SF Swappers Event 10/15

Fall's a swappin'! It's been a while since Tea Time has adventured to a Swap together. SF Swappers slipped this event in just before the craziness of the Holidays begins. Everyone was happy to stand, chat and sample the evening away at the Sports Basement. Let's mosey among the offerings, whaddaya say?

J.K.'s gingerbread cookies–Halloween themed of course! Two big cookies for swapping and mini shapes for tasting.

Also on the offer from J.K. Chocolate cake in super cute shapes.

Homemade chocolates hit the spot, Bon Bons and Bars in several different flavors.

A little spice is nice... there always turns out to be a semi-theme among the goodies on offer and this October we're all ready for our food to feel the burn.

Two flavors of hot sauce–fruit gives the bottles on the left their lovely color.

Do you know about Togorashi? This spice can have a little kick. This version is perfect for onigiri (the food, not the game) and the samples of it sprinkled on rice showed that off to a T.

Perfect homemade tortillas are always a most popular item. Especially if you feature them in a homemade taco as your sample/potluck contribution. Delish.

Hostess Aimée offered up a savory treat of crumbly sesame bars. Tea Time suggests that if you were lucky enough to swap for some that you let them crumble onto your ice cream and then drizzle a little caramel on top. Or you could simply stir them into Aimée's other swappable treat–homemade yogurt!

Angela came back to the swap with big ammunition. Four options!
Left to Right, cashew butter, medium spice salsa, drunken cherries, fresh raw almonds
Sample Sample Sample, plenty of crackers to try them all.

Pickled grape tomatoes? Don't mind if we do... Or if you're feeling cheesy, check out the parmesan dip.

Here comes our theme again, featuring Hot Pepper Jelly. (Feeling smelly? try some homemade soap) Samples of hot pepper jelly were on the potluck table, poured over cream cheese with bread on the side.

So many spreads at this swap, good that there's a bit of bread to take home too.

Who could resist homemade crackers and pimento cheese spread? This was a popular and tasty item which turned into the perfect snack instead of dinner for Angela one night.

A last minute swapper showed up with a big bag of these North Bay Heirloom Apples. Scavenged from his Mom's tree just for SF Swappers.

That's quite a hunk of cheesecake! Or if you're in the mood for savory there's Jalapeno Cheddar Bread, tomatillo salsa or even a fruity nectarine salsa.

Somehow we misplaced our photo of Co-hostess Stephanie's Walnut inspired goodness, but rest assured our resident Chef had an inspired recipe to share. Have you ever attended a Food Swap? The Holidays are coming and this is the perfect time of year for a cookie or dessert swap. Everyone brings a few dozen cookies in bags and everyone gets to take home some of each kind. A perfect mix and match.

The October 2012 Swap in Pictures

Has it been two months? Already? Well, it is time for a Food Swap, so time disappeared away somewhere! This was our second swap at the Bryant Street Sports Basement. They have a great community outreach program which includes Lots of sports classes (FOR FREE) and hosting space for nonprofit events. Check them out. 

If you saw Angela's post about her pumpkins, or J.K.'s marshmallow post, those were the sneak preview. This post features what happened that evening.  The swap takes place after work hours, so it always includes a potluck. We eat, meet, greet and also taste the evenings swap offerings in addition to the potluck. Scoping out what we would like to take home. Tea Time didn't get pictures of everything on offer, as there were Five tables of swap items at this event. You can check out more pictures on the Swap Facebook page if you are interested.

Sports Basement provides drinks, but swappers bring special additions like Watermelon Juice. YaY!

Make sure to take several small plates because new dishes show up frequently.

Now, on to the swap item pictures! Angela got inspired by the holiday spirit...maybe we really need to invent/host some sort of craft swap party for the holidays. Food Swapping is so fun, it would be great to be able to swap personally made crafting items too. Craft Swap Network anyone?

Angela's pumpkins cosying up to JK's marshmallows.

Another shot of our pumpkins and marshmallows

Toffee, dried persimmons, and jams 

Pizza samples. The swap item is crust dough and tomato sauce.

Salted white chocolate brownies with caramel

Fresh Herbs and Meyer Lemons, honeycomb, brownies, pizza

A student from Academy of Art University memorialized the event

Toffee, dried persimmons, jams

Za'atar and homemade sprinkles, granola in the baggies.

Two views of: Brandied cherries, jams, pickled green beans, carrot bread with almonds.
Orange bitters, arugula pesto, red pepper dip, a macrobiotic dessert.

