to place out on a tray to share on a sampler plate. On the chosen date of the exchange, everyone shows up with his or her cookies and a few empty containers. Depending on the number of attendees and the amount of cookies each person was requested to bring, they then swap their cookies that they baked, either dozen for dozen, or 1/2 dozen per 1/2 dozen. Everyone gets off easy on the baking, having only to mix the ingredients up for one type, but they end up with an assortment worthy of the best laid spread.

Note: To keep track that not everyone makes the same 'sugar cookies', or 'freezer cookies', the host is required to ask what the guest will be making, and to mark it down. If more than one person picks the same recipe, they should ask if they had a second favorite to bring, as someone has already chosen that.

When my mother did her swap, a few of the people asked if they could bring candies instead of cookies. My mother said that would be fine, as long as the candies were done individually, excluding a few items such as peanut brittle, to keep the actual exchange as fair and simple as possible.

I recall that my mother said that while the exchange of the cookies and candies was the original reason for the get together, that the enjoyment of the afternoon was the reason she arranged to do it again the following year. In fact, several people called her or stopped her in the hall just shortly after Halloween to ask her if she intended to do it again that year. When I ran into one of her neighbors the following year after my mothers passing, she said that she sure was going to miss my Mom, and her cookies!
Too often, the holidays are a blur of parties and shopping, and something as simple and congenial as a cookie exchange can remind us of why the holidays are fun. They are the perfect time of year to gather with a group of like-minded people and share in the simple things that create a holiday mood for many of us. In addition, what better way to celebrate than over a heaping plate of assorted cookies and candies in a variety of tastes, colors, and decorations!

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