Look Local Mississauga Holiday 2022

Mississauga

Welcome to the 2022 Holiday Edition of Look Local Mississauga! We hope you enjoy all the information and ads from local businesses about things to do, places to shop, and suggestions on how to enjoy the holiday season locally.

Mississauga is a truly diverse city. I suspect there is somebody from almost every nationality on the planet who now calls Mississauga home. Irrespective of your cultural background, we hope that you find time to relax and enjoy this season with friends and family. It is always a very special time of year.

The team at Look Local wish you Happy Holidays and all the best for the New Year!

Tim Root

president and founder tim@looklocalmagazine.com

cf LOOKLOCALMISS looklocalmagazine.com

Host a HOLIDAY COOKIE EXCHANGE

PG. 40

ART DIRECTORS

Sarah Noble Jennifer Brewster Vanessa Chong

For general inquiries, contact Kristy Elik at kristy@looklocalmagazine.com

For advertising information, contact Tammy Mifsud at tammy@looklocalmagazine.com

Look Local Magazine is published 8 times per year and is distributed for free at over 500 locations in Mississauga. Copies are also distributed to select neighbourhoods using direct mail.

Look Local is a registered trademark of Novavita Publishing Limited. Look Local Mississauga is published by Eloquent Editing, Writing & Proof Reading Inc. under the license of Novavita Publishing Limited.

Copyright: All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission from the Publisher is strictly prohibited.

Editorial contributions: Look Local encourages contributions of articles, recipes, photographs and other creative materials from the community. Please email kristy@looklocalmagazine.com. We reserve the right to edit materials received and can assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Select photos courtesy of Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation.

Disclaimer: Advertisements published in Look Local Magazine are supplied solely by the advertiser and the Publisher accepts no responsibility for opinions expressed in advertisements or for copyright issues with respect to them.

PUBLISHER'S LETTER

It’s the most magical season of the year! And Mississauga is alive and thriving, electric with so many festivals, parties and activities (Illumi is a must-see), all you have to do is make room in your cal endar. Make sure you check out our jampacked Events listings as you plan your holiday outings.

DYK: because local businesses are far more likely to use local suppliers than big supermarkets or retail giants, by buying locally, you can help to cut carbon emissions and air pollution? For even more tips and tricks to make this holiday more environmentally efficient, check out our Home & Garden story.

One fabulous gift idea that never goes out of style? A day at the spa! Discover Mississauga’s most luxurious Day Spas in our Health & Wellness section.

Our Shop Local feature is bursting with Our Favourite Things: a curated collection of nifty items, many handmade, guaranteed to make the perfect present or to bring joy to your home this special season.

Our Events section is filled with local activities for the whole family to enjoy. Why not create a new tradition with friends or loved ones this season and share an evening out at the newly renovated Meadowvale Theatre?

Cookies and Christmas: they just go together, don’t they? In our Food & Drink story, we show you how to throw a memorable Holiday Cookie Exchange… a fabulous way to try out some unique cookie flavours and varieties.

To accompany our story, we’ve also included a delicious recipe for Basic Cookie Dough, along with some creative alternatives Santa will surely appreciate with his cold glass of milk.

This season, let’s remember to be thankful for all the good in our lives, for our countless blessings and especially, for all of the special people that make up this great city. Enjoy the magic!

KRISTY ELIK | kristy@looklocalmagazine.com

GreenHoliday YOUR

BY KRISTY ELIK

This year, while you’re brainstorming to come up with your go-to gift list for the special people in your life, think about starting a new tra dition—giving a gift of sustainability to the earth.

We’ve assembled a short list of tips and recommendations that will inspire your family to get excited about going green this holiday season.

If there’s one tip to remember for an eco-friendly holiday, it’s this one: Keep the waste to a minimum. The more you reduce the accumulation of stuff, the more likely you’ll reduce packaging, single-use plastic, and unwanted junk.

Instead of buying wrapping paper every year, look for things you already have in your home to use as gift wrap, everything from paper bags to the fashion or comics section of old newspapers or magazines.

Cut down on waste with sustainable gift ideas. For someone who loves to cook, it could be as easy as sharing a copy of your favourite recipe in a mason jar, wrapping it with a beautiful hand-printed tea towel and tying it all up with string. Or decorate your gifts with nature. You can pick up all kinds of fun found items like fallen pinecones or pine needles and use them as adornment for your wrapped presents.

