Caroline, Chicago, IL
Soup is on the minds of many at this time of year. Here in Chicago, we are enduring temperatures well below freezing so it feels good to keep your hands wrapped around a warm cup or bowl as often as possible.
I love making soup but often get stuck in a rut with my same recipes. And, although leftovers are my favorite food group, I must admit that the third or fourth time into the same pot of soup to finish off the batch starts to make me lose enthusiasm for even the most delicious soups.
This winter, after talking to my mom about attending a holiday cookie exchange, I had the idea for a soup exchange - an event that embodied all of my favorite things: gathering with friends, eating together, talking about food and sharing food. I sent out an email calling all soup makers, we gathered, ate together and exchanged our soups. It was such a hit!
Here is how it worked:
I made a pot of soup to serve. Each guest (a wonderful mixed group of co-workers, old friends and neighbors) made soup and packaged it in 3 cup containers (about 2 servings). After we ate together and discussed our recipes, we gathered around the table to exchange soups. However many containers each person brought, she chose the equal number to bring home. It was such a success… we all felt giddy with excitement as we reloaded our bags with an arsenal of soup for our freezers.
It was a surprise to see how each participant’s personality showed in her soup offering. My considerate and crafty neighbor tied a box of Jiffy cornbread mix atop each of her chili containers. My talented co-worker who is a designer had beautiful labels on her curried pumpkin soup. My Parisian neighbor brought a delicious creamed cauliflower soup and a plate of the most delicious macaroons for dessert. (I like to believe her ability to make the best macaroons ever is partly due to genetics and her French blood.) For weeks after the exchange, on busy days when I had not thought about preparing dinner until I was starving, I opened my freezer and found my friendly containers of soup waiting to be discovered.
A few other helpful ideas for hosting a Soup Exchange:
- Use soup recipes that can be frozen. If the recipes call for pasta or fresh things that do not freeze well, leave it out and include instructions to add it when reheating.
- Include instructions for garnishes or ask guests to include copies of the entire recipe with each container.
February 8th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
What a great idea!
February 9th, 2007 at 10:18 am
This is such a great idea…I love soup, and eat so much of it. My old roommate in college always shouted “Soup Nut!” when she saw me sitting on the couch eating a bowl. While I love cookie exchanges, this sounds like a wonderful new twist! If I can gather up enough girls, I’d love to host one.
February 9th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
really love this caroline. WISH so badly i would have been there. XO
February 9th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Oh, this is a lovely idea. Wish I can find enough people around me to do exchanges!
February 10th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Even if you have one friend who will exchange with you… it is still fun to trade a half batch for a half batch!
February 11th, 2007 at 5:16 am
You’ve inspired me to organise one of these! I’m in Australia - so I’ll have to wait until the weather gets cooler.
February 11th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I saw that The Gracious Bowl blog did this as well. It IS such a good idea. What were your favorites? And, I see that you’re based in Chicago. I’d just started reading you but didn’t know where you were based. Love the site and the photography!
February 12th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Hey! Cool site, cj! MMM! Italian sausage soup with wheel noodles! I think I’d like some buttered banana bread for dessert. Got any good recipes? (nuts optional, of course)
February 12th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Ugh! I can’t believe we missed this…although, I’m happy it happened. I remember discussing this with you last year on a much smaller scale, us bringing some, you making some (I think as it turned out we just came over and ate your soup!). Looks like it was a huge success. Count us in for winter 2008.
February 16th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
what a great idea!
April 30th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Hey missv, where in Australia are you? If Melbourne, you’re most welcome to join our fledgling soup exchange, started by our illustrious SoupOfficial who has unfortunately left us to return to her native Canberra soup exchange - another option for you.
Check out our brand new blog!
http://soupexchangemelb.blogspot.com/
Oh - and it doesn’t have to stop for summer - as long as it fits in the regulation-sized leak-proof container, it can be swapped.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
[…] If any of you have been reading since the beginning, you may remember my excitement last year with the inaugural soup exchange. Although it is nearly March and we are heading out of soup season, we are doing it again! One last soup hurrah! This coming Sunday, friends, neighbors and colleagues are gathering at our house to enjoy a soup dinner and then exchange soups so each end up with a freezer or refrigerator filled with a potpourri of yumminess. […]