The Cookbook Junkies

Food Swap – Review and #Giveaway

by 97 Comments

I love the idea of food swaps, progressive dinners and cookbook clubs. Sharing the love of good food with friends and community is fun and beneficial: we are able to try new recipes and ideas with the bonus of meeting new people and possibly lifelong friends. The whole idea of The Cookbook Junkies was to share – ideas, recipes, cookbook thoughts and support each other’s “habit” as well as a sense of community for me when my son, Andrew was a toddler with autism. It was incredibly lonely during those first years and truthfully, continues to be.

Emily Paster, who I met through my group, is the author of the blog, West of the Loop, and co-founder of the Chicago Food Swap. Her debut cookbook, Food Swap, is devoted to sharing her secrets to starting a swap community as well as her specialty recipes for bartering, sharing and giving. Bonus: the book includes the world’s best salted caramel sauce (photo below) which I am making today and can be downloaded here: Caramel Sauce.

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While reading Emily’s book, I was inspired to post a notice in my community’s Facebook group to see if my neighbors would be interested in starting a swap. I’ll update you with my progress.

Roughly, the first portion of the book is devoted to her vast experience in developing a swap, using social media and the press to spread the word, finding a swap locally as well as throwing themed swaps – harvest, holiday and more. It truly is a wealth of information with the plus of being a great read. Often times guides can be stuffy and academic in nature, Emily’s narrative is as if a friend is across the table giving us advice.

The second half contains recipes (including packaging and shelf life information), ideas, and gorgeous photos to boot. Sweets, breads, a variety of vinegars and condiments, soups, spice blends and so many more delicious recipes are shared. Even if you aren’t planning to start a swap or attend an established event, the recipes are great for your own consumption and are perfect for gift giving. The book ends with recipe swap cards and cute labels for our use!

Random Number Generator chose #20 – Laura Benson and #41 Joni Ducey. Congratulations!

GIVEAWAY:  Thanks to Emily and Storey Publishing, I have two copies of Food Swap to give away to two readers! If time permits, I may throw a bonus in with the books for the winners – either one of the finished recipe – or some recipe cards of my own. It will be a surprise. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents. To enter, leave a comment telling me if you’ve ever attended a food swap. For a second entry, please share this post making sure to leave a second comment. You may return once a day to leave any comment you like until the giveaway expires. On June 12th two winners will be chosen. Good luck.

Links to Amazon are affiliate links and help to support this page. Also, by shopping at Amazon (link here and on the right side bar) you help to continue to support this page and future giveaways.

If you would like to keep up with The Cookbook Junkies – all giveaways are posted on the Fan page here.

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Comments

  3. 3

    I have never attended a food swap. Have participated in cookie exchanges and daily neighborhood potlucks where we were each responsible for a different part of a meal in the end we each had a complete meal for our families..it was cool!

    Reply
  8. 8

    I have done a cookie exchange before and enjoyed that. I have also done progressive dinners which was fun since it involved going to four different towns. A food swap sounds kinda fun.

    Reply
  9. 9

    How strange! This was in my email inbox right after an email from Sidwell Friends School–my daughter and husband are alumni–announcing a school event featuring alumni involved in the food world, and Emily Paster was on the list!

    I haven’t done an official food swap, but have traded homemade preserves with other people many times. And I’ve been to a zillion potlucks, which are a kind of food swap if you think about it, albeit one where you eat the swap on the spot.

    Reply
  13. 13

    Never attended a food swap, but it sounds very interesting. Have only swapped recipes.

    Reply
  14. 14

    I have never attended a food swap, in fact, I’ve never heard of such a creature. I’m all kinds of excited to learn how to start one!

    Reply
  15. 15

    I have done potlucks where everyone brings Gladware to take home leftovers of others dishes. You never know what the next days dinner will be.

    Reply
  21. 21

    I have held a few cookie exchanges but never with passionate bakers so I think we should just say “no” to successfully swapping.

    I would love to organize something along these lines with more variety of foods or seasonal swaps with themes. Good excuse for why I need more cookbooks too, lol!

    Reply
  22. 22

    I love to bring neighbors a meal and see what they send back in the containers. Brownies are always welcome.

    Reply
  23. 23

    Yes, my home extension group does a food swap at least once a year. Items range from homemade baked goods to flavored vinegars or even fresh eggs.

    Reply
  43. 44

    Nope never done a food swap, but I like to give things like caramel sauce, fudge sauce and pickles as gifts for birthdays or Christmas.

    Reply
  47. 48

    I have attended cookie swaps at Christmas. A food swap would have been great when my kids were younger and we lived on Hoover Street. A lot of young families and we love getting together to do things like this. Such a great thing.

    Reply
    • 53

      Lots of information on how to start, grow and attend a food swap! Plus the history of the modern food swap movement and profiles of food swaps around the country.

      Reply
  54. 56

    I have never attended a food swap – just a couple of holiday cookie exchanges which were fun. This is an interesting concept! I may consider starting a vegan food swap when my life calms down a bit more. (getting there but not quite there yet).

    Reply
  63. 65

    I have not attended a food swap but I have given many food gifts to friends which I think the recipes in this cookbook would be perfect for. And for making for ourselves…

    Reply
  67. 70

    I have never attended a food swap, but I think the idea is brilliant. If you are swapping, people are giving value to the homemade items you make — I’ve learned to say no to people who think that because I make jams and jellies can just come over and go ‘shopping’ amongst my jars.
    (and of course, those people also ‘forget’ to bring back the empty jars.)

    Reply
  75. 80

    I am always interested in my friend’s cooking! And this would be an excellent way to highlight their cooking!

    Reply
    • 93

      Swapping food with your friends is like going to the grocery store to buy gourmet foods! Only better!

      Reply
  86. 94

    I have never attended a food swap but I have been wanting to organize one forever so I would love to have this to help me see how it is done.

    Reply

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