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!