Tips for Hosting Your Own Recipe Exchange/Favorite Things Party

Merry Thursday, friends!

Today, I am reminding you exactly how I host my annual Recipe Exchange/Favorite Things Party every year just in case you want to host one yourself this holiday season.

Because you guys, it is TRULY one of my favorite nights of the year…

…I am re-sharing the deets so that hopefully you will host one too 🙂 .

Now, I have discussed in great detail my love of having people in my home and hosting a party about 984 times here in blog world.  There are so many posts on this one topic including my 19 KEYS FOR HOSTING FESTIVE & EASY HOLIDAY PARTIES as well as this post on HOSTING PARTIES and there is even a podcast episode where Erika and I break down the specifics that you can listen to HERE.

And that’s not even cracking the surface on the topic 🙂 .

Today, I thought I’d do one post with my TOP TIPS FOR HOSTING A RECIPE EXCHANGE/FAVORITE THINGS PARTY just in case you want to try it this season (although, you can TOTALLY do it any time of the year!) because last night was mine, and it truly is always one of my very favorite nights of the year.

As a reminder…

Everyone brings one recipe that correlates with the theme to be shared amongst the group.  It’s basically a big potluck where you enjoy the yummy food and then exchange the recipes.  In the past, these have been some of our themes:

• Appetizers (our favorite, we’ve done it many, many years)
• Side Dishes (I provided the turkey and rolls)
• Desserts (I provided the “dinner” portion)
• Casseroles
• Breakfast food
• Mexican inspired
• Anything you want to bring (just your BEST recipe!)

Two years ago, I invited everyone with the theme of “bring your favorite family recipe” and for the love, my friends all revolted against me.   These amazingly sweet people thought that was the worst idea ever and for the first time in like 13 years, I changed the theme to “forget it, bring whatever the heck you want” 😉 .

You could do soups, slow cooker recipes, must include “bacon”, cookies, something with cream cheese…the list is long.

So, that’s the basis of the party.  We are super fun so about 5 or 6 years ago, we added a second element (but you could totally do these separately and not together) and made the party also a Favorite Things Party…

For this, everyone in the group brings their favorite “thing” for every single guest.  This way, everyone leaves the party with a big collection of “favorites”.  After many, many years of doing this, I have thoughts…

• I personally feel like these parties are best for smaller groups of very close friends/family.  In my instance, I’m purchasing 8 items for my 8 friends (and they’re all doing the same), so this gets a little pricey.  You might not want mixed company/people who normally wouldn’t buy gifts for each other out money on strangers.
• Smaller is also better because you can gift nicer items that you know they will love and use.
• We do not set a price point, but you absolutely could.  This group has been besties for 17 years now.  We know all the ins and outs about each other and our families.  We’ve traveled together many times, we’ve suffered tremendous loss together and also celebrated many joys.  We always know that one year maybe my tried and true FAVORITE thing only cost $8.  We are excited to get that $8 item and could care less that maybe someone else spent $30 on their favorite (when last year, maybe they only spent $10).  We are all really fluid about this stuff because we know we are all bringing our #1 favorite that we cannot wait to share.  All of that to say, if it simplifies your party, set a price range 😉 .

So, that’s that basis of the party.  I’m not going to give you “party planning” tips today (I have many of those posts already!), I’m really just going to share some silly little “tips” that I find very useful when it comes to this evening on top of my normal “party planning”.  This is practical stuff, y’all.

In no particular order…

HAVE EASY LABELS OUT TO PUT BESIDE THE FOOD

Truly, I’ve done this a million different ways. In this photo above, I used construction paper and a Sharpie and just added them to my old place setting trees, but I’ve also…

…used butcher paper and had Sharpies around for people to mark their food.  Where’s the name on this one?  No name needed when you recognize the handwriting and sass of Mrs. McAnally 😉 .

GET IT ON THE CALENDAR EARLY

I personally think, after years of hosting, for a bunch of ladies who are already busy during the holiday season, earlier is better.  Last year, Thanksgiving was a week earlier, so we even had it at the very end of November.  The most important reason why you have it early in the season though is so that everyone can actually use these recipes.  Every year, I find a recipe or two that I LOVE and use it later on when hosting other friends and family.

GET THE RECIPES IN ADVANCE

I always have my friends send me their recipes in advance for three reasons.

First, I want to make sure I don’t need to fill in any gaps.  As the host, if no one submitted a beverage recipe, then I need to provide drinks.  If we don’t get a dessert/sweet treat, then I need to have that.  I either do this with my own recipe or I just add a second recipe to fill in the gaps for a well rounded meal.

The second reason I like the recipes in advance is to make sure we don’t have two of the same thing.  You would be surprised how often I get two recipes that are pretty identical.  I always kindly ask the second person who submitted the recipe to please pick again.

The third reason why I like the recipes in advance is…

…so that I can make our little recipe books!  You guys, don’t overcomplicate this. I literally just look at their recipes and type them into a Microsoft Word document, print and staple.  I add a photo of us to the front and bam, they all leave with a booklet.  This is basic stuff.

KEEP IT COMFY

We love to come in our comfy clothes!  Some years, we come in “ugly” Christmas sweaters, but more often than not, we come in festive pajamas (and even clay face masks 😉 ).  If everyone is bringing food and gifts already, let’s not stress about what to wear.

GIVE OUT A GREAT PRIZE

I always give a great prize to the person whose recipe is voted #1.  We bring in our yummy food, we make a big plate, we chat over dinner, and then everyone secretly votes at a little voting station I make before the #1 recipe is announced (the host cannot win).  I personally feel like at this party, since I’m having my guests bring most of the food, they are doing 90% of the work.  I take the money I would normally spend on food and drinks and give a really good prize to the winner.  This makes my friends extra competitive and more fun the next year 🙂 .  What do I gift?  I’ve done everything from a nice bracelet and/or necklace to a big gift card, a really pretty find from Pottery Barn…whatever it is, it’s just extra special as I’m extra grateful they all brought food over.

So, those are five tips should you want to host a similar party this year!

If you have questions or need more tips, please comment and share!  I’m so happy to help you host an awesome party too!

Don’t forget, I HAVE GIFT IDEAS and FESTIVE COOKIES today too!! Make sure you pop over there as well!

I’ll see you guys tomorrow! xx