Cut down on food waste

• From Halloween through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, 45% of all food in Canada is sent to landfills. Food waste is not only expensive, costing an average family anywhere from $1,200 to $1,500 per year, but it’s also directly linked to climate change.

• Plan out your holiday meals! Use a resource like lovefoodhatewaste.com to save your food from the bin. Their handy meal planner will help you create the perfect portion sizes. With a little bit of eco-friendly meal prep, you’ll be able to reduce food waste.

• If you’re inviting guests over and expect you’ll have leftovers to share, ask people to bring their own containers.

• To reduce food waste, freeze your leftovers as soon as possible. To remember what’s in each container, label the container with the contents, and add the date you froze it.

• Compost! Composting makes plants healthier and produces incredible black soil. If you live in an apartment and have no compost bin, consider contacting a local community garden—most have compost piles and would be happy to accept your compost. Pop your compost scraps in the freezer to prevent odour before you drop it off.

Donate excess Christmas decorations to senior homes and volunteer to put up their decorations

What about the Christmas tree?

Explore eco-friendly Christmas tree ideas you can reuse, like a potted plant. If you have a real Christmas tree, you can properly dispose of it after the holidays by recycling it—check whether your local municipality offers curbside pickup for recycling yard waste.

More Green suggestions

• Donate warm coats, gloves and blankets to homeless shelters.

• Donate excess Christmas decorations to senior homes and volunteer to put up decorations. Make up a care package for an elderly neighbour.

• Create edible decorations that feed wild birds.

Create magical lighting

• Holiday lighting can be a drain on your energy usage and your wallet. LED lights are the most energy-efficient and consume 70% less energy than conventional incandescent lights. Some are even solar powered!

• LED lights are also more cost-effective: it only costs $0.27 to light a 6-foot tree for 12 hours a day for 40 days with LEDs compared to $10 for incandescent lights. On top of that, they are significantly less likely to burn out or break compared to their incandescent forerunners.

• To maintain a lower carbon footprint, unplug lights when not in use or use a timer to regulate usage.

Shop Local

Now more than ever, it’s important to support our local merchants and retailers by shopping for gifts in your neighbourhood. You’ll also use less gas and reduce the carbon footprint of your purchases. You might even consider walking or biking to your destination. One way to keep it local is to purchase gift certificates from area restaurants and food purveyors.

YOU

Didknow

 Within 6 months, only 1 per cent of everything the average person buys is still in use. The other 99% has been discarded.

 In Canada 545,000 tonnes of waste is generated from giftwrapping and shopping bags each year—and household waste can increase more than 25% in the holiday season.

 Canadians use 6 million rolls of tape to wrap up Christmas presents every year.

ON PURPOSE

Holiday Pampering

BY CECILIA BLYTHE

Especially at this time of year, stress from work and home life can build up in our systems and have serious, negative effects on our physical and mental health. Taking time out of our busy lives might seem like an indulgence, but what about setting aside just one day—even a morning or an afternoon—to pamper our selves? Just a few hours of self-care can improve our overall health in significant ways. And over the busy holiday season, we need to be operating at 100 per cent 24/7!

A morning or afternoon at a day spa is your ideal option when you want to squeeze in some self-love and don't have a lot of time. A wide range of pampering services are on offer and you can expect a mini retreat. To enhance the experience, book multiple treatments, allowing time between services to enjoy the spa's lounge area, sauna, steam rooms, and facilities for a healthy meal (or a Champagne toast!). Here’s a sample of some local day spas we recommend considering when you need a time out.

Cedar House Spa

2225 DUNDAS STREET EAST, UNIT 7 | CEDARHOUSESPA.COM

This exclusive, intimate day spa features luxurious service at fantastic prices. Whether you’re there for a manicure, pedicure, a massage or a whole day of pampering, the Cedar House team is dedicated to providing a memorable experience for each guest through exceptional service and technical excellence. Committed to a culture of creativity, growth, and mutual prosperity based on inspiring education, quality techniques, and teamwork, the experts at Cedar House hold themselves accountable for exceeding your highest expectations.

www.clubspa.ca

HACKS FOR A PERFECT SPA DAY

Arrive with time to spare:

Many spas have relaxation rooms where you can decompress pre-treatment with refreshments. You may be asked to fill out paperwork, so be sure to note which products or prescriptions you may be using. Don't forget to highlight any medical conditions so the therapist knows and can accommodate.

