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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Christmas ·

Shay’s 5th Annual Recipe Exchange: Appetizer Edition


On Tuesday night, I hosted my 5th Annual Recipe Exchange!  This is one of my very favorite nights of the entire year. Over the last five years, we have mastered this little party.  This is how it works:
1. Everyone emails me their recipe in advance and I compile a book.
2. Everyone brings their recipe the night of the party.
3. We eat, eat, eat and then vote on our favorite (the winner gets a prize!).
4. Everyone leaves with a party favor and a copy of the recipe book.
Over the years, we have done a Cookie and Bar Exchange (I provided dinner and then we ate the sweets), we have done a Side Dish Exchange (I provided a ham, dinner rolls and dessert), a Casserole Exchange, and then this was our second time to do an Appetizer Exchange (we did it back in 2011 and decided to repeat it this year too).
I always provide drinks and dessert to round things out.  Next year, we’re all coming in our pajamas and doing a Breakfast Recipe Exchange :).
We also do something charitable with each exchange.  In the past, we have provided for angels off of the Angel Tree and donated to our local food bank.  We make a contest out of that too :).
My house is ready!  I’m just waiting on my girls to arrive!

 Each person grabbed their name and set it next to their appetizer.

We used my big plates for this big feast :).

This is where we voted for our favorite (it’s always such a hard decision!).

I had a drink station in my butler’s pantry.
Our recipe books for the year plus a little goodie from me to them.

Right before they showed up…

…and right after.  To me, this feast is better than Thanksgiving dinner!

Narci brought her A-game and donated over 130 cans to the food pantry!  She was so excited to be our winner this year :).
Andrew put all of the cans in the back of his truck after the party…we had over 300 cans!

A picture of us and our “love” bangles :).

Some of my very favorite girls.  We were missing sweet Manda (we love you Manda!!!) on this night, but she was so sweet and sent her recipe along even though she knew she couldn’t attend.  Manda’s coming off of her 3rd round of chemo and her blood counts are just too low to be out and about.  The next day, I took her a big plate of all of our recipes though…a perfect feast!
The big winner of the night was Lori’s Phyllo Cups!  I will try and post the recipe soon because it was really, really good (and so simple too!).
Such a fun way to spend time with friends, help out a good cause and enjoy new recipes.  Honestly, this is one of my favorite holiday traditions.
On the foodie blog today, one of the desserts I served…
…Peppermint Cocoa Krispies Treats!
They were a big hit :).
XOXO
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Comments

  2. Patty says

    I love the idea of an annual recipe exchange with girlfriends. This would be a neat idea for a cookbook with all the recipes you all have exchanged over over the years with pictures from each party. I am doing appetizers for our Christmas Eve family party. Looking forward to seeing the winning recipe.

  8. Katie Paladino says

    This looks so fun! You gals always look like you have so much fun! I want to be your friend:)

  9. K says

    How fun! How did you make the recipe book (I know you compiled everybody's recipe) but did you use a particular company or format to make the book, or did you use your own computer program). I love the design of it. Also, do the appetizers have a Christmas theme to them, or do people just bring any appetizer they want?

  11. Sarita @ it's my girls' world says

    I totally took your idea and am doing an appetizer recipe exchange this friday. only thing is a couple of my friends aren't sending the recipes in– ekk!! Figure that I can always ask them for it the day off and send an online version via email after. Should be a fun night no matter what though1!!

  13. Elizabeth says

    What a fun event! I might just have to have one down here in Houston! 🙂 thank you for sharing!

    Where are the kiddos during your fun girls night?!?

  15. Alicia says

    Looks like such fun! Your home is absolutely beautiful! I think I may have to start this with my girlfirends!

  16. Anonymous says

    I love the pic of you gals with your "love" bangles on. Is that the gift you gave your friends?

  17. Haley Southey says

    SO much fun!! This is such a great party idea!!! And I love that food was donated to a shelter as well. I'm going to have to steal this idea for next year!

  18. TorontoSAM says

    So much fun! I planned my own recipe exchange modeled after you for earlier in the year, but I had to cancel it. I'm hoping to try it again in the spring. Your tree is fabulous, you must be so happy to be in your new house this year for the holidays.

