Ideas for preparing a great christmas party!!!

So as we prepare for a Holiday Party, we don't forget the dog. My daughter loves to dress up her doggy and he doesn't seem to mind. Here you will notice he is in a reindeer costume, just his size. Oh what a festive time of year. We did keep it simple this year with the business related party, simple is good. I basically kept it to a protein ( Honey Baked Ham), salamis, cheeses, olives, fruit & dessert, great wine (one white & one red ) and minimal decorations. I have found that if I don't overdue things and kept it minimal, it works equally as nice as if I had gone all out. I will share this cookie recipe, it makes for a wonderful little taste after a simple meal. It is called the Best Ever Sugar Cookie by Deanna House, and believe you me it is!!! I put this recipe through a press and are they amazing.

Best Ever Sugar Cookies (Makes 3-4 dozen) 

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• granulated or colored sugar
• Beat together butter and oil with electric mixer.
• Add sugar, powdered sugar, baking soda, cream tartar and salt. Beat well. 
• Beat in egg and vanilla
• Beat in flour
• Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours, until easy to handle.
• Shape into small balls and place on parchment-lined or ungreased cookie sheet.
• Flatten balls with dampened bottom of glass dipped in granulated or colored sugar.
• Bake in preheated 375 degree oven 8-10 minutes or until very lightly browned.
• Let cookies rest a minute or two before removing to wire rack to cool. 

Here you will notice white cholcolate with peppermint and white chocolate dipped pretzels, another easy diy dessert. So i really like wilton white chocolate large chips in your baking area of your local grocery store and while your there pick up a bag of pretzel sticks. I melted the wilton chocolate in the microwave  placed in a drinking glass this makes the dipping for pretzels easy and then I sprinkled with colorful sprinkles. I spread the chocolate that was leftover on wax paper and spread crushed cany canes over it and voila!!! Put them in some amazing crystal and what a lovely addition to the dessert area. I am into easy, easy and easy, as if you couldn't tell.