How to Host a Soup Swap

I. LOVE. SOUP. 

It tastes great, but mostly it makes me feel comforted and nourished. I love the process of making soup and sharing it with others, but I also love it when someone else makes it for me. Can soup be classified as a love language? I think the answer has to be: yes.

After getting to know our neighbors a little more shortly following our move, it was decided that a Soup Swap needed to happen. I’ve done one other Soup Swap with my book club back in Colorado a couple years ago. It was great- we tasted lots of soup, took home our own to freeze or enjoy during the week, and enjoyed plenty of wine and conversation. My only complaint? It felt a little complicated for something that was supposed to make life a little easier. 

Rather than follow the script for a typical Soup Swap party, I decided to simplify it as much as possible. Guests arrived with their chosen soup already portioned out for the people attending the swap. Instead of sampling everyone’s soup, I made something simple for dinner (bolognese + creamy polenta) and asked everyone to bring an appetizer, wine, or something sweet to share. We ate but didn’t leave stuffed. And our arms were full of soup to nourish us through the week! This was especially helpful for me because I was preparing for a week of my husband being out of town. I totally didn’t do that on purpose.

Or did I?

Anywho…

The evening was relaxed. We laughed until we cried and talked about tough parenting moments that seemed abnormal until presented to a group of moms who had been there too. We enjoyed connection and conversation over a shared meal that we could, in a way, bring home with us in the soup we swapped. It was lovely. 

Here is a little rundown of how we did it in case you feel like you’d like to swap some soup with people you love. You can *of course* make this as fancy or as simple as you like, but this should give you a good place to start so you can make the event your own. 

Materials:

• Guests will need to bring their soup portioned out for the number of people at the swap. I suggest using large mason jars because they are so easy to fill and transport and they are earth-friendly. Gallon sized freezer bags also work. 

• Bring a reusable bag to bring your soup home in at the end of the evening. 

At least 1 week in advance:

• Make sure your guests know what to bring for sharing at the Soup Swap. Appetizers? Salad? Dessert? 

• Find out if anyone has food allergies and make sure everyone is aware. 

• Ask guests to print (or email) their soup recipes to include with their jars at the party. 

• Let guests know that it is easiest to bring soup cooled! 

• Plan what you will serve for dinner at the swap.

Night of the swap:

• If you feel like it, whip up a fun cocktail to serve. Pro tip: use mismatching glasses so no one loses theirs! 

• Have the table set and ready.

• Have space for appetizers ready.

• Have space for jars of soup.

ENJOY! 

Fresh Peach & Tomato Salsa

Can we agree that chips and salsa is the best snacking combo on the planet?

Good. I knew we could be friends.

Since our move from Colorado to Minnesota at the beginning of the summer, we’ve consumed many bags of tortilla chips and many jars of salsa with friends and family because a) SO easy, and 2) YUM. I’ve mostly gone for the store-bought version because it turns out moving is completely exhausting and leaves me with little to no energy for cooking. But there have been a couple times when I’ve found myself with some random ingredients that come together to make a killer homemade salsa. This fresh peach & tomato salsa has to be my favorite.

One perfectly ripe fresh peach, one locally grown tomato, some lime juice, cilantro, jalapeño, salt and pepper is all it took to make this bowl of beauty and you need to get on board immediately. It’s not hard and it is sure to impress your friends!

Fresh Peach & Tomato Salsa

• 1 medium fresh peach, peeled and diced

• 1 medium ripe tomato (or a handful of ripe cherry tomatoes), diced

• 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced

• 1/2 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves, roughly chopped

• juice of 1 lime

• salt to taste

1. Add all the ingredients in a medium bowl and toss gently to combine.

2. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.

3. Enjoy immediately! This one is best fresh because it can get pretty watery the longer it sits.