Have You Thought About Hosting a Soup Party?

It is a bitterly cold February afternoon. You are going through party withdrawal, what with the holidays, and even Valentine's Day, being over?

 

You need to have a party, because, first of all, you are bored, and second of all, you are a fabulous hostess. And, you need some soup, because, well, soup is awesome. How about combining awesomeness and fabulousness and having a soup party?

I love soup. There is no better comfort food. And, there are so many different combinations and tastes - everyone has their favorite family recipe for soup, and they all taste great. 

Slow cookers, soup, and soup parties are the perfect combination. Your friends can bring along their favorite soup in their slow cookers, all ready to go. While all the soups are getting warm and toasty, you and your guests all get to enjoy a glass of wine, and maybe the latest gossip. 

In honor of your soup party, here are a few of my favorite soups—ones that are easier than ever to make when you use a slow cooker.

Carrot Soup

This soup is awesome, even if you don't like carrots!

This is simple soup that involves softened carrots, onions, and chicken stock, pureed in a blender. From there, it is quite happy to stew in your slow cooker.

Of course, since I live in the Southwest, where we know that EVERYTHING tastes better with green chili, the last couple of times I've made carrot soup I've added a couple of green chilis before I put it all in the blender. It gives it just the right amount of spiciness.

Potato Soup

Yet another delicious way to use potatoes

If soup is a comfort food, potato soup may be the ultimate comfort food. Besides the obvious potatoes, it also includes onions, parsley, and cream - a great way to warm the tummy. Like the carrot soup, it is simple to make but tastes like you slaved over it for hours.

Butternut Squash Soup

With a cute name like "butternut," you know this kind of squash has to be tasty

Speaking of warming up the tummy, butternut squash soup is a great, tasty soup that is sure to warm you up on a cold winter's day. 

There are different variations of this soup, and everyone has their favorite. No matter how you choose to make it, if you make it in the slow cooker, it gives all those fabulous flavors a chance to meld together. 

Slow-Cooker Bread

Yes, there is such a thing

OK, so you've got the soups (and the guests) all figured out. Oh, wait! What about some tasty bread to sop up that soup with? 

But, you don't need one of those fancy bread makers - it may surprise you to learn that slow cookers are also a great way to cook bread. You can make a simple, basic bread recipe, or a fancier kind, such as oat and wheat. As with the soup, bread is easy to set up in the slow cooker, and quite tasty when it is done.

Salad

Might as well eat some extra veggies

Ah, yes - you want to invite your best friend Terri to the party, but she, unfortunately, does not own a slow cooker. How can you participate in a soup party if you don't have a slow cooker? 

Well, soup and bread were made to go together - but soup, bread, and salad is even better.

Just so Terri doesn't feel left out, tell her to bring a yummy salad.

Let the soup party begin!

The Perfect Cooker for Paleo Dieters - Did I Say "Under Pressure"?

If you're into diets and nutrition, perhaps you have heard of the Paleo diet.

A Paleo, or "Paleolithic" diet, involves eating as our caveman forefathers did.  For example, cavemen could get and eat eggs, veggies, fruit, and fish. Their meat, which roamed around free when it was alive, was grass-fed. These are all acceptable foods to someone on a Paleo diet.

Those in the Paleolithic era didn't indulge so much in things such as dairy products, processed oils, refined sugars and salts, and foods that they didn't have time to wait around to grow - like grains and potatoes. (I will refrain from making jokes about how they never stayed in one place for long because they were being chased by dinosaurs, as well as any jokes involving "The Flinstones."). The benefits of such a diet are a bit controversial, but making an effort to eat healthy foods can't be wrong.

Paleo Diet and Your Pressure Cooker - Think of that pressure cooker as your diet buddy

Pressure cookers were just made for you if you are on the Paleo diet. After all, cooking healthy veggies is fast and easy with one of these babies.

Pressure cookers cook in a way that retains the nutrients and the flavor of veggies such as spinach, broccoli, and peas. And, as an added bonus, since the veggies keep their flavor, you won't be tempted to add salt or any of those other flavorings that are no-nos on Paleo. And, don't think you have to sacrifice your nightly dessert if you are on the Paleo diet. With a pressure cooker, you can make tasty, diet-appropriate desserts such as stuffed apples.

