LTH Vegetarian Small Household Exchange Feb. 21st, 2010

Date: February 21st, 2010

Time: 12:30 pm

Location:
Masouleh
6653 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60626-4016
(773) 262-2227

We'll cap brunch at 10 (preference given to exchange participants)

Brunch:
ecs (+1)
pairs4life (+2)
lemoneater (+1)
Hellodali
msoma97
Indianbadger

Exchange
ecs - zucchini chickpea filo pie
pairs4life - lasagna
lemoneater - legume dish
msoma97 - black-eyed peas/mustard green stew
Indianbadger - Pongal/Avial


Number in the group: We will cap attendance at each gathering at 10 so that participants are never making more than 10 servings of anything. Couples will be counted as one serving.

The food: There are great omnivore dinner and dessert exchanges that happen monthly. This is for people interested in doing a vegetarian dinner exchange (without meat, meat stock etc, but can include eggs and dairy). We make 5-10 servings of one dish, and bring back 5-10 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. The priority will be for entrees, soups, salad, stews, pastas, grains, etc.

There's a preference for healthy dishes, one no-wheat eater, one veg Atkins. If your dish has wheat or carbs, it can be included, but just inform the group in your post.

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 the meal 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 the meal, even if they are not bringing food to exchange.

Eliza- Is your husband joining us?

I'm in for brunch (+2, if space permits, no participant should be kept away from brunch) & the exchange.

I've been anxious that I would miss this post. Thanks for organizing.

I now wonder if we should have 2 Veg. Small Household Exchanges b/c I enjoy the company & the food I take home so much

In + 1!

Shoot--I'm out of town that day. I'll try again next month.

I'm missing out on the regular exchange this month so I'd like to join this one. I cook vegetarian most of the time anyway.....

veg hound - i am sorry you are missing this round! hopefully, we will see you in march!

hellodali - welcome to our veggie version of the food exchange!

pairs4life - my +1 is actually the miniature version of my partner

Hello- I am a neebie and would love to attend. Thank you- Melissa

ecs wrote:pairs4life - my +1 is actually the miniature version of my partner

I think you already know how much my mum-in-law likes him.

I'm in.

I am thinking of making Pongal/Avial. Spiciness can be modified if needed.

Indianbadger wrote:I'm in.

I am thinking of making Pongal/Avial. Spiciness can be modified if needed.

I loved last month's offering & I love heat, so fire away.

welcome, msoma97!

Indianbadger, spicy is good for me! Your coconut rice last month was *amazing*!

Indianbadger wrote:I am thinking of making Pongal/Avial. Spiciness can be modified if needed

Indeed, bring the burn! Also, I'm probably making Bittman's plantain stew.

I am planning on bringing some sort of vegetable tart - likely with a variety of vegetables, beans and cheese. As you can read, I am still brainstorming but my offering will be of that genre. Looking forward to the exchange!

Plantain stew did not fare well in my trial, so now I'm looking at a legume dish.

lemoneater wrote:Plantain stew did not fare well in my trial, so now I'm looking at a legume dish.

You crack me up! Don't do any more trials, I like the surprise like that edamame soup I provided last month. Luckily, I made a decent first impression.

I think I'm going to play it safe, CI's lasagna perhaps.

I'll be trying Mushroom Bourguignon from Smitten Kitchen.

Hello:
I will be bringing black-eyed peas/mustard green stew over brown rice. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

I am so very sorry to do this, but I'm going to have to miss the exchange. I just had a big assignment come my way at work and will need my evenings and weekend to complete. Apologies to all for dropping out so late.

Hellodali wrote:I am so very sorry to do this, but I'm going to have to miss the exchange. I just had a big assignment come my way at work and will need my evenings and weekend to complete. Apologies to all for dropping out so late.

Hellodali - sorry you are going to miss the exchange! you are welcome to join us for lunch if you need a break from work.

I'll be bringing herbed polenta with feral mushrooms

I'm exhausted after jury trial last week. I'm scaling back, but it is a favorite soup of ours. Spinach & Pea w/ coconut milk. Sorry for the last minute shift.

Hello! Since this is my first meeting I just wanted to confirm the servings to bring. It looks like 5- is that correct?
Thank you-
Melissa

msoma97 wrote:Hello! Since this is my first meeting I just wanted to confirm the servings to bring. It looks like 5- is that correct?
Thank you-
Melissa

No. There are five participating (ecs, Indianbadger,lemoneater, pairs4life,& you) in the exchange so you only need to bring 4 servings. The 5th serving, for yourself, just keep at home .

Hellodali isn't able to attend, otherwise it would have been 5 servings because then there would have been six participating in the exchange.

Look forward to having great food in the fridge this week.

Indianbadger wrote:I'm in.

I am thinking of making Pongal/Avial. Spiciness can be modified if needed.

Victor, you knocked this out of the ballpark. We really enjoyed it for dinner tonight.

I thought the food at Massouleh was fantastic. Thanks to Elizabeth for arranging it there.

ecs wrote:I am planning on bringing some sort of vegetable tart - likely with a variety of vegetables, beans and cheese. As you can read, I am still brainstorming but my offering will be of that genre. Looking forward to the exchange!

Wow! I just ate this. It was delicious. I anticipated heavy but it was so refreshingly light & well-seasoned.

I just had the black-eyed pea & mustard(green?) stew from msoma97. It was fantastic.

I love having treats in the freezer.

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. p.s. you must give up the soup recipe!