Remember that you’re in charge:

If something isn't quite right (say, the water temperature is too hot, or your therapist is madly kneading a tender spot), speak up. No spa wants its guests to be unhappy, especially if the problem can be addressed immediately.

Plan the order of your services

(and think about when you want to eat):

Give yourself an hour or two to digest before any bodywork, or eat lightly before a massage. Schedule massages before facials, or the products that have been applied to your skin will just come off during your treatment. Plan for manis and pedis last.

GlenErin Inn & Spa

1695 THE COLLEGEWAY | GLENERININN.COM

The Spa at the historic, charming GlenErin Inn (built in 1927 and named one of Ontario’s Finest Inns, Hotels & Spas), offers a fabulous getaway from the hustle and bustle of the City. Check out their menu of delightful pampering experiences; the expert team offers Bridal Spa Treatments for the Bride and Groom, Spa Meetings, Girls Getaways and even a Chocolate Spa Escape. Features five treatment rooms, an infrared sauna and impeccable service.

La Peau D’Or Beauty Wellness Spa

Located in the heart of Streetsville, for more than 30 years La Peau D’or has been providing an ever-expanding range of therapeutic treatments designed to relax, renew and rejuvenate.

La Peau D’or staff members take immense pride in a thorough analysis before deciding on a course of care based on your specific needs. Services have expanded to include new therapies such as Medical Aesthetic Services, Signature Registered Massage Therapy (RMT) treatments, and more.

Body and Soul Day Spa

214 QUEEN STREET SOUTH | BODYANDSOUL-DAYSPA.COM

For over 3 decades, Body & Soul has set the standard for what a highly regarded spa should be. Winners of the City of Mississauga’s ‘Most Beautiful Business Award’, Body & Soul’s spacious 4000+ square ft. establishment includes: a Manicure & Pedicure Lounge, Personal Lockers, Hair Salon & Makeup Studio, Couples Suite with Jacuzzi, Yoga & Meditation Space, Lunch Room in “the Vault”, Party & Event room, Infrared Sauna, and Spacious Treatment Rooms.

Village Wellness Spas

1900 DUNDAS STREET WEST | SHOPVILLAGESPAS.COM

Located in quaint Sherwood Forrest, Village Wellness Spas was established in 1989 to create a peaceful environment where clients could experience high performance treatments in a tranquil surrounding and a professional caring atmosphere. Every treatment is designed to promote relaxation and beauty through health and wellness. Village Wellness Spas also recommends the highest-quality skincare and offers a large range of products for a more tailored skincare recommendation.

THESE ARE A FEW OF OUR

FAVOURITE THINGS

Our gift to you this year? A one-of-akind, curated guide to some of the best gift ideas in the city! From stunning handcrafted silver jewelry to the tix Mayor Crombie's friends and family may find in their stocking, we've got you covered. And psst! You'll find lots more unique gifts at the Mississauga Festival of Trees Artisan Market, happening December 2nd to 4th at the Small Arms Inspection Building!

Myra creates stunning Woodburned Home Décor from ethically sourced, sustainable wood. With a variety of wood slices available (for ornaments, coasters, 5” to 9” inch pieces, and the odd strangely shaped wood slice), Myra will bring your custom piece to life. Such a special gift!

MYRA’S ART STUDIO etsy.com/ca/shop/MyrasArtStudio Itsourlittlesecret.ca

Offering “Beautiful things, naturally”, this curated lineup of products promotes natural self-care. Their Hair Growth Oils are a magical blend of natural and organic ingredients that have been proven to help promote growth, treat hair loss, strengthen hair, and stimulate new hair growth.

BEAUTIFUL THINGSS beautifulthingss.com

Create a coastal beach vibe with custom painted wooden paddles designed by Vicky Hare. A unique and thoughtful gift, each paddle brings a coastal vibe to any space.

VICKY HARE bluedesigns.ca

“This holiday season, my go-to gift for the whole family would be Raptors 905 or Mississauga Steelheads tickets. Our City is home to world-class sports facilities and athletes that are well on their way to perfecting their game. Being able to see the next generation of professionals play right in our backyard is part of what makes living in Mississauga so great!”

