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! 

Planning the Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner

When I started this blog, I wanted to bring a little of the holiday magic that seems to surround us at the table amidst clinking glasses and forkfuls of delicious food. I realize that can be difficult to achieve in the midst of everyday life. Between errands, work, shuttling kids, and general exhaustion, finding the time to set the table and enjoy a real meal can be a challenge. Guess what? Those challenges (and perhaps more) are around during the holidays as well. And yet somehow, it all comes together and that magic makes itself known. I may not be able to take care of all the challenges you're facing around this time of year, but I can offer some tips for planning the perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

Since I know we are all crunched for time, I'll get right to it! Let's start with putting together a prep schedule.

5 days before:

• Finalize your menu
  • Decide exactly what you'll be making and what others will bring.
  • Write your shopping list
  • Plan time for work and relaxation
    • A successful Thanksgiving begins and ends with a happy host. Take care of you!
    • Determine the wines/cocktails you'll serve
      • A favorite this time of year is Beaujolais Nouveau. I am a fan of a clean, un-oaked chardonnay and a nice pinot noir.
      • If you will have beer lovers around, go for something local, if you can, featuring autumn flavors.
      • An easy and festive bourbon apple cider is perfect for a crowd!

4 days before:

• Do your grocery shopping
  • Get as much of your grocery shopping done as possible. You'll save yourself from battling heavy crowds and avoid running into product shortages at the store.
  • Be sure to have kid-friendly beverages and snacks if you will have little ones at your Thanksgiving dinner
  • Purchase wine & beer
  • Start getting your dishes ready
    • make sure you have plenty of dishes, serving vessels, and flatware for your guests
    • polish wine glasses with a soft, lint-free cloth

3 days before:

• Clean out the fridge! You're gonna need plenty of space as you prepare for the big day!
• Begin preparing your mis en place
  • I always try to get the heavy-duty chopping and mincing done a couple of days in advance. Things like onions that will be used in dressing/stuffing, gravy, etc, are great for chopping in advance. I also chop up my celery and carrots. (Garlic I save for just before I need to use it.)
  • If you're chopping in advance, store the chopped veggies in gallon sized ziploc bags lined with a couple slightly damp paper towels. This will help keep your vegetables from turning brown or drying out.

2 days before:

• Tidy up the house
  • There are four main areas that I think have to be clean before guests come over, and giving them a good scrubbing a couple days in advance means that the day of consists of simply picking up any clutter and doing a quick wipe-down before guests arrive. The four main areas to pay attention to are:
    • bathrooms
    • living area/wherever guests will be lounging and spending the most time
    • kitchen (this is mostly for you but also for guests who come wandering in wanting to help out)
    • entryway (make sure there is enough space for shoes if you have guests remove them, and places to hang coats)
    • Plan a kids' table if necessary
      • An easy way to keep kids entertained is to line a table with big sheets of white paper. Set jars filled with crayons and sheets of stickers on the table and let kids get creative while the adults enjoy themselves!
        • I also like to make plate-sized circles on the paper with the kiddos' names written in the center so everyone knows where to sit. They can also decorate their "place mats".

1 day before:

• OK, now it is time to do the lion's share of the cooking. Here are the items I prepare the day before Thanksgiving:
  • pies (prepare up to the point of baking
  • bread for dressing/stuffing (cut it into cubes and store in a ziploc bag)
  • Sweet potato casserole (or twice baked sweet potatoes- yum!)
  • thaw/brine the turkey (VERY important to do in advance!)
  • Have take-out for dinner. We always have take-out Chinese food (this tradition goes way back to when I was a kid) so that we don't produce a bunch of extra dishes.

