You know you want them! You know, The dishes that make your mouth water just thinking bought them… the dishes that your girlfriends make when you are over for dinner, or the one she brags about her kids eating all the time, or bring to potluck at church and then leaves with a dish that has been scraped clean. Well, host a recipe swap and gather up your own collection to share for years to come!

Start by choosing a theme.

Choosing a theme will help guide your guest in their recipe choice. Some theme examples might be; 30 minute meals, favorite family traditions, Sweet Tooth, Somethin’ Savory, or favorite kid’s pick. Make sure to include your theme on your invitation.

Make it a potluck.

I tend to choose recipes that I have tasted before or recipes that have a picture. A potluck serves both of these purposes. Guests can preview what each dish looks like when it is prepared, and then have a sampling.

Ask for written recipes

Ask each guest to bring a specified number of copies of their recipe. As a party favor, provide a recipe box for each of your guests to take their new found treasures (recipes) home in. TIP: If you want the party to last a little longer, or need a conversation starter for a new group of friends get unfinished recipe boxes at your local craft store and let your guests get all their creative juices flowing by deco paging them to fit their personality.

Ultimately, to make sure your Recipe Swap is a success, make sure your guests are informed. Use a cute recipe card as a post card invite with party information and make sure to include specifics of what to bring. Here is a list to get you started:
• Party time and location
• Recipe Theme
• (#) copies of your recipe on a 4×6 recipe card
• Your dish to share
Well since the food will be taken care of, and well let’s face it women don’t need entertainment… we could gab for hours. Just fix a couple of gallons of iced tea, and enjoy the perfect day!