If you're interested and want to participate in a swap, check out the Food Swap Network. They are gathering together information about swaps all over the country. In fact, this holiday season, you may already be participating in swapping! Parties like Cookie Swaps are very popular during this time of year. The idea is simple, you make 3-4 dozen cookies and swap your 4 bags for four other kinds (of course you bring some for eating as well). Do you participate in swapping homemade food with friends and/or family?

The next official Food Swap we will be attending is in December. Ideas are percolating about what to make/bake/bring to trade! If you want to suggest something just make a comment and we'll take it into consideration.

SF Food Swap -Angela

For this Food Swap, I made Rustic Chocolate Choffy Truffles .

(informally named 'Big Chocolate Choffy Balls).

Per my disclosure in the Ginger Beer post, I didn't use a recipe. I did use a recipe the first time I  made truffles, but I no longer remember which one or even where it came from (cookbook? internet? magazine?) More about the truffles below, but on to the SWAP!

This was my second Food Swap, and thanks to Aimee and Stephanie for being the guiding lights behind this great SF event. For basic info on how a Swap works, click here.  Around 20 people gathered in the Sport's Basement Grotto ready to share and trade homemade goodies after a delicious potluck. Pictured is my First plate (and dessert plate). As people continued to arrive, the potluck table continued to grow with an amazing array of fruit, meat, salads, desserts, crackers and dips (this was in addition to the foods on offer as a part of the swap). These pictures show only a very small sampling of the culinary delights available that evening.

I brought 8 baggies (with 8 big Choffy balls each) plus some to cut up for tasting. My favorite overheard comment regarding these truffles, "They don't look that chocolate-y, but they have a Strong chocolate flavor." Thank You! It's nice to get feedback about your goodies, especially as I had been a bit worried that the Choffy was too strong flavorwise for most people to handle. I was lucky enough to swap for these 9 items.

You may have noticed, hey Angela, you brought 8 items to trade, but left with 9? Well, that is the nature of the swap. I had handed out all 8 bags, but had some of the truffles left over from the tasting tray which allowed me to swap (with a bonus bag of caramels from JK's stash) for a ninth item. So I guess I'm sharing those boozey cherries. I may blog more in the future about what I'm using from these items as there are so many, too many to do justice to each on this one post. Below is my very basic set up on the swap table. Some swappers made lovely presentations for their goods, but I went simple. No muss, no fuss this time around!

Okay you guys, here is a basic truffle recipe.(dessert circus!!) I'm sure it will work fine. If not, well, let me know and I'll do a step by step photo blog and write the truffle recipe down as I go--which means I'll have to measure and whatnot, but hey in the interest of other peoples interest that's a sacrifice I can make. I suppose.

More importantly I have some chocolate truffle Tips for you.

1. Do not be afraid. Rustic truffles are VERY EASY. Unless you are afraid and then it is very hard.

2. Equipment=easy

I use- glass bowl+sauce pan=double boiler, 2 forks, one heat resistant spatula, 2-3 round cake pans, parchment or wax paper (you only need a tempering machine if you want shiny truffles, not the rustic kind)

3. the chocolate melting/tempering

Good chocolate = Valrhona 

decent chocolate = Trader Joes 72% pound plus bar (what I had on hand this time)

You can remelt (temper)  anything. This means when your Amazingly delicious Valhrona seizes you take a piece of unmelted (tempered) chocolate bar and add it. Wait until the heat from the chocolate has melted it and then stir until your coating chocolate is once again smooth and glossy. 

4. Round cake pans allow you to roll your truffles easily in your choice of Rustic coating (nuts, cocoa powder, whatnot). Place pans in the fridge for a few minutes to crisp up the chocolate after their final coating.

5. Do not forget which is your dipping fork vs your coating fork.

6. Make very small ganache balls if you want the truffles to be bite size. Mine are usually 2 bites as I always forget this step when beginning and then can't be bothered to change size midway through the process.

7. Truffles take time. Do not scrimp on time or try to make truffles in a hurry. They are easy, but labor intensive. Make a friend come help if you are in a hurry. You can do things while making truffles, but only if they are simple. Consider these okay- put laundry from washer to dryer (wash hands first), let demanding cat in/out the door, toast a cheese sandwich. Do Not think you have time to- check email, blog or facebook. Do not vacuum. This is not a lasagna.

Good Luck and get ready to impress!

P.S. If you would like me to do a step by step truffle blog, please let me know in the comments below.