On Tuesday, I hosted my Sixth Annual Recipe Exchange and it was a Breakfast Edition.
This is truly one of my favorite things to do during the holiday season.
Each year, we have a different theme (appetizers, desserts, side dishes, casseroles), everyone turns in their recipe in advance so that a little book can be made for the party, we bring something to donate for a charitable cause (we’ve done the Angel Tree before and we donate to the food pantry), and then everyone brings their favorite dish and we all have a big feast. I provide the drinks, any additional accompanying food, the festive music and twinkle lights and we have the best time!
Over the last six years, this has been such a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays with friends, get new recipes for my own family to use throughout the year and do something good for our community. I love these recipe exchanges :).
This year was even more fun because we all came in our pajamas. Nothing goes better with a big feast than stretchy pj pants. #amen
Here’s a little peek…
Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes to stir.
Getting ready for my Cranberry Mimosas 🙂
Each year, I give them their Christmas gifts at this party…this year, buffalo plaid blankets. They are so soft!
I pulled out my big plates for this occasion…lots of food was piled on them!
Little tags so that everyone knows who brought what.
Our voting station. It’s a fierce competition over here!
My favorite people all piling their plates full of breakfast goodness.
So, the thing is…Karla is never dull :). I love these two! Karla and Sheaffer.
I’m so blessed to do life with these ladies.
I love you girls all so much!
So, once more, let’s recap (for those of you who might want to do this too!)…
1. Everyone emails me their recipe in advance and I compile a book.
2. Everyone brings their prepared dish 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 we’ve done an Appetizer Exchange twice (we did it back in 2011 and decided to repeat it this last year too).
I always provide drinks and dessert to round things out.Side note: we decided that every year should be done in our pajamas…it seriously made things so much more fun!
This doesn’t have to be a holiday party either! You could do your own recipe exchange any time of year…a summer exchange would be fun too!I made this for our exchange…
You can find the recipe here.
The winner of our favorite recipe went to Lisa who brought a Southwestern Breakfast Casserole. I will make it and post it on my blog soon!
And, the winner for bringing the most canned food was Andrea! She brought 275 cans of food to be donated to our local food pantry.
We loaded up Andrew’s truck and drove everything to the food pantry the following day.
Such a wonderful night with my friends.
xo
Erika Slaughter says
Is one of my favorite nights of the YEAR!! Great food, fabulous friends, and the best hostess…seriously so much fun!! It doesn't hurt that the party favors are always amazing! Thank you, friend!!
Sally Hepworth says
Gorgeous idea! I must do this with my friends x
The Mozingo's says
Shay, I've been wanting to make recipe books for the women in my family. Can you share how you put yours together? Would love to see!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh goodness! I just print them out on plain paper and staple them together. Nothing fancy going on over here!
shaeken says
My grandma and I made recipe books for our family using great-grandma's recipes after she passed away. If you contact a print shop (such as Staples, though for any Oklahoma folks, I recommend QuikPrint), they will print your pages on the paper you choose, put a front and back cover on and bind with a comb – it makes it easy to keep with the rest of your recipe books without getting damaged 🙂
Leslie says
How fun! It sounds like you ladies have a ball. Where are the buffalo plaid blankets from?? Seriously so obsessed with that seasonal pattern.
Mix and Match Mama says
Pottery Barn 🙂
kelly says
Great party! Everything looks so pretty!you're so generous with your favors 🙂
kelly says
Oh I forgot to mention the best part!! The candy canes as stirrers for the hot cocoa! What a brilliant idea – maybe I live under a rock, but I never thought of that doing that (even though it's so obvious.) My kids thank you 🙂
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
I had the best time as always! The food was of course delicious, but all of you girls make me so thankful to have such strong friendships. And MY WORD at the laughing. We've got a sweet bunch of friends, but they are also HYSTERICAL, and I'm grateful for that. 🙂 And Karla? No words! And my new blanket? Well, I'm already having to fight Carter for it. Love all you girls so much! xoxo 🙂
Jennifer s says
You roll-ups sound so good. Will you share the recipe?
Corinne says
Yes, I had the exact same thought! Please Sheaffer???
(Ha! When I typed Sheaffer, the F key got stuck so at first it said Sheaffffffffffer. Made me giggle!)
Narci says
My favorite party of the year!! So fun–you are such a great hostess!! Thank you!! Xoxo
Kathleen says
I am hosting my own cookie recipe exchange on Saturday thanks to your wonderful idea! I am so excited! Looks like yall had fun!
ebaker says
How do you decide who's invited? I have so many friends I would be afraid someone would get their feelings hurt if they found out I had something like this and they weren't invited..
Mix and Match Mama says
These girls and I have been in a Bible study together for 8 years now :).
Jen Besnett says
I say this every single time I see your exchange post but next year I am doing this!!! So much fun!
Jesenia Martinez says
I just love this idea! What a great way to spend time with friends! And Shay, congratulations on going to be an auntie! So fun 🙂
Linsley Schneider says
This looks so fun! I did a cookie exchange, but I love the idea of doing a different theme! I might try one like this in the new year! And wearing PJs is a HUGE plus!