  21. Bethany says

    Shay, What a fun party! You are so so blessed to have these sweet ladies in your life. True friendships can be a hard thing to find anymore.

  23. Renae says

    Love the whole idea of doing this, something charitable as well as the recipe exchange. A good way to spend some time with the ones you care about and doing something good for the Holiday season!

  25. Shesabigstar says

    I love everything about this! What a fun night! I say it over and over again but you ladies are so fortunate to have each other… and it's amazing that, despite busy schedules and plenty of little ones, you still make time for each other during this busy holiday season. Truly what it's all about!

  26. Brianna says

    Looks like such a fun tradition! I have a great idea for a shade of shay — everyday cleaning. I'd love to know what you do on a daily basis to tidy up. What products do you swear by, what areas do you touch at least once a day, and what do you do monthly, etc. I love to know other womens' tips for this sort of unglamorous thing! Thanks Shay!!

  27. Queen In Between says

    So much to love in this post…but seriously my favorite pic is of the group where you are shoeless…always the sign I am having a great time and feeling 100% comfortable with my peeps.

  29. Amanda Carroll says

    Such a fun idea! We do an annual cookie exchange party but this sounds more delish! Will have to consider a change for next year. BTW I love any post that shows inside your house. It's beautiful!

  30. Shannon says

    What a fun time! I just love seeing the amazing friendships you have, you are one lucky gal 🙂

  32. Christine says

    I'd love to hear some/all of the recipes! We are doing appetizers for my family Christmas eve and I need suggestions! 🙂

  33. {Hi Sugarplum!} says

    I can practically feel the Christmas spirit radiating from your home!!! It's just so gorgeous! What a fun idea and fun night…I need to raid your recipes bc I have FOUR events coming up where I need a dish…

  35. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says

    YES to all of this. One of my favorite nights of the year too. And Lori's appetizer? I've thought about it no less than 20 times since Tuesday. And I love my bracelet! Thank you friend!

  36. Jersey Love says

    Your home is just absolutely beautiful! This looks like so much fun. I go to an annual "Sweet Swap" a few days before Christmas each year so we all have a fabulous dessert spread for Christmas Eve/Day.
    Love the recipe exchange…. taking notes 😉

  37. Keisha Dawson says

    Such a fun idea! My sister and I are definitely going to need to do this next Christmas once our houses are completed!

  38. Anonymous says

    This looks like such a fun time! I would love to start an annual party with my girlfriends. When life calms down a bit, can you do an updated makeup shade of shay? I'd love to know your favorite eye shadows (since you didn't touch on them last time!)

  41. Ashley@The Vanilla Tulip says

    I am DYING over your kitchen!!! Absolutely beautiful! And what a sweet time with friends…. love that:)

  42. Sally Hepworth says

    What a lovely idea. I might do one of these with my girlfriends … although we might all end up with take out

  43. Paula says

    What a neat party! I love the idea! Appetizers are my thing! Small bites of a lot of yummy different types food.

    Still praying for your sweet friend, Manda! I was just telling one of my girlfriends about her.

  44. Allison says

    Love this idea! So much better than the ornament or cookie exchange. I don't want a bunch of cookies or an ornament, but a bunch of recipes that I've tasted, sounds so fun! Hoping to do this with a spouses' group I belong to. 🙂

  45. maureen says

    My daughter and I loved seeing all of the pictures of your party! What a totally awesome idea! Madyson is 10 and she said, we are totally doing this next year! And she wants to invite HER friends, not mine! Thank you so much for sharing!

  46. Anonymous says

    I'm commenting on this day because for some reason I can't comment on Jammy Cocoa Christmas day. Anyway, I really lIke the boots you're wearing and wondered where you got them? Thanks!

  50. Jaren says

    I LOVE this tradition and how you guys change it up each year! The canned goods are such a nice thing to add too! Praying for Manda too!

  51. Andrea says

    Oooh, how I would love a copy of that recipe book! This is such a fun idea. I want to start this tradition!

  52. Roz apk says

    I love this idea! I might be stealing it for next year. Also, love that you have your shoes off. Looks like such a fun evening with your friends. Rozapk

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