Giving Hope and Hoping to Win!

For two days, the food blog world has been completely glowing with good vibes as bloggers and readers contribute to Menu for Hope, the online fundraiser to benefit the United Nations World Food Program. I've been obsessively checking the total a FirstGiving, where donations continue to come pouring in. (Watch the total grow as I report it at the end of each blog post between now and December 22.) I hope everyone who's participating feels the same sense of pride I do, knowing we're helping in some way to bring food to people who are in need. Together, we're doing something truly worthwhile.


But this post is not about all the good A Menu for Hope is doing or the way we're helping people. Oh yes, I know even if Pim hadn't set up the fundraiser so you had a chance to win great prizes, many of you would still donate to an important cause like this, wouldn't you? But let's get serious about something else here. The fact is, a whole lot of people are going to win amazing things in this fundraiser. Have you seen all those amazing prizes. Now be honest with me, what are you hoping to win?

Certainly every person looks at the list of prizes with their own eyes, so I can't even begin to predict what the rest of you might most want to win. But here's my own Menu of Hope wish list.

First, of course I'd like to get a few goodies for the kitchen, maybe starting with this, although I'm not sure about the color. I always like exotic ingredients, so this prize is something I'd love to win, and this one is a combination that can't be beat. And I do have rather a lot of cookbooks, but here are a few more good ones I'd love to have.

Some of these prizes would really make my kitchen look beautiful, and some would make me feel happy when I was in the kitchen, and some could help me have a new experience entirely. Of couse I already have one of these, but I could learn a lot more about food photography and writing, especially if travel costs were included. Maybe a good food reference book is what I need.

Then there are the prizes that make me think of wonderful memories, or possibly experiences I'd love to have. And some of the prizes remind me of yummy foods I love or foods I'd love to try.

Of course, there are many, many, many, many, many, more prizes I'd love to win. But I'm cooking Anasazi Beans for fourth graders at school today, so I better get going and fantasize about those prizes another time.

Reminders:

In two days we've raised $5,260 $10,055 through A Menu For Hope. Visit First Giving to see how much the total has gone up since I posted this! (I'll update the amount every day until the campaign ends on December 22.) Check the fabulous prizes from central U.S. bloggers or visit Chez Pim to see all the prizes you could win. (How about a bunch of new cookbooks?) Here's how to buy raffle tickets.

If you like Weekend Herb Blogging you'll love Holiday Cooking with Herbs, a special WHB event for people to share their favorite holiday recipes using herbs, plants, veggies, or flowers.

You have until December 15 to nominate your favorite food blogs for the 2006 Food Blog Awards at Well Fed.

TECHNORATI TAGS:
Weekend Herb Blogging A Menu For Hope