MAYOR OF MISSISSAUGA BONNIE CROMBIE

With its baby sea turtle and beautiful beach scene, what’s not to love about this charming ceramic Sea Turtle Ocean Beach Heart Dish? Use it for jewelry or just to add a bit of beach anywhere! Find it, and much more, at Inner Beach Co.’s bricks and mortar shop in

For 27 years, Crafted Decor has been offering a unique selection of high quality holiday decor. This nutcracker is the perfect addition to a well appointed home. Standing over 5ft tall with incredible details, he'll make your house look like a scene from a holiday movie! INDOOR use only. 65"H x 20"W x 16"D. CRAFTED DÉCOR crafteddecor.ca

Tiny artwork in a box! You’ll marvel at the detail of each of these delicate pieces of art, featuring handmade flowers—each made from 8 individual pieces of hand cut paper without patterns or computers. Comes framed in a shadow box, ready to hang.

PAPER ARTWORKS paper-work-105348.square.site/about

Stunning, delicious gifts starting at $13.50. Offering Fresh Premium Olive Oils, Naturally Aged Balsamics and many gourmet pantry items.

MY OLIVE myolive.ca

Belinda is passionate about designing and creating beautiful, personalized sterling silver jewelry with a sleek, classic feel and a contemporary look. Necklaces, bracelets, cuffs, anklets, earrings, initial necklaces, rings, keychains… all can be hand-stamped for a custom gift.

BELINDA CARMICHAEL belindacarmichael.com

To receive a sentimental gift like this 50"x 60" plush blanket would truly touch someone's heart. Such an ideal gift for anyone on your holiday list!

IMPRESSIONABLE GIFTS 74 Lakeshore Road E Impressionablegifts.com

Christmas CRAFT

MAKE YOUR OWN ORNAMENT AT HOME!

BY ANNELIESE LAWTON

One of my most cherished holiday gifts came from my son’s Kindergarten teacher. It was a hand-decorated plastic ball ornament crafted by my four-year-old. Now, it wasn’t the googly eyes that made his masterpiece special, it’s what lay inside: a piece of ribbon as long as he was tall on the day he made it. Right in the heartstrings. Pun intended.

To recreate this sentimental gift at home, here’s what you’ll need:

∙ Clear plastic fillable DIY craft ball ornaments

∙ Acrylic paint (formulated for glass or plastic, depending on what type of ornament you’re using)

∙

Or, acrylic paint markers (these are easy for little ones to grasp and use on a small space, rather than a paintbrush)

∙

Paintbrushes

Different coloured ribbons

∙

STEP 5

STEP 1

Decorate the outside of your ornament – this is where your imagination can run wild! You can use pipe cleaners to create reindeer antlers, glue to cover the ball in glitter, or you can even paint on a little creature such as a snowman or the grinch.

STEP 2 Measure your little one with ribbon (using a festive one like silver, gold, or sparkling green and red works well and looks pretty inside the ball).

∙ Other craft supplies for decorating, such as glitter, pompoms, feathers, pipe cleaners Want

STEP 3 Stuff your ribbon inside the ornament once the outside has dried.

STEP 4

Attach a ribbon, twine, or pipe cleaner to the top loop of the ornament for hanging on the tree.

On the back of the ornament, write your child’s age and name using an acrylic paint pen.

Other ideas include: placing a photo inside the ball, filling them with fake snow or lights – there are really endless ways to decorate. Have fun with it!

Check out the interactive Workshops taking place at this year's Mississauga's Festival of Trees in December!

creativehub1352.ca/ festival-of-trees

to get really creative with your Holiday gift ideas?

Breakfast with Santa

The team at ‘Twas The Bite Before Christmas can’t wait to host you for breakfast with the jolly old elf himself! Please consider bringing a donation of an unwrapped new toy. Proceeds from this event will benefit The Breakfast with Santa Foundation and Eden Food for Change. 8:30 to 11 am.

