"TACKY" CHRISTMAS TREAT SWAP REVISITED

About 45 people attended the Tacky Christmas Treat Swap Monday night.  It was fun watching people come in the door, just to see what they were wearing.  Some went over the top while others were a little more low key.

This particular get-together was as much about serving others as it was about having fun.  We brought canned goods for Heartland Hands, an organization our church partners with in giving food to those in need. We also wrote 71 Christmas cards to shut-ins and widows in our church.  


Kristi Childs was in charge of teaching us a craft.  It was a really cute ornament that everybody had fun making.

Pam Gross taught us how to make a Happy Birthday, Jesus, Cake and cupcakes.  Each layer has symbolic meaning and is a meaningful way to remind us what Christmas is really all about. 

Three different prizes were given.  Susan Cherry won for most unique recipe.  Her Kitchen Sink Cookies had potato sticks in them!

Amy Lawler won for most creative packaging - brown paper sacks with Christmas trees on them.

Kristi Childs won the prize for tackiest outfit.  She was dressed up from head to toe with a Santa hat on her head, huge lights for earrings, a Santa wreath on her shirt, and reindeer shoes on her feet.

Of course, there can't be a meeting of any kind at church without food! Light refreshments consisted of chips, two'sy dip, kielbasa slices, cream cheese with pepper jelly and Wheat Thins, Chex Mix, and a coffee and hot chocolate bar with specialty toppings and creamers. 


Candied Kielbasa
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup horseradish
2 lbs. kielbasa type sausage, sliced (I used turkey)


1.  Mix brown sugar, ketchup, and horseradish in crockpot.  
2.  Add kielbasa and stir well.  
3.  Cover and cook on High until it starts to boil.  
4.  Reduce heat to Low and cook until sauce thickens, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. 
(It was all combined the night before and put in the refrigerator until the next afternoon.)

Two'sy Dip

 2 (8 oz. ) pkgs. cream cheese

1 can Rotel Tomatoes

1 pound sausage (hot or mild), browned and DRAINED WELL

1.  In a sauce pan on the stove, mix together the cream cheese and tomatoes.  

2.  Heat until combined well and warm.

3.  Add the well-drained sausage.

4.  Serve hot with your favorite chips.


Chex Mix
1 box of Rice Chex

1 box of Corn Chex

1 box of Crispix

1 box of cheerios

1 large container salted peanuts

1 bag of pretzels

1-2 pounds of pecans

1 2/3 cups of oil

6 Tbsp Worcestershire  sauce
Few dashes Tobasco sauce

3 Tablespoons of onion salt  
2 Tablespoons of garlic salt

1 ½ Tablespoons of chili powder

1.  Mix first 7 ingredients in a large trash bag.

2.  Mix liquids in a measuring cup next.  Add 1/2 & shake well.  Add the rest and shake well.

3.  Mix dry spices.  Add 1/3 to bag and shake.  Do this again twice.  

4.  Place mixture in 2 extra large, long aluminum lasagna pans.  (Will fill to top)    

5.  Bake at 200 degrees for 2 hours.  (Not necessary to stir.)

The best part of the night came at the end when everybody got to choose which treats to take home.  Most scouted out the table beforehand so they knew exactly which treats to get.

All in all, it was a fun, laid-back night with lots of talking and laughing.