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I make these every year. They are a favorite!
Date Nut Balls
1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 cups dates chopped
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups rice krispies
1 cup flaked coconut

In double boiler, melt butter, add sugar and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add dates and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir to help it cool for a minute. Stir in eggs, a little at a time. Return to double boiler and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and pecans. Put the Rice Krispies in a large bowl. Pour date mixture over the Rice Krispies and mix gently.
Roll mixture into small balls. (Your hands will get sticky. Dipping your fingers in a little melted butter will help.) Roll balls in coconut.

I have made several different combos and all were very good!
Miracle Fudge

12 oz baking chips
1 can frosting

Heat chips in microwave, just until melted. Stir in frosting until well blended and creamy. Pour into a buttered pan. Refrigerate until set.

Combo Ideas:
Peanut Butter Chips/Chocolate or Vanilla Frosting
Andes Mint Chips/Chocolate Frosting
Vanilla Chips/Lemon or Strawberry Frosting
Chocolate Chips/Coconut Pecan Frosting or Chocolate or Vanilla Frosting
Cherry or Raspberry Chips/Chocolate Frosting

*You can also stir in chopped pecans, mini marshmallows, coconut, toffee bits, raisins, etc.
I crushed some Lemon Drop candies and added them to vanilla chips and lemon frosting.

Creamsicle Cookies
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sweetened orange flavored drink mix (like Tang)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup white baking chips

Combine flour, drink mix, baking soda and baking powder in small bowl. Set aside.
Cream sugar and butter 2 to 3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extract. Beat in flour mixture on slow speed just until combined. Mix in chips. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

We tried the Creamsicle Cookies and they are fantastic....this will be a good addition to our variety of cookies!  Someone has rsvp'd that they are brining Reindeer Ravioli...that sounds very interesting too!

Thanks

peggye, I just saw your reply. I'm glad you liked the creamsicle cookies and thanks for the nice review! Hope your party was fun and that y'all had lots of yummy cookies! How did the reindeer ravioli turn out? I'm very curious!

danette, I love date nut balls. This one is my Mom's recipe. She made them every year at Christmas. She's gone now, but I still make them every year, too!

FannieFarmer, the mice are just too cute!

Thanks for the date ball recipe.  I think my mom uses this one.  I you are right they are delicious.

Wanda

Have you seen those adorable Christmas mice made from Hershey kisses and marschino cherries?  I found more detailed directions here:

http://christmasnotebook.com/2007/12/15/christmas-mice/

They are not that time consuming to make and are so fun and festive!

I took the makings for these mice to our family get together just before Thanksgiving.  We ended up with the two eight-year-old girls making most of them.  They are quick, very easy and so cute.  I used chocolate chips as the heads (a kiss would have been too big) as well as the melting chocolate for dipping the cherries and slivered almonds for the ears.

Hello there peggye!  Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!  Would it "shake it up" too much if someone brought a pot of chili?  That way all of you could get something nutritional in your stomachs.  Maybe you can serve it in very small bowls as an hours d'vours, and just a not too well thought out idea but, maybe the little bowls you serve the chili in could be something that the guests take home.  You could use coffee mugs bought at the dollar store or at walgreen's.  They cost a dollar or so, by where I live.  I would've suggested cookies, but I only know a few recipes and I've already posted them, so I thought why not something "not sweet at all"?  Hope it's not too wacky an idea.

chicagosinger

I am new to the community, and saw this old post for 2008.  I hope you all are still planning to have your cookie party this year.  I am sorry that I can't contribute, for I am barely starting on baking cookies.  I am viewing some great prospects for my next bake out!  Thanks!

peggye, we had our first cookie exchange 2 yrs. ago,and just traded with each other, but this ideal is great, I missed it last year. I think I tell the Ladies at church, we're very few, and see what they think. Thanks for the ideals. Granna2

We did an interesting lunch at our bridge club.  Everyone brought her favorite salad bar ingredient, the hostess provided a LARGE bowl of lettuce/mixed greens, dressings and some rolls.  It was wonderful and easy since you only had to prepare one thing. 

What a WONDERFUL idea Peggy (I'm a Peggy too!)

Here's my thought...

How about each year, adding the names of some servicemen and servicewomen to the table and sending their cookies to them while they are protecting our Country?  Since you already have the wrapping station, I'm sure some people would love to send them out, but have no idea how to find someone who would love to see that box arrive.