Food Swap Resources

Make something *EASY* and delicious for the food swap:

• Try jam!  The whole process, start to finish, will take about an hour.  For the easiest, quickest jam, pick a fruit that doesn't need to be "prepared" - i.e. doesn't need it's green bits cut off, etc.  Berries are an easy place to start.  This is not rocket science.
• Step one: Buy some pectin.  Some Kroger stores carry it.  Call first.  While you're there, buy some jam jars (in the canning section, about $10 for 12) & bottled lemon juice & fruit.
• Step two: Take out the directions in the pectin box which will include a recipe.  It'll most likely be Fruit + Sugar + Bottled Lemon Juice + Pectin.
• Step three: Cook up the jam according to the directions (approx 15 min).
• Step four: Pour the jam in hot jars (they need to be hot so they don't crack when the hot jam hits 'em).  Put the lids on and screw the screw tops down.
• Step five: PROCESS IN A BOILING WATER BATH.  This is probably the part that's sounds intimidating; it was for me.  But this IS NOT HARD.  It means that you're putting your jars in a big pot of water, with at least an inch of water on top, and boiling them for 10 minutes.  That's it.  You'll need a way to get those boiling hot jars out of the boiling water bath.  There are jar lifters (you're welcome to borrow mine!) or you can use tongs with rubber bands wrapped around them for traction.

• Try even easier jam! Do steps one through three above and then freeze it.  Done.  
• Try granola.  There are tons of recipes on the internet.  You're basically assembling ingredients and then toasting them.

All kinds of resources for the food swap:

• http://www.foodswapnetwork.com/how-to-host-a-swap/resources/  for great resources all in one place