Cuchulainns Irish Pub 158 Queen Street South twasthebite.ca

Streetsville’s Christmas in the Village

Clarkson’s Christmas in the Village

NOV 24

Watch the website for more information! clarksonbia.com

Mississauga Symphony Orchestra: The Music of Italy and Argentina

NOV 19

The Mississauga Symphony celebrates 10 wonderful years under the baton of Maestro Denis Mastromonaco! Enjoy a specially curated programme that celebrates the Maestro's Argentine/Italian heritage. 8 to 10 pm. Living Arts Centre 4141 Living Arts Drive mississauga.ca

David Snelgrove Hearing Instrument Specialist

NOV 18-19 Celebrating over 25 years Vivienne Saba-Gesa Hearing Instrument Specialist

• NO CHARGE Adult Hearing Test* • Pediatric Testing • Ear Wax Removal • No Referral Necessary • Custom Hearing Protection • Hearing Aid Dispensing • Approved Vendor for ADP, WSIB, DVA • Service Excellence Guarantee • Independently Owned and Operated • Direct billing for most insurance companies *Some conditions apply www.senseofhearing.ca Two Locations in Mississauga to Serve You inton Ave) 325 Lakeshore Road E 905-274-3032 #5A-660 Eglinton Ave W, (Corner of Mavis Rd & Egl 289-652-2311 mississauga.central@senseofhearing.ca : mississauga@senseofhearing.ca :

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s

Cinderella

Join Cinderella and her Prince Topher in this revised classic. Set in a fairy land with giants, dragons and magic, this tale explores the idea of being true to yourself and the notion that we can all rescue ourselves if we think we can. All ages. November 25 - December 4. 8 to 10 pm & 2 pm. Meadowvale Theatre 6315 Montevideo Rd. Encoreseries.ca Mississauga.ca

Carmen

The story of an unbound Andalusian gypsy girl and Don José is a well-known classic. Based on music of Georges Bizet and Rodion Shchedrin, written and directed by Ján Ďurovčík, Slovak Dance Theatre’s Carmen is a fusion of libertine and conservative, Spanish and Slavonic, even including some folklore elements in the character of Escamillo. 8 to 10 pm. Living Arts Centre 4141 Living Arts Drive mississauga.ca/arts-and-culture/events

Light Up the Square 2022

It’s the official kick-off to the winter season, featuring the lighting of the City’s Christmas Tree, live entertainment, ice skating, food trucks and so much more! 5 to 9 pm. Celebration Square 300 City Centre Drive

NOV 25 Starting Look Local Volume 3 | Issue 3

Mississauga’s 1st Annual Holiday Night Market

Celebrate the magic of Christmas with a FREE and unique experience for the whole family. Discover a variety of local vendors, artists and so much more. The first 30 guests receive a Christmas Swag Bag. 6 to 10 pm. Vic Johnston Community Centre (Hazel McCallion Hall) 335 Church Street

Cabinfest

Holiday Antique Shopping Event

Toronto’s iconic antique market at St. Lawrence Market has moved to the historic Small Arms Inspection Building. Shop for one-of-a-kind gifts and coveted treasures from Victorian to mid-century modern. Over 80 vendors from Ontario and Quebec.  9 am to 5 pm. Small Arms Inspection Building 1352 Lakeshore Road East sundayantiquemarket.com

Splash’N Boots

Splash’N Boots are bringing their nearly 20 year legacy in the children’s music lands to new generations with a family show filled with connection, music and heart. 1 to 3 pm. Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Drive mississauga.ca

Christmas with the Clemons

The Clemons family invite you to share their favourite time of the year. This special evening features Christmas stories sprinkled in between musical and artistic performances. This variety show is guaranteed to get you and your family in the Christmas spirit! Proceeds will support underresourced youth in our community through the gift of education. 7:30 to 9:30 pm.

Living Arts Centre 4141 Living Arts Drive christmaswiththeclemons.ca

DEC 2-11

Mississauga Festival of Lights

The can’t-miss event of the season! Under canopies of glittering lights, explore the magic of the holidays with contemporary art installations, seasonal lights, artisan and culinary markets, musical nights and public workshops, all transforming the beautiful Small Arms Inspection Building into a sparkling winter wonderland. Pay-what-youcan at the door. Presented by CreativeHub 1352. creativehub1352.ca/festivalof-trees

DEC 4

A Retro 80s 90s Dance Party

A good ol fashioned dance party and social. Come in your best 90s outfit and dance to some of your favorite songs from back in the days! Enjoy a live DJ spinning tunes and prizes best dressed and best dance moves. 9 pm. The Rec Room 100 City Centre Drive, #1-705 therecroom.com

