Small Household Food Exchange January 10 at Khan BBQ 7 pm

Location of the very first organizational dinner which touched off the exchange phenomena thanks to Hellodali! We visit Khan BBQ after more than two years:

Khan B.B.Q
2401 W Devon
Chicago, IL 60645
773-338-2800

Dinner attendees: (to be updated over time with priority offered to exchangers) 12
Cathy2
Nr706
Boudreaulicious
Leek +1
Pie Lady
moetchandon
The GP
Katie
petite_gourmande
SteveZ
jygach

Exchange: [X exchangers = bring X-1 servings] eight servings
Cathy2 - Egg noodles with Caramelized Onions, Cabbage, and Smoked Ham
Nr706 - some sort of weird variation on Lamb Osso Buco
Boudreaulicious - a layered gratin-like base of potatoes, onions and kale with braised chicken thighs. Or something to that effect.
Leek – maybe fresh cod brandade
Pie Lady - Cream of Chicken Almond Soup with some homemade beer bread
moetchandon - Beef Stroganoff, using grass-fed beef from the small, exclusive Cardinal Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
The GP - southwestern lasagna/casserole (can't remember the exact name)
SteveZ: Carne Adovada and Rice
jygach: collard Greens with Smoked Turkey and Corn Bread

Number in the group: We will cap attendance at each gathering at 12 and food exchange participants at 10 so that participants are never making more than 10 servings of anything. Couples can be counted as one serving, or two - if you come as a couple, please specify whether you're bringing one or two dishes to exchange.

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 6-10 servings of one dish, and bring back 6-10 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. 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, with a blue lid). 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.

Several 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.

I'm in. I'm making a very popular dish - TBD. Seems like everyone likes to make TBD.

So very happy that Khan's is the pick--never been and had to miss another opportunity tomorrow night due to scheduling conflicts--so yay!!! Leaning towards a potato/kale and protein TBD dish.

Please put me down for 1 exchange, 2 dinner.

I made fresh cod brandade and it really was a hit. I'm wondering if it would freeze...? If so I would make it for you guys. If you would enjoy it, you think? Not quite as rich as Avec's, but really, pretty darn tasty.

Count me in too! I'm making something with meat. As of this moment, I think I will be making Cream of Chicken Almond Soup with some homemade beer bread on the side. Is that enough for a meal, y'think? The soup is pretty rich. If yes, than that's my contribution.

Add moetchandon for dinner plus exchange. She'll probably copy my TBD.

Please put me down for one for dinner and the exchange. I'm trying to juggle my schedule for that night to make it. My TBD is yummo.

-Mary

Could you count me in for dinner only? I'd love to see you all and I'd love to visit Khan BBQ for my first time, but I'll be coming from work so I won't be able to bring any food to exchange. If you get close to 12 attendees who are in for the exchange as well I'll bow out.

HI,

We have seven for the exchange and nine for dinner.

Unless someone makes a fast decision to join the exchange this afternoon, this will close by 6 pm today.

Regards,

I would like to join for dinner, if there is still space.

petite_gourmande wrote:I would like to join for dinner, if there is still space.

You've been added to the dinner list.

See you then!

Regards,

Add me for the exchange. This is the first one of these that I have participated in and I'm looking forward to it. Since so many people are already making TBD, I'll make Carne Adovada and Rice instead.

Welcome Steve!

I have a glorious ham to eat through. I will make a variation of Pasta with caramelized onions, cabbage and smoked ham. I will make homemade egg noodles instead of the pasta noodles plus a few cultured mushrooms added to the mix.

I made this after Christmas to clean out the refrigerator in advance of a trip. It received a very strong favorable reaction from the family. They are my hardest to please critics.

Regards,

Moetchandon will be making a Beef Stroganoff, using grass-fed beef from the small, exclusive Cardinal Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

I'll be making some sort of weird variation on Lamb Osso Buco.

I'm in. I'm still on my Southern Food kick so I will bring collard Greens with Smoked Turkey and Corn Bread.

Since we have pretty much every other common protein represented, I'm going to do something with chicken--probably thighs. Perhaps a layered gratin-like base of potatoes, onions and kale with braised chicken thighs. Or something to that effect.

This month's entries have me excited to figure out howto fit all my containers in the freezer (my least favorite part of the SHFE!!!) Looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday (and welcome Stevez!!)

Reservations have closed.

We have 12 for dinner.

We have nine participating in the exchange. Every exchanger, please bring eight portions to share.

See you on Monday evening. Let the cooking begin!

Regards,

Time to make a decision. I'm going to make a southwestern lasagna/casserole (can't remember the exact name).

Looks like it's Chicken HAZELNUT soup now. I wonder what happened to my almond flour. Oh well. Nuts is nuts.

Sometimes, trying to be super efficient is a wasted exercise.
Just pulled out my cornbread and realized I forgot to add the butter and, naturally, I am now out of cornmeal. So, off to the grocery store for replenish the supplies.

Looking forward to seeing everyone this evening.

Not as bad as forgetting to add sugar to pumpkin pie. Good luck!

Hi,

Just made a reservation for 12 at a long table in the first room under the name Cathy. I would have preferred round, but then it would have been two separate tables.

Regards,

Hey all -

I am not making it tonight So so sorry for the late notice.
Brandade next month (it freezes fine )

I was only in for dinner, not the exchange, but I couldn't make it and I wish I could have given prior notice. I knew this morning at work that I was getting sick and ought to head home to rest instead of going out, but I couldn't get online at the office to post a message.

So - how was Khan BBQ? I'm especially curious to hear reactions from first-timers, since I've never yet been.

I forgot to mention last night that I would recommend topping my carne adovada with a drizzle of crema rancherito or some creme fraiche to help counterbalance the spice. Even a small dollop of sour cream would work.

And, I should mention that my collard greens really benefit from a dash of vinegary hot sauce.