LTH Small Household Food Exchange - Season 2 - January 11

Location: Semiramis, 4639-41 N. Kedzie, Chicago, Illinois 60625
Date: January 11, 2010 at 7 pm

Participants:
The GP (+1): YourPalWill's Chili
Hellodali: Tuscan white bean, sage and sausage stew.
Cathy2: Lasagna or mac n cheese
lemoneater: dal makhni
leek: Enchilada casserole
boudreaulicious: Spanish bean soup

Number in the group: We will cap attendance at each gathering at 14 and food exchange participants at 12 so that participants are never making more than 12 servings of anything. Couples will be counted as one serving.

The food: The food exchange started so that those of us in 1-2 person households who love to cook aren't stuck eating that big pot of chili we made for a whole week. Instead, we make 8-12 servings of one dish, and bring back 8-12 different dishes. Participants bring one pre-portioned serving of their food for everyone who has RSVP’d to come that month. A serving is whatever you think it is for your food item. For soup, it may be two cups say; for pastrami, 4 oz. (or more if you make more generous sandwiches). The priority will be for entrees, meats, soups, salad, stews, pastas, grains, etc. One dessert is OK each month, we just didn’t want 6-7 dessert offerings as everyone was mostly interested in main meals (and there is a fabulous LTH dessert exchange the first Monday of each month). There will be no restrictions on the food – we’re an omnivorous bunch. WE DO HAVE ONE MUSHROOM ALLERGY IN THE GROUP SO IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING WITH MUSHROOMS, PLEASE INFORM THE GROUP WHEN YOU POST WHAT YOU ARE BRINGING. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY ALLERGIES, PLEASE LET US KNOW. Again, that doesn’t mean that the ingredient is off limits, it just means to let everyone know if you are using it that month. We decided we don’t want to start running any list of off-limit foods or ingredients.

The containers/delivery system: Everyone in the group should use the Gladware 3 1/8 cup plastic containers (it’s the approximately 7” x 7” square). You’ll portion your food into those containers to bring and hand out at the gathering. You can freeze them or not depending on your schedule and when you make your food. There is no need to fill the container, just put in whatever is a serving to you. If you use something else to deliver your food that month (Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, etc.) you should also return the empty containers from the last round so that everyone always has a stash of these containers for the exchange and doesn’t have to run out and buy more.

The process: Each of us will take turns being the organizer each month. Each time we meet, someone will offer to organize the next month’s gathering.

Approximately two weeks before the next gathering, the organizer will post a new thread to the events page announcing the date and the location for that month and asking for RSVP’s.

Participants will need to RSVP their attendance by one week before the monthly gathering. They will then need to post what they are bringing by three days before the gathering. This is to help make sure we get some balance in the food so that we’re not all bringing something that has to be eaten in the next 2-3 days; that there’s a balance of stuff that can be frozen for later, or eaten sooner.

The organizer will monitor the thread to see what people are bringing. The organizer will also make reservations for the group at the restaurant where we will be gathering. People can choose to stay for dinner or just come and exchange food and leave. Just let the organizer know so they can get an accurate count for the reservation. Other LTHers are welcome to join us for dinner, even if they are not bringing food to exchange.

We’re all pretty relaxed and flexible with the exchange as there will likely be some bumps here and there and questions we will continue to come up. Remember that the core purpose of the exchange is for a group of LTHers to exchange good food they’ve made with minimal hassle and restrictions.

edited to add participants and dishes

I'm in for the exchange and dinner.

Hi,

Definitely in for dinner and exchange.

Regards,

Sadly, a conflict came up; I can't make it. But I'll look forward to February.

I'm in for exchange and dinner too.

I'm thinking dal makhni, from Indian as Apple Pie's recipe. Looking forward to it!

Unfortunately, I'm out for a month or two due to a kitchen remodel (hard to cook for a crowd with a toaster oven and induction burner)

Put me down as a tentative, please, making pork or steak enchiladas.
(one for dinner, one exchange)

edited to add - the enchilada sauce is turning out quite spicy. How do we feel about spicy sauces?

leek wrote:Put me down as a tentative, please, making pork or steak enchiladas.
(one for dinner, one exchange)

edited to add - the enchilada sauce is turning out quite spicy. How do we feel about spicy sauces?

The chili I made has a bit of heat, so as far as I'm concerned, spicy is okay.

I think this is going to work better as an enchilada casserole. They were tasty but fell completely apart when I did them for us

I'll be bringing a Tuscan white bean, sage and sausage stew.

HI - it's just me this time, not +1 - the DH has a meeting he has to go to

Hi,

I'm vascillating between lasagna or macaroni and cheese. One of them will show up with me on Monday.

Regards,

Looks like we have five for the exchange so four servings needed. Six for dinner.

I'd love to join you (first timer!!) and I'd like to bring Spanish Bean Soup (Very hearty, more like a stew...)

Jen

oops--just re-read the instructions and realized I'm late--if that will mess people up (if they've already made their stuff and don't have enough) my soup and I can wait until Feb. Just let me know!

thanks!

Jen

Hi,

It's GP's call, though usually we ring the curtain down Thurs or Friday before. You can likely attend, because the cooking is weekend project for most of us.

Regards,

It's such a small number of us this time, I will not have trouble making another serving
(sometimes when we get up in numbers it's hard, this time I'll have leftovers).

And here I was trying to get ahead of the game! Ah well, if everyone agrees, I don't mind making another batch.

We have a majority. lemoneater -- I hope it's not too much of a problem to make another batch. Welcome boudreaulicious! We'll look forward to meeting you on Monday. I don't think you'll have a problem finding us -- look for the table of people with cooler bags.

-Mary

thanks you guys!! I hope it's not too much trouble--I hate to make a poor debut See you on Monday!!

I didn't see it posted but do participants bring the recipes for their dishes? Just wanted to avoid any other inadvertent protocol errors!

Jen

boudreaulicious wrote:I didn't see it posted but do participants bring the recipes for their dishes? Just wanted to avoid any other inadvertent protocol errors!

Jen

Jen,

Nobody brings recipes, though if you like something then inquire.

We're pretty relaxed. We order together, share food family style and chat about life in general. Before the physical exchange of food, each person presents their dish. We exchange food, wish everyone well and go home. Bring cash to pay your share toward the bill. Otherwise there is no protocol.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Regards,

Thanks for the info Cathy! Looking forward to it!

Please just note if your dish has mushrooms (they are allowed, I just need to know due to a dietary quirk of nature)

Definitely no mushrooms in my dish

boudreaulicious wrote:Just wanted to avoid any other inadvertent protocol errors!

Well, there is the food exchange rule that new members have to arrive about 15 minutes late and leave 15 minutes before everyone else so that we have time to talk about them and their outrageous protocol errors. The arriving late is especially important so that we can bring the conversation to an awkward halt when you walk in and clear our throats before giving you the once-over.

I kid, of course. Looking forward to meeting you and learning the story behind your interesting handle!

Hellodali wrote:
Well, there is the food exchange rule that new members have to arrive about 15 minutes late and leave 15 minutes before everyone else so that we have time to talk about them and their outrageous protocol errors. The arriving late is especially important so that we can bring the conversation to an awkward halt when you walk in and clear our throats before giving you the once-over.

Oh, that explains so much!

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday.

Be nice or you'll get the "special" food container

see ya Monday!

Jen

Jen,

You have probably read everything you need to know. Just a small reminder to use the container used at the exchange: Everyone in the group should use the Gladware 3 1/8 cup plastic containers (it’s the approximately 7” x 7” square). It is a one-time to occasional purchase, then everyone can stack and save these containers for another event.

Regards,