Christmas Cookie exchange

[scrap_candles]

Maybe this should be in the food section but I wanted opinions and not just from those who cook.

Saturday is my cookie exchange and it's from 6-8 pm. Since a couple girls will be coming from work I want to have some food but am stuck on what to serve.

I will be having some appetizers like, little smokies, spinach dip, nacho dip, cheese, trail bologna and cracker tray, cookies of course.

For birthday parties etc, we have shredded chicken, sloppy joes and that type of food but I don't want to serve that for this. I want this to be a little more.......(not sure how I want to word this, lol) but I don't want it to be like coming to another birthday party. I want it to be something they will look forward to each year.

I have a very limited budget though as to spending for this party so expensive foods are out.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Contrary Housewife]

I would add some lighter food like a simple salad (lettuce, tomato, cucumber) and some fruit -- perhaps a simple fruit salad of apple, orange, banana and grapes in a homemade honey yogurt dressing.

Mushrooms stuffed with bread and sausage can be cheap if you find a sale or some marked down sausage.

Make some iced tea and slice a lemon. Very inexpensive.

You might offer some wine coolers (wine and fruit juice) if it is that kind of crowd, only enough so folks can have one drink, since they'll be driving home afterward.

Or maybe some mulled cider since it is winter.

[sinopa27]

quesadillas
(flour tortillas with cheese in them)
You can add a little chicken if you wish. Do you have any of that leftover turkey in the freezer? Shred it up, saute in a little olive oil season, put in flour tortilla, top with a little shredded cheese, heat in a skillet, cut in triangles.

what kind of punch are you going to have?

[sinopa27]

oh....shred your own cheese.

[scrap_candles]

no alcohol for this group. We will be having hot chocolate, cider and a punch but i haven't settled on a cranberry/7up punch or a peppermint type christmasy punch that I found a recipe for yet. I want to try it out first to see how I like it.

[nancycg56]

When I have a party, I always try to have 2 or 3 hot appetizers and 5-7 cold appetizers ~ depending on the amount of people we are expecting. I can always increase or decrease the amounts. I also have 2-3 sweets and usually 2 munchie type items (Spiced nuts, chex mix, homemade potato chips, spiced pretzels, etc.)

How about a fruit salsa with cinnamon pita chips ~ it's delish and there are plenty of recipes all over the internet.

I make spiced cider for my winter parties and serve it up in my crockpot ~ a gallon of cider, slices of orange and lemon, and a tea ball filled with whole cloves and cinnamon sticks broken in half. Always a hit.

Another thing I do is take a pkg. of dinner rolls, slice in half horizontally (keeping them all together), spread the top and bottom with some type of mayo mixture, layer with meat and cheese, put the top on, wrap in foil, heat, then cut apart into bite size sandwiches.

You could also make tea sandwiches using, chicken salad, egg salad, ham salad, etc.

[WV_mom_of2]

I was also going to suggest the party sandwiches. Egg salad, chicken salad, pimento cheese, etc.

[lisaflex]

i second stfd shrms. always a hit! what about a cheese and fruit platter? just do cheddar and some grapes and cut up pears on a pretty platter.

probably too expensive but, proscuitto wrapped asparagus is also a huge hit

[tervsforme]

Sounds like you have some good ideas. You can always do the sausage balls with bisquick, ground sausage and cheese. Those are really quick and easy and always a hit as well.

[AnW819]

When I saw the title of this thread I though YES!!! We are having a cookie exchange @ FV!!!

[Libby]

When I saw the title of this thread I though YES!!! We are having a cookie exchange @ FV!!!

Oh don't I wish! LOL

Tight budget, social gatherings, fun stuff!

You've got the meat & cheese/cracker tray covered, everyone's bringing a dessert. Hmm....how about adding these:

* veggie & dip/hummus platter - use what you like and have on hand
* lettuce only dressed salad w/vinaigrette only on it
* bean salad (open a can of mixed beans, add finely diced onion & peppers - can use vinaigrette)
* pasta salad (Tuna with onions & peas? Italian with diced tomatoes and herbs? Greek: add crumbled feta, sliced olives, red onions, diced red peppers and greek dressing? go all out add shredded lettuce too )
* tuna cutlets (mix canned tuna, shredded cucumber (squeeze water out) with breadcrumbs & herbs and gently form into mini bite sized patties and pan fry ... I bet one tin could go a long way) serve with a kicked up mayo dip
* green bean salad or casserole? tater tot casserole?
* buy a frozen pizza and cut it into bite sized squares vs. wedges - serves more this way. not sure if you can find it but the plain bread crust and sauce only pizzas are being sold in our groc stores for cheap here
* deviled eggs?
* taco dip/plain salsa and chips
* rolls w/butter or garlic bread, possibly some with cheese?
* fruit kebabs with a flavoured yoghurt dip OR sliced fruit and melt a chocolate bar and make a mini fondue

I see that you've decided on your drinks but what about the basics, water, tea, coffee, soda (?) and perhaps make one signature cocktail to make it fun? Doesn't necessarily have to have alcohol in it)

I hope this helps Don't panic, you're not serving dinner - just nibblies ... have fun!

PS: What kind of cookies are you making for the exchange?