Swapping cupcakes for goodies
12 Dec
This past Tuesday I gathered with 30+ other food enthusiasts in the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Library for the second swap hosted by , lovingly organized Alexis, , Georgia and Marisa. I attended the first swap back in September and LOVED IT! This time I convinced Ray he should attend and we walked in with 6 4-packs of cupcakes, 2 jars of candied almonds and 8 bundles of hazelnut brittle to swap. And swap we did.
Ray's hazelnut brittle
There were new faces at the swap this time, but there were also familiar faces. Some of us had been tweeting about our offerings pre-swap, so there was plenty of beelining over to tables to bid (“You’re bringing Apple Bourbon Butter? I am so there!). We sampled, made bids and chatted. A number of people were surprised to see cupcakes at the swap, but I simply smiled, handed them a card and suggested they sample a mini Death by Razzy Chocolate: a chocolate buttermilk cupcake with raspberry filling and chocolate framboise buttercream.
I was blown away by the talented people around me and what they could produce in their kitchens. And maybe this is why I wish the swap was monthly—I love the feeling of community and being around other people who love food. To them, food is not a cheap commodity to be consumed; instead, it is to be savored. These are people who cook and preserve and bake because they love it, and they love doing it for other people.
They are my people.
At the end of the swap, Ray and I walked away with rhubarb liqueur, chocolate whisky cake, apple bourbon butter, lemon hummus, 3 small containers of blow-your-socks-and-shoes-off hot sauce, 2 ice creams, spicy hot cocoa mix, bacon fudge, an entirely-too-addictive chex mix offering (I think she called it “crack”), anjou pear and vanilla bean jam, hot peppers pickled with a massive hunk of ginger, tropical habanero jam, red wheat cinnamon rolls, cashew brittle, mustard and and few other items that completely escape me because my mind is STILL BLOWN!
I even traded my samples for a few items … no need to bring them back home. In the end, it was a wonderfully exhilarating night full of food and community—two very amazing things.
And for those who are curious, here’s the mini menu I handed out with each 4-pack of cupcakes:
Second and third photos courtesy of Ray, who had a lot of fun at the swap.
Great write up!!! I loved the lemon rosemary cupcake! I think we’re going to try and make them bi-monthly, not quarterly. Looking at late jan or early feb for the next one. Glad you and Ray had such a great time!
That’s wonderful news! I know monthly would probably be too much, but bi-monthly seems perfect…that way if someone has to miss out, they’re not too bummed because another swap will be on the way
I haven’t cracked into the Apple Bourbon Butter yet … knowing me I will lovingly hoard it on my shelf until I finally breakdown and slather it on crackers and toast.
And again, you and your fellow organizers do a fantastic job. Thank you so much!
Hi! nice post. I ended up with Ray’s almonds and they didn’t make it to see the next day. When I got home from the swap, my girls & husband tore into them. Nice to see you again, I’ll have to try your cupcakes next time. Enjoy your pear jam
So glad to hear you enjoyed the almonds! I’ll definitely be enjoying the pear jam … as well as the pickled jalapenos from the last swap!