Another easy party to host is a cookie exchange. Invite all your girlfriends to bring 6 dozen of their favorite homemade holiday cookie. Put several from each kind on serving plate and let your guests enjoy sampling along with warm drinks. Before they go home each lady gets a mixture from all the cookies to take home.

Red and Green M&M Cookies

2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. soda
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup shortening
1 package red and green M&Ms

Blend eggs into soda, salt, water, vanilla and shortening.
Stir in white and brown sugar. Add flour; whip & stir. Mix in M&Ms.
Use a tablespoon to form dough on cookie sheet.
Bake in oven for 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

No Bake Cookies

2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 stick oleo or margarine
3 cups quick oatmeal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup peanut butter

Place sugar, cocoa, milk and oleo in sauce pan. Bring to a boil and boil for a minute. Remove from heat and add peanut butter and nuts (if wanted). Blend well, stir in oatmeal and vanilla. Drop by teaspoon on waxed paper. Let stand until cool and real firm.

Cherry Cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 (3ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, separated
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup finely ground blanched almonds
30 red candied cherry halves

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar beating well. Mix in egg yolk and almond extract. Gradually stir in flour. Cover and chill 1 hour. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in lightly beaten egg white and then in almonds. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Press a cherry half in center of each ball. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.