DEC 4

Santa Claus Parade

DEC 4

The Nutcracker

The State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine's holiday spectacle transports you to a dazzling winter wonderland in this special performance. Step into a magical world of toy soldiers and colourful characters. Tchaikovsky's beloved score is full of instantly recognizable music, including "Waltz of the Flowers," "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," "Waltz of the Snowflakes," and more. It's a magical classic for all ages. 11 am to 1 pm & 4 to 6 pm. Living Arts Centre 4141 Living Arts Drive mississauga.ca

The largest, most elaborate parade in the City will feature spectacular floats, musical entertainment, local celebrities and of course a visit from the man himself, Santa Claus! It will also support important local charities, including the Mississauga Food Bank, United Way of Peel Region and Habitat for Humanity. The parade starts at the intersection of Dunwin Drive and Glen Erin Drive proceeding southbound on Glen Erin turning westbound on to Motorway Blvd and final turn onto northbound Woodchester Drive. Route opens to the public at 11 am. Please dress for the weather! The businesses on Motorway Blvd. will be open with complimentary hot chocolate, light refreshments and full access to changing, feeding, and washroom facilities. 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Erin Mills Auto Centre Motorway Blvd. Mississaugasantaclausparade.com

Victoria

DEC 10

The Celebrity Symphony Orchestra returns with a joyous Christmas event, featuring magnificent renditions of world famous Christmas carols, arias, songs, and dances conducted by the charismatic Maestro Andrzej Rozbicki. Welcome a parade of stars from London Covent Garden and Milan’s La Scala. The program includes the most beautiful opera arias, duets and popular old and new Polish songs and carols. 7 to 9 pm.

Living Arts Centre 4141 Living Arts Drive

Presented by the

DEC 10

Christmas Memories: Macaroni Angels

Mississauga Chambers Singers presents Christmas Memories: Macaroni Angels, a series of vignettes on family memories of Christmas experiences shared from childhood through to adulthood. 7 to 9 pm. Meadowvale Theatre 6315 Montevideo Road mcsingers.ca

DEC 16

Salvation Army: The Gift of Christmas Experience a celebration of the 'real' meaning of Christmas through music, drama and carol singing. This year's performers include Phylicia and Cameron Rawlins, choirs and the Mississauga Temple Band. 4:30 to 6:30 pm.

Living Arts Centre 4141 Living Arts Drive Mississauga.ca

DEC 11 DEC 31

City of Mississauga New Year’s Eve Celebration

Ring in the New Year with high energy performances by international recording artists, grab a bite to eat from one of the many delicious food trucks, and enjoy an explosive fireworks show at midnight. 9 pm to midnight.

Celebration Square 300 City Centre Drive

Presented by Musical Event Solutions : A Merry Motown Christmas

Back by popular demand, Legends of Motown is a 16-piece cast of singers and musicians performing live looka-like/sound-a-like tributes to The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Jackson 5, Martha and the Vandellas and more. This special Christmas edition will also include wonderful renditions of Christmas classics recorded by Motown artists to bring you yuletide cheer. With dazzling choreography, authentic costumes, stunning vocal performances and a fabulous live band, this high-energy show with the most timeless music of our lives is not to be missed! 8 to 10 pm.

Living Arts Centre 4141 Living Arts Drive mississauga.ca

BY ILANA CLAMP

ost of us are big fans of the humble cookie: soft or crunchy, iced or plain, basic or fancy, there’s a cookie variety to please everyone. Cookies are the ultimate treat, perfectly snackable and easy to share with friends, family and loved ones. And even though there’s never a “wrong” time for a delicious cookie, the holiday season seems to be a perfect time to get baking and enjoy these delicious treats.

This year, why not gather a group of cookieminded friends for a festive holiday cookie exchange? Hosting a cookie exchange is a great way to entertain during the holidays—it works well as a day or night event, doesn’t involve fancy décor or preparation, and is memorable for both small and large groups. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with friends and family during a busy holiday season.

Here are some guidelines and tips to get you started planning your own sweet cookie swap!

Winner

Why not have guests vote on their favourite cookie during your party, with the winner taking home a shiny new cookie sheet wrapped up in a festive bow. You could also have multiple voting categories such as most creative and tastiest. Pick up a small gift to the winner of each category—the dollar store is a great place to find well-priced baking utensils—who doesn’t need a new whisk?

• Put simply, a cookie exchange involves you and your guests baking a variety of cookies, then gathering together to share so that everyone leaves with a bunch of different treats.

