I love the kind of days you can light a fire in the fireplace or have a bonfire and put on a big pot of soup to simmer and enjoy all day long. It brings about memories of gatherings we had when I was a child, when we all gathered together to share a bowl of soup.
Soup is even better when you share it with friends. Here are some ways to share a bowl of soup and make warm, delicious memories along the way.
1. The Soup Kettle:
Hang a large kettle over your bonfire or in your fireplace. Share a bowl of soup by having friends bring their favorite red chili and pour them all together in the big pot. This makes the most incredible tasting chili you will ever have. Provide hotdogs for roasting, buns, chopped onions and cheese for making chili dogs, drinks, and maybe some S’mores for dessert. You can also do this with other soup recipes of the same kind of soup. White Chili, Vegetable Beef, and Beef Stew are all good choices.
2. Soup Swap:
Invite friends to bring a pot of their favorite soup and the recipe (these can be emailed to everyone in advance). Enjoy a small bowl of each kind of soup and send a sample home for families to taste. Share a bowl of soup by providing small plastic take-home containers for your guests to take home a sample of each soup.
3. Stone Soup:
Ever read the book “Stone Soup”? You provide the meat (and the stone), so you can start cooking it before your guests arrive. Share a bowl of soup by having each of your guests bring an ingredient from the recipe. Make Stone Soup, there are many recipes online to get you started or you can make up your own with the ingredients your guests provide.
4. Soup Sampler:
Have each of your guests bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Make several different kinds of your favorite soups using old stand-by recipes and trying new ones. You can even make some ahead of time to put in the freezer to pull out for the party. Pour each soup in a crockpot or kettle on the stove to keep warm. Have lots of disposable bowls or cups, so everyone can sample all your tasty soups. Be sure to keep the recipes handy, just in case someone asks.
5. Soup Cook-Off:
Got a competitive spirit? Have a Soup Cook-Off. Either choose the same kind of soup for everyone (Chili is always a good choice) to make or make it an assortment. Share a bowl of soup by having your guests bring their favorites for a taste-test. Let everyone vote for the soup they liked the most.
6. Virtual Soup Swap:
Share a bowl of soup by sending out a group email or Facebook message to a group or start a Pinterest Group Board asking friends to share their favorite soup recipes. Be sure to try each recipe and comment on how delicious they are. Keep the conversation going. Now you have a whole new collection of tried and true soup recipes.
7. Soup for a Friend in Need:
When you make a pot of soup, make two and put one in the freezer. There are times in life when taking a meal to a friend can be a huge blessing in someone’s life. Anything from having a baby to an illness or a death in the family can cause a need for a meal. Sometimes, the best meals are freezer meals that can be heated and eaten when it is convenient for them. If there is a time when you have a friend in need or you just want to share out of the kindness of your heart, you will have soup to share.