Lynn {A Taste of Country} says
Looks like a great time! But 275 cans? My word! Did Andrew get a new truck? I loved that he still had his old truck after all these years!
Mix and Match Mama says
She owned the competition! Ha! And Andrew still has his old truck. He loves that thing so much :).
Kim says
This looks like so much fun. I would love to have your recipe for cranberry mimosa's. you can email me @ khn@windstream.net.. Thanks so much.
Mix and Match Mama says
It will be on my blog on Saturday along with the Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate recipe!
votemom says
i would like the recipe for mexican sausage balls plz!
Mix and Match Mama says
I'll make those too!
Kelly Stamps says
This is so fun. We need to start this with our friends!!!!! Love the whole thing!
Happy Green Home says
SO fun!! I think I'll need an invite next year, hehehe! 😉 I'll be coming from Austin!
kimm atwood says
So fun! I want to stay in my pajamas all day now, wrapped in a blanket sipping cocoa and eating !
Briana Lee says
This is such a cute idea! I especially love the idea of hosting breakfast and having everyone wear pajamas.
Briana
http://youngsophisticate.com
Tiffany says
Love this idea! Breakfast foods are so good and pajamas!!!
Kim says
Are you the only one that gives a gift? You are very lucky to have such a big group of girlfriends! Love the breakfast theme and PJ's.
Angela Ellingson says
So so fun! Wish I could join! 😉 Maybe I'll start one someday!
Tracy says
What a fun evening for your friends! Can't wait for you to post the recipes!
Mal says
I am so making a girls night out of this idea in the near future!
Side note – I know you share in my excitement for Michael Buble's Christmas Special tonight! Cannot wait. #longestdayever
Saz says
This sounds like such a lovely idea! I love how it helps a good cause too.
Kelli Herrington says
This is such a fun idea and what a great way to get some new recipe.
Lisa R. says
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea!!!! Thanks Shay!!! Merry Christmas!??
Jenny says
One of these years, I'm going to host a party like this. It looks like so much fun! 🙂
Mary-Beth Fulkerson says
What an awesome idea. I may steal it 🙂
Carrie says
You seriously have the best group of friends! How fun!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Staci says
What a great group of ladies! You all are always having so much fun!!!
Staci
http://www.missbloodymary.com
Megan says
I noticed a picture of a cavalier in the background of one of your food pics, do you have a cavalier? The only thing cuter than an ashby picture would be ashby and a cavalier!!
Little Bits of Joy Blog says
275 cans of food??? Go big or go home Andrea!!! that's awesome!! Looks like it was a fun party! My girlfriends and I did your scarf exchange party and we all loved it!
Lauren says
So much fun!! We are hosting a big party this weekend for about 40 people and I'm doing several crockpot things. Would you mind sharing with me your crockpot hot chocolate recipe? I searched your blog and it's possible I overlooked it. So sorry! Thank you!!!
Heather says
This is such a fantastic idea! I may need to start this tradition with my friends!
Andrea Worley says
Love this idea! what a fun party!
Debbie says
Looks like a lot of fun!
Unknown says
Looks like you all had a blast, such a fun idea!
Love this happy little space on the web, you are such a great source of encouragement. Thanks for sharing with us!
Jeanie says
Fun times!
Unknown says
Such a fun idea! I would love to host something like this, but where do the kids and hubby go? Does it end early enough at night that the kids can come home and sleep at a reasonable hour?
Mix and Match Mama says
Andrew took them to dinner and then to get ice cream. After that, they came back home and went upstairs and got ready for bed. My party lasted from 6 to 9.
Erika says
Where did you get the buffalo plaid blankets for your friends? They look so soft and cute!
Carin says
I am an avid reader, but I haven't ever commented. Karla was my potluck roommate freshman year. She is a doll – the very best! So fun to see her smiling face today as I was reading.
Rachel says
How great is this?! You have some awesome girlfriends! We will definitely be trying that out this next year. It just looks like such a good time. And what is better than a party in JAMMIES??
Thanks for sharing 🙂
-Rachel at thefashionistahousewife.blogspot.com
Lisa Longoria says
So sad those buffalo plaid blankets are all gone from PB!
Love on the Lake says
Hi Shay! Could you please share your slow cooker hot chocolate?
Agnes Grenda says
Sounds like lots of fun for a good cause.
Agnes
findinglifebalancewithagnes.blogspot.com
Kjlb37 says
I totally stole this idea from you Shay! I am hosting our small group from church on Sunday night and we are doing appetizers as well as collecting canned goods for our local rescue mission.Thanks for sharing this with us!
Beautifully Seaside // Formerly Chic Coastal Living says
What a fun party! I love casual gatherings like this!
Briana Runde says
What a fun night! I love this! And how awesome all those canned goods you all donated!!!!
Aubrey says
So fun! Love me a good Christmastime get-together with girlfriends!