Menu for hope

Menu for Hope is a charity auction that benefits the UN World Food Programme. Led by Pim of Chez Pim, Menu for Hope raised over 60,000 last year. Here's a bit of how it works, from Pim:

Each year, food bloggers from all over the world join forces to host the Menu for Hope online raffle, offering an array of delectable culinary prizes.  For every US$10, the donor receive a virtual raffle ticket toward a prize of their choice.  This year, the prizes include once in a lifetime experiences such as touring the elBulli laboratory with Ferran Adrià, dining on a historic British meal prepared by Heston Blumenthal, or joining Harold McGee on a lunch date to satisfy a lifetime's worth of cooking curiosity.  You can also tag along with your favorite blogger on a tour of their favorite markets, restaurants, or even receive a care package fashioned especially for you from your favorite bloggers themselves.  All you need is $10 and a bit of luck.

This is my first year participating in the event, and seeing the sorts of prizes Pim lists above, I am thinking I will have to bid on a number of things as well. Coming up with a prize that will stand out just a smidge amongst the things that are likely to be up for bid - seriously, Adria, Blumenthal, and McGee - was a daunting task but I think I came up with something bid-worthy.

Have you ever wanted your very own cookie recipe, created especially for you using your favorite ingredients? My prize for this year's  Menu for Hope is a cookie recipe, created just for you, or a lucky friend. (I am kind of hoping that the winner wants one for a small person they love. Would that be a sweet present or what?)

bethCookies (pictured above) were one of my earliest, and most often revised, personalized cookie recipes, many have followed in its floury footsteps.

If you win, I will call you for a "cookie consultation" so we can discuss what sort of cookies you like - crispy, chewy, melt-in-your-mouth buttery, and so on - and you can pick some favorite ingredients to be included. I will then play Iron Baker and create your very own personalized cookie recipe. The recipe will be provided to you on an illustrated  glossy mini-poster, suitable for hanging on your kitchen wall.

If the winner is in the continental United States, they also get a box of their cookies, although, sadly, given the expense and time involved, I can not do so for International winners.

To place your bids, just go to Menu for Hope on First Giving. When you make your donation, you will be asked for a prize code. Mine is UW29.

For the rest of the prizes, check out the regional hosts for roundups.

Adam Cuban, Serious Eats
Regional Host, US: East Coast

Bee, Rasa Malaysia
Regional Host, US: West Coast

Kalyn Denny, Kalyn's Kitchen
Regional Host, US: everywhere else

Jean Horak of Cooksister
and Johanna Wagner, The Passionate Cook
Regional Hosts: UK

Fanny Zanotti, Foodbeam
Regional Host: Europe

Jennifer Hamilton, The Domestic Goddess
Regional Host, Canada

Helen of Grab Your Fork
Regional Host: Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand

Alder Yarrow, Vinography
Special Host: Wine Blogs

Good luck on all your bids!

Comments

[Farmgirl Susan]

I love it! What a neat prize. And the poster is such a great idea. It's like the frosting on the cake--er, cookie. Very cool, km. ; )

[valereee]

I ADORE this idea! I have bid on it (twice) and am SO hoping I get it! My daughter Jane would think this was the very coolest thing ever!

[kitchenMage]

Valereee, I'll cross my fingers for you! (and Jane)