Thanksgiving Day:

• Eat a good breakfast
• Drink coffee + make a to-do list
• Take a shower
• Begin cooking the turkey
• Finish preparing your dishes before guests arrive (if they can be baked ahead, go for it and just warm them up before serving)
• Do as many dishes as possible before guests arrive
• Get yourself gussied up and have a glass of wine!
• Turn on some festive music like this playlist from Food52

And there you have it! This is my no-fail list to making sure you have everything done without feeling rushed. Overall, no matter when you do these tasks, don't overdo it on any particular day. You want to enjoy Thanksgiving, not resent it! Take lots of deep breaths and know that your guests are happy to be with those they love and in a welcoming home. Beyond that, don't sweat it. Everything will work out.

I've got 3 delicious Thanksgiving recipes coming your way this week that will help you plan your menu, so stay tuned!

10 Tips for Throwing a Dinner Party + Rodney Strong 25th Anniversary

A couple of weeks ago we hosted a dinner party for 8. It was a perfect evening, so we set up the table outside next to the garden, hung a string of white lights, and set the table for an evening of food and wine with friends. The event all came about thanks to Rodney Strong Vineyards 25th anniversary celebration. The celebration happened across the country and benefited the James Beard Foundation. Restaurants in Healdsburg, CA; New York, NY; Miami, FL; and Austin, TX (along with a group of food bloggers hosting dinners in their homes) participated on Saturday, September 20, 2014.

Here is an excerpt from the media release that sums up the spirit of the event perfectly:

“This is a once in a lifetime event that acknowledges our pride and passion of being in the wine business,” says Klein. “The shared dinner will be a fantastic celebration, bringing together partners, friends and fans we’ve come to know over 25 years of running RodneyStrong. Wine is what brings family and friends together at the table and there is no better way to show our appreciation than hosting these special dinners that will bring people from across the country together on one spectacular night.”

Admittedly, I have not thrown a proper dinner party in quite some time. So, I began by planning every detail, from the menu to my schedule the day before and the day of to make sure I had everything covered. The menu, as usual, changed a bit once I went to the grocery store and scoped out the highest quality, freshest food they had a available. In the end, this is what I ended up serving:

It was a perfect combination of late summer/early autumn dishes that were excellent for serving to a larger crowd but it did require some planning and the implementation of some of my best tips for throwing a dinner party. I shared these tips on Facebook as I prepped for the dinner but I thought some of you may have missed them or would find it useful to have them all in one place. So, here are my 10 Tips for Throwing a Dinner Party:

Tip #1: Before you begin cooking anything, completely clean your kitchen (yep, ALL the dishes!) and fill the sink with warm, soapy water.

Tip #2: Have a game plan! I find it so much easier to stay organized and calm during prep when I make a clear list of when/what I need to do.

Tip #3: Taste your food at various stages so you don't end up serving some with too much or too little seasoning.

Tip #4: Use recipes you trust. Whether it is a combination of your own recipes or selections from your favorite cookbooks, recipes that are sure to succeed are a must!

Tip #5: Make time to put your feet up for 5-10 minutes at least once every hour. Trust me. It helps.

Tip #6: Don't forget to chill the white wine! It's the little things that will make things less stressful upon your guests arrival.

Tip #7: Cooking a roast is an easy way to feed a large number of people (I've poached mine in cream, garlic and Parmesan before roasting). It makes plating (family style) easier and quicker!

Tip #8: Stay hydrated! Whether you do all your cooking before your party or continue the process during, make sure you always have a full glass of ice water nearby. And while we're at it, WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES.

Tip #9: Make drinks and some courses self-serve or family style so you don't have to constantly be pouring/plating. But remember, when serving alcohol, to remind guests to be careful and safe.

Tip #10: No matter what happens, remember to relax and enjoy. The reason we have people over is for fellowship around the table and to enjoy full bellies and full hearts.

Follow these 10 tips and you'll feel more organized and prepared than ever.

I used a mix of my own, original recipes in addition to a few gathered from my favorite cookbooks. The one that turned out the best was the cinnamon challah bread pudding with port soaked raisins, which I'll be sharing with you next week!