• Cookie exchanges work well with four or more participants, so that guests end up with a nice assortment of cookies. Ask guests to bring at least 2 dozen cookies, to ensure there are enough for guests to take home as well as enjoy at the party.

• You can suggest that guests choose a favourite recipe, perhaps something from their childhood or a treasured cookie passed down through generations of cookie lovers.

• It’s easy to stick to a simple “holiday” theme for this party, or you can have fun and get creative! Ugly Christmas sweater contest, anyone?

So what is a cookie exchange, exactly?

Come one, come all

• Have some fun creating a holiday-themed digital invitation using a site like Canva or a party invitation site like Evite. Make sure the invitation clearly explains any rules or themes you want your guests to follow.

• Clarify for guests whether you prefer this to be strictly a cookie exchange, or if you want to allow any type of homemade treat. Similarly, specify whether you want treats to be homemade or if you would welcome storebought treats as well.

• Ask guests to bring a couple Tupperware containers or cookie tins to take their cookies home, but have some extras on hand just in case.

• Request that your guests RSVP as soon as possible with the type of cookie they plan to bring—first come, first served! This allows you to avoid duplication before the baking starts.

• Give guests plenty of notice—at least four weeks—so everyone can plan around other holiday commitments.

• On your invitation, encourage guests to choose recipes that would work for the average baker, with ingredients and equipment that are easy to source. A celebrated family sugar cookie recipe might be delicious, but if it includes fresh organic vanilla pods and a spritz cookie press, others may not be able to recreate the recipe easily or affordably.

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Learn more at Erinview.Sifton.com

Refreshing the palate

• With cookies already selected as the star of the show, you don’t need to go overboard with other snacks and drinks, but it’s nice to have a few options on hand.

• Coffee and tea pair perfectly with cookies, but consider adding hot cocoa or mulled apple cider as well.

• Something savoury adds a nice balance to the sweetness of the cookies. Veggies and dip or cheese and crackers would pair well.

A sweet memento

• Continue the festive feel of your party by capturing your guests’ recipes and assembling them into a cookie recipe book!

• Have guests bring along a printout of the recipe on a single 8 x 11 sheet of paper with the name of the guest and cookie name at the top of the page. Request that recipe listings indicate clear, concise ingredients and directions. Ask them to include a line or two on their recipe printout, that speaks to why they chose to make this specific cookie.

• As guests arrive to your cookie exchange, have index cards or festive labels ready to go along with colourful markers. Ask everyone to list their name along with the name of their cookie and place the card on the table next to their treats.

• Before you start the exchange, take a photo of each tray of cookies with the notecard next to it.

• After your event, assemble all recipes together along with the corresponding photo. Assemble into a digital “recipe book” that you can share with your guests.

One dough, four ways!

This basic cookie dough recipe can easily be transformed into delicious holiday treats using one of the four options below. Be sure to select your option before starting the recipe so you can double check the ingredients and baking instructions.

INGREDIENTS

ü 2 ¼ cups All-purpose Flour ü 1 tsp Baking soda ü ¼ tsp Salt ü ¾ cup Unsalted butter, at room temperature ü ¾ cup Granulated white sugar ü ¾ cup Packed brown sugar ü 2 Eggs ü 1 tsp Vanilla

METHOD

1 Preheat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2 Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

3 Beat butter, white sugar and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy.

4 Add eggs and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture; beat until well blended.

5 Add flour mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients, beat just until combined.

6 Drop 1 heaping tablespoon of dough about 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheets.

7 Bake just until cookies lose their shiny appearance, about 9-10 minutes. Let cookies cool on a baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely.

FOR CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 Stir 1 cup of chocolate chips (any type) into dough after step 5; follow remaining directions.

FOR DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

1 Add 3 tbsp. cocoa powder to the flour mixture in step 2, whisk well to combine.

2 Stir 1 cup of chocolate chips (any type) into dough after step 5; follow remaining directions.

FOR LEMON COOKIES

1 Add 2 tbsp. lemon zest, 1 tbsp. lemon juice and 1 tsp. lemon extract to the egg and vanilla mixture in step 4; follow remaining directions.

FOR CRANBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 Stir ¾ cup white chocolate chips and ¾ cup dried cranberries into dough after step 5

2 Add a few additional white chocolate chips and dried cranberries to the top of each unbaked cookie before baking.