It Is Possible to Use Cheaper Meats 

Well, the cavemen didn't spend a lot on meat—why should you?

Stews are a great part of this diet. After all, most stews are basically meat and veggies. And, stew-meat is typically a cheaper type of meat. Those on the Paleo diet can also indulge in chicken. Buy a cheap cut of chicken, put it in the cooker with some veggies, and you've got a fast, nutritious meal.

Your Own Version of Lean Cuisine, Only Cheaper - Because we all know cheaper is better

Lean Cuisine is known for their healthy, frozen meals. Excuse me for mixing dieting methods, but it is possible to stay on the Paleo diet even while you're away from home, thanks to the Lean Cuisine concept—frozen healthy meals.

Again, your trusty pressure cooker is a part of this. For instance, you can make up a big batch of veggie soup quickly and nutritiously with the pressure cooker. Freeze it in batches - that way, when you're heading out to work in the morning, all you have to do is grab a frozen bowl of soup. You've got lunch for the day, and you don't have to cheat on your diet by running out for a cheeseburger.

Frozen food can last for months and still be good. And, as everyone knows, making your own food is cheaper than buying those Lean Cuisine meals. Plus, you can make your favorite meals.

Dieting is no fun - it is a universal truth. However, if you use your pressure cooker to help, the Paleo diet can be not only tolerable, but quite tasty.

3 Unique Slow Cooker Recipes

Let's say your Aunt Jebedizzah is coming to town for the weekend. Great. That's all you need, right? And, you know how your Aunt Jebedizzah is - always go, go, go! And you also know she loves to eat. 

Day 1: Slow Cooker Lasagna

On the first day of her visit, Aunt Jebedizzah would like to scale that big mountain on the edge of town. Oh, and she wants lasagna for dinner. Not restaurant lasagna - what about homemade lasagna? That's really tastier, isn't it? OK, fine. 

Before you strap on your hiking boots and head off, you get out that faithful slow cooker. You'll have to spend a few minutes precooking the sausage or whatever other meat you'd like to use, but then you can fill your slow cooker with the cooked meat, tomato sauce, cheese, and uncooked lasagna noodles. About 6 hours later, it's all ready to go - and all you have to do is dish it out.  

Day 2: Beef Stroganoff in a Slow Cooker

On the second day of her visit, you can hardly get out of bed. The hike up the mountain was grueling and exhausting. Going down the mountain was at least fast - but that's because you hit a muddy patch and slid most of the way. 

But, Aunt Jebedizzah will not be swayed. She wants to check out the new exhibit at the local art museum. And the new exhibit at the zoo. And the one at the aquarium.

And, you did such a great job with the lasagna - surely it won't be any trouble for you to make her favorite tonight, beef stroganoff? 

Sure. Why not? Before you head out for your day of adventure, you get out the trusty slow cooker once again. This time, it's even easier than lasagna - all you have to do is throw in the stew meat, chopped onions, and a few other ingredients, and turn the thing on.

Day 3: Oh, and She Wants Cake. Didn't She Mention Cake?

After your active day, you are ready to relax. But Aunt Jebedizzah is not. Didn't that new mall open over there where the yarn factory used to be?

Why, yes. We're still having cake after dinner, right? Of course, Aunt Jebedizzah.

You know that the last thing you'll want to do when you get home is whip up a cake, and then sit there watching the oven while it cooks. 

With your last remaining bit of energy, you rush over to your neighbor, Estelle, who, very kindly loans you her slow cooker. You very quickly whip up a cake mix and put it in the cooker. 

When you and Aunt Jebedizzah return from your trip to the mall a couple of hours later, you have timed it perfectly. The beef stroganoff has been cooked to perfection, and you are just in time to turn the cake off so it can cool before dessert.

And so, as you fall asleep on the couch and Aunt Jebedizzah prunes your roses and paints your garage, you are both quite full of tasty meals and a scrumptious dessert, thanks to your handy dandy slow cooker.