Buzz
Let’s be honest: You’re in a meal planning slump. Last night was Taco Tuesday, tonight is meatloaf, and Thursday is shaping up to be yet another baked chicken night. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there.
We’ve all experienced it. Even my 8-year-old is getting tired of my usual meals. Just the other day, he complained, “Spaghetti and meatballs again? We have that every week.” (To which I kindly and maturely responded, “Then maybe start enjoying something other than spaghetti, hot dogs, and pizza, and I’ll mix it up a little, okay?”)
It’s not that you’re lacking in cookbooks; you’ve got an overwhelming collection, in fact. The problem is that you’ve sifted through them countless times, bookmarked the same three recipes you like, and the rest are just meh. Or they require ingredients you don’t normally have on hand. Or, they’re just not kid-friendly enough for an 8-year-old.
The answer: Host a cookbook exchange party.
A cookbook exchange party is the perfect blend of a regular book club and the dreaded office gift swap, but in the best way possible. You don’t have to actually read anything, plus you walk away with something practical.
The ground rules
Here are the official rules for a Cookbook Exchange Party, which I am making up on the spot:
1. Invite at least two—or better yet, more—people. You’ll need a minimum of three guests for this to work, but the more, the merrier. More people means a greater variety of cookbooks to choose from.
2. Everyone can bring as many cookbooks as they want. Whatever you bring, that’s how many you get to take home.
3. Don’t bring all your little throwaway books. Those flimsy seasonal “books” (which are really just glorified magazines) that you find at the checkout lane don’t count. Sure, you can bring them if someone specifically wants a bunch of Halloween dessert recipes, but they won’t count toward your book total. Bring quality cookbooks.
4. Mark your favorite recipes. It’s a kind gesture for the next person receiving the book, and it’ll remind you to copy down the recipe before passing it along.
5. Provide snacks and drinks. Because it’s a party, after all.
At the end of your cookbook exchange party, you’ll have enjoyed a fun evening and walked away with fresh dinner ideas to try out.
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