There are a few songs with the word “bag” in them.  James Brown’s Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag is probably the first one that comes to mind; a much older song is Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag.  At Christmas, Santa’s The Man with the Bag and for the post-punk among us, Public Image Limited had a song called Bags on their 1986 album called Album.

I’m not aware of any songs called “Swag Bag.”  The website Urban Dictionary defines a swag bag as follows:

“A goodie bag that contains various useless yet irreplaceable items packed into a duffel bag, usually given at parties or by sponsors. Sometimes just useless house-hold items with a brand-name insignia on them.”

Some swag bags are better than others and while I’d never call myself a “greenie,” I don’t care much for wasting resources and giving away useless things.  I’m practical and frugal most of the time.  I’ve also received a few swag bags over the years.  None has ever come close to the epic swag bags Oscar nominees receive, but my dentist always gives me a nice little swag bag when I have my teeth cleaned (toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss).  There was a swag bag at the charity masquerade ball I went to a few weeks ago, too.

The bag itself was practical; who doesn’t need another re-useable shopping bag?  There wasn’t much in it and maybe that’s not a bad thing.  Sometimes when a group of diverse and busy people are working on a project like a charity ball, finding fillers for the swag bag are the last things anyone is thinking about.

My brilliant friend and Junior League Show House co-chairwoman Audra devised a swag bag for an event once; it included an insanely delicious individually sized flourless chocolate cake among other useful things.  No wonder she’s going to be the President of the Junior League in 2014.  Her inventive offering is just the type of swag bag I emulate; the contents assuaged hunger and yet didn’t overwhelm the recipient with useless junk and with this in mind, I’ve decided all entrants to the Moxie Recipe Contest will receive a swag bag.  I haven’t figured out everything to put in it yet, but I’ll happily consider practical, reasonable, and recipe contest-appropriate items.  Do you have something you’d like to give away?  Click on over here and send me an e-mail; let’s talk.

Swag bags are perfectly lovely, but even better are prizes for winners.  Yesterday’s mail brought glad tidings of an amazing prize from my kitchen-minded friends at Now You’re Cooking in Bath, Maine.  I think my new favorite expression is going to be “I couldn’t be happier” and I think the contest winners will be saying that too.

Check back here on occasional Fridays to find out the latest details on The Moxie Recipe Contest and the fun and prizes.  All will be revealed in good time.

Until then, keep cooking with Moxie!