Last week marked another great event with the LA Food Swap, Holiday Edition. I was thrilled to be joining the group again for a fun-filled evening and this time my mother joined me with her very own homemade treats to swap.  There are always so many things I want to share but I finally decided on a Cranberry + Blood Orange + Tequila Relish, Lemon Curd and my seasonal favorite, Buñuelos. On my mother’s end, she prepared a Blood Orange Jalapeño Jam, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Chocolate Truffles and Dog Biscuits.  Her and I both made out like bandits, trading for jars of kimchi, delicious preserves and even cranberry vanilla infused bourbon.

This holiday food swap truly reminded me why I love getting out in to the community. Meeting good-hearted people with various backgrounds, all for the love of homemade goods! Definitely my idea of a great time.  If you live in the L.A. area I strongly encourage you to come to the next swap. You’ll leave with a basket of incredible goodies and I guarantee you’ll meet some pretty radical people. Don’t live in the neighborhood? Start your very own swap in your city!

I was especially impressed with the bowl of Dukkah and made sure to swap with the creator to get my very own bag of this incomparable accoutrement. A blend of nuts and spices made to enhance your bread. Made with pistachios, hazelnuts, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, black pepper and salt – I want to eat this everything!