Cookie Exchange 2011

 

Our annual gathering provides us with time to catch up on what's new with everyone.

 

The Ornament Exchange saw a lot of stealing this year... oh so naughty!

The Cookie Bundles Ready To Go Home!

Also, bags of warm scarves and sweatshirts for the homeless teen program downtown called P:ear. 

Annual Cookie Exchange, December 2010

2010 MJ's Cookie Exchange!

We shook it up this year and gathered on a Sunday night for the annual cookie exchange.  This is our 17th year and we are ushering in the second generation of cookie bakers.  This core group has shared a lot of life, celebrations, and cookies. This year we were honored to have three generations with a visit from Yolanda's mom, Uma!  She caught on quickly to the ornament exchange, and lets just say that stealing was at an all time high.

Once we all made nice again it was time to collect our cookies.  Every year I am amazed at the beautiful packaging and variety of cookies. Here are just a few...

  The rest of our gathering was spent enjoying catching up on everyone's news of the past year.  We again are supporting P:ear this year with donations of a full cookie basket and several bags of socks, sweatshirts, hats and scarves.

 Happy Holidays Everyone and soon cookies will be showing up at YOUR door!
~ Come Gather Around The Cookie Table!

~ MJ
Copyright 2010 MJ's Table Talk

Field Trip, December 5, 2010

Cookies and Quilt Block Exchange at the Pineneedle!

The Pine Needle in Lake Oswego had a wonderful event yesterday.  My sister in-law and her mom joined me at the annual cookie and quilt block exchange.  We each brought 3dz cookies and 5 identical blocks of our own design using a common fabric.  We left with 5 different and darling blocks and a variety of 3 dozen cookies!  Geri made it even more fun by handing out quilter's candy for birthday's closest to her's...I won one of the lovely bundles.  Pam, the party girl, showed off all the original blocks that were made before we did the blind draw for our 5 to keep.  A fun event and now to make a beautiful runner from the blocks I brought home!

 
~ MJ
Copyright 2010 MJ's Table Talk

15th Annual Cookie Exchange, December 5, 2009

Cookie Exchange 2009!

Yes, 18 gals and 9 dozen cookies each! It was a very sweet party!

Our annual cookie exchange has morphed over the years from being about the cookies and packaging to now bonding with friends and catching up on all the news. It was our 15 year anniversary last Thursday night, and we had a ball! The ornament exchange allowed our aggressive side of stealing and hunting to come out and play, the food table is where all the catching up unfolded, and the evening ended with the exchanging of cookies!

This year we each contributed to the P:ear cookie basket and everyone brought sweatshirts and scarves for the kids at P:ear. We are heading downtown on Monday to drop off the goodies and say hi to Beth and the gals. To learn more about P:ear and how you can help, check out their website at P:ear!

My home made treat this year was one of my classic recipes for Christmas:

Nutcracker Sweets

Melt one 12oz package of dark chocolate chips, add 3 tablespoons of cinnamon, pour over one cup oyster crackers and one cup cashews combined. Spoon on to wax paper and allow to set.

One is never enough, so makes lots!

~ MJ
Copyright 2009 MJ's Table Talk

14th Annual Holiday Cookie Exchange, December 2008

Let the merriment begin! My 14th annual cookie exchange launched me into the holiday spirit last night with dozens of beautiful cookie packages and dear friends fighting over ornaments in the stealing game! It has been a tradition that has brought us all together for at least a once a year check-in. As we gather and unload our goodie baskets our families are waiting back home by the door in anticipation of the delectable variety of treats soon to return. In the beginning all these cookies were a great way to prepare for teacher, neighbor, and special people gifts. It allowed us to stock the freezer for holiday parties yet to come. As I look back over the years it is the faces I remember, funny moments, and dear stories of those I cherish. I know the cookies were good too, but the joy of baking with family and friends and then celebrating in the rewards will live on in my memories forever.

Our custom is for each guest to bake 6-dozen cookies and package in sets of 6 cookies each, with a holiday flare. Then at the party we set the cookies out, enjoy eating some yummy treats while we catch up on all the news, and then roll up our sleeves and dive into the ornament exchange. A mystery pile of wrapped packages, one from each guest, and numbers pulled from a basket by each gal sets the order of play. The game begins, selecting a package or stealing one from someone else who has chosen. Two steals and it is yours to keep. By the end of this free-for-all we have worked up our appetites yet again and go back to the savories this time. We close the party with the cookie swap; each gal leaving with 12 unique packages filled with mini-master pieces of holiday treats!
My teakettle is whistling, so it is time to go sample one of Pam's Cherry Tassies! Tomorrow I have my eye on Ins' creative cranberry butter cookies! Oh the joy...someone's gotta do it!

~ Come Gather Around The Table!
~ MJ
Copyright 2009 MJ's Table Talk