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.