A few weeks ago I decided to actually throw a party based on an idea I found on pinterest (or maybe I found it on a blog and added it to pinterest…whatever-it was on pinterest one way or another!). This lady is such an amazing party planner, so I borrowed her ingenious idea and hosted a SOUP SWAP.
Of course it wasn’t nearly as fancy, but it was so much fun…fun for the kids and the adults! So much fun, that I’ve decided it’s going to be a new fall tradition! Minimal planning and prep, not expensive, lots of yummy soup and new recipes, and the best part-meals for your family for later in the week! How souper is that?! And I LOVE soup during the fall and winter-probably because I can use my crock pot which makes my life easier!
We had our soup swap with a small group of friends from church, but it’d also be a great idea to do with a playgroup. Planning is easy-each family just brings a pot of their favorite soup (in a crockpot so it stays warm) and whatever “sides” go with it (chips, cheese, crackers, etc.). You could do it with some mommy friends at someone’s home-think lunch time play date…kids play and mommies eat. Or you could do what we did and have it a park-great to keep the kiddos entertained and everyone’s house stays clean!
We spent all evening feasting on everyone’s yummy soups! With plenty of plastic spoons and styrofoam cups on hand, everyone was able to sample six different soups…and then go back for a little more of their favorites! We had a great assortment-potato soup, chili, chicken taco soup, stone soup, chicken edamame chowder and chicken noodle soup. Yum, yum, and more yum!
Then before heading home, everyone ladled up some extra soup to take with them. Love a fun event that also takes care of dinner on a night when I just don’t feel like cooking! I brought mine home and stuck it in the freezer. I’m sure there will be a day in the near future when 5 o’clock rolls around, I have a tired and grouchy toddler (surely it’s not just my house that has that magical 5 pm witching hour) and I haven’t gotten around to starting dinner. No problem…I’ll just pull out my frozen soup and dinner will be easy peasy. And not only do I have one or two dinners waiting for me in my freezer, I also have five new tried and true soup recipes to add to our dinner menu rotation.
In case you want another yummy soup recipe (can you ever have too many?!), I thought I’d share the one I took. It’s a favorite in my house and super easy (originally found it on this blog):
Stone Soup
1 lb. ground beef
1 lg. onion – chopped (I buy the frozen, already chopped kind)
1 T chili powder
1 t cumin
1 t pepper
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix
1 T sugar
2 28oz cans chopped tomatoes, undrained
1 15 oz can pinto beans, undrained
1 15 oz can black beans, undrained
1 15 oz can lima beans, undrained (my hubby hates lima beans but he’ll even eat them in this soup!)
1 15 0z can corn, undrained
1 4 oz can chopped green chilis
Grated cheddar cheese
Tortilla chips
Brown beef and onion in a large soup pot and drain grease. Add chili powder and next seven ingredients. Bring to a boil. Add remaining cans of vegetables. Simmer 30 minutes. Serve in bowls and top with cheese and tortilla chips.
Happy Soup Swapping!!!
I love this idea! Thanks Kali! Glad you’re spending time on Pinterest so I don’t have to! Keep the ideas coming!
This really was a big hit! I am in Kali’s small group and I can honestly say it was a great event…the kids had fun playing in the park and the adults got stuffed on great soups. Plus, we all got to take at least one container full of someone’s soup home for a weeknight meal! Duh. Winning.