Holiday Entertaining | Soup Supper! | Easy Holiday Entertaining

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDy4DDUDNJk-JayXESrKUHZiUaau43HG5UOpYTLJ5Mu9XpJTJ-BC2sMqeEzT1pVYUyJ-g5O9_wAGXvu8senk-G_EqVoBCMtXbhwGsf8K5420ki3rBM-VxeFNX6XXhNlbMEOatUolkIek_/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDy4DDUDNJk-JayXESrKUHZiUaau43HG5UOpYTLJ5Mu9XpJTJ-BC2sMqeEzT1pVYUyJ-g5O9_wAGXvu8senk-G_EqVoBCMtXbhwGsf8K5420ki3rBM-VxeFNX6XXhNlbMEOatUolkIek_/s640/IMG_2572.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A couple of weeks ago, I did a soup supper for a benefit holiday show.  I think it is a great option for easy entertaining this holiday season.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbulHeERDqQ2PElouBwEY373Cbkd6clW0onwCImqHqRclKqj_Bnz2-3_vNddbCucybvP9CKq7CU_Msr55GlaRZd8ROKQHN-Rvbe0bmQObGAXGQqOtQq14fH2GZSt_YK1eaVeCrEwYDHqJa/s1600/IMG_2567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbulHeERDqQ2PElouBwEY373Cbkd6clW0onwCImqHqRclKqj_Bnz2-3_vNddbCucybvP9CKq7CU_Msr55GlaRZd8ROKQHN-Rvbe0bmQObGAXGQqOtQq14fH2GZSt_YK1eaVeCrEwYDHqJa/s640/IMG_2567.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I prepared two soups : Baked Potato Soup & Minestrone<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i69SK3Pgat7zsCAB6sTpFQ82BCNxSzP5j3vj-vyk-lvMgl0CQqHwQSX9GoF-wp1I_D8fPguDjFSi4tWAXvFcG0ZD71KeNkCgDte9DMaGdVjukveObhHtRrj8t2P5YMvdFg481Nci8HZS/s1600/IMG_2570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i69SK3Pgat7zsCAB6sTpFQ82BCNxSzP5j3vj-vyk-lvMgl0CQqHwQSX9GoF-wp1I_D8fPguDjFSi4tWAXvFcG0ZD71KeNkCgDte9DMaGdVjukveObhHtRrj8t2P5YMvdFg481Nci8HZS/s640/IMG_2570.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I set up a food table to display the soup and provided "To-Go" soups for everyone to take home - what a great gift to a busy family!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudfUEZVEhs4AlbELuigseX5UVImSdjORYzp-EO68VX2OQUI4mGqmVmz_nIqxvCiuO17dxHJYirofSJYcJoY29ytqlG1nWhAqEYWE-kAR0kfEO5ik4Tgq2TNnOgdb-UpmmWEh_Bqn-N1iI/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudfUEZVEhs4AlbELuigseX5UVImSdjORYzp-EO68VX2OQUI4mGqmVmz_nIqxvCiuO17dxHJYirofSJYcJoY29ytqlG1nWhAqEYWE-kAR0kfEO5ik4Tgq2TNnOgdb-UpmmWEh_Bqn-N1iI/s640/IMG_2571.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGVs-JsHb55lPrU4GnJjSjGGDSwlSF86dZGlwQ5Uao9GX6gASZFXhHhOQov_KA6d_LiJmMJabx-NxVEQNq7WCdPXh0bXc-IRSxGH_AnndUooZ3sFCteQNeU929vNuqqXraKKl63ACV4Ht/s1600/IMG_2577.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGVs-JsHb55lPrU4GnJjSjGGDSwlSF86dZGlwQ5Uao9GX6gASZFXhHhOQov_KA6d_LiJmMJabx-NxVEQNq7WCdPXh0bXc-IRSxGH_AnndUooZ3sFCteQNeU929vNuqqXraKKl63ACV4Ht/s640/IMG_2577.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Baked Potato Soup<br /><br />1 cup of butter<br />1 cup of flour<br />4 cups of half & half<br />4 cups of whole milk<br />salt & pepper<br />4 cups of red potatoes, 1 inch cubes<br /><br />Cook potatoes in water until tender - about 8 minutes.  Drain potatoes and set aside.<br /><br />In a sauce pan, melt butter, then add flour over low heat and whisk until smooth.  Let the flour cook for just a minute - be careful not to burn!  Whisk in heavy cream - adding it all at once.  Whisk until smooth, then add in milk.  Bring the soup to a simmer, stirring constantly.  Add potatoes just before serving.  Keep the heat on low and be careful not to scorch the bottom.<br /><br />Optional garnish :<br />cheddar cheese<br />bacon, cooked & cubed<br />green onions<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSiCPrGITuDCeAIK1wP-unW6vE2YA-BIcbRlaNiHObjo1gNSNJ_hFMfIy2JSfvxOAjIVPYIGcfq70mEmT_qlzMMyfy0RNly82zpPEAq87gleefuRfEuLCFvCkqDYOKk6jj2o_bI5qZre4/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSiCPrGITuDCeAIK1wP-unW6vE2YA-BIcbRlaNiHObjo1gNSNJ_hFMfIy2JSfvxOAjIVPYIGcfq70mEmT_qlzMMyfy0RNly82zpPEAq87gleefuRfEuLCFvCkqDYOKk6jj2o_bI5qZre4/s640/IMG_2578.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Minestrone Soup<br /><br />1/4 pound of bacon, cubed<br />2 tablespoons of olive oil<br />1/2 cup of onions, 1/2 inch dice<br />2 cups of carrots, 1/2 inch dice<br />2 cups of celery, 1/2 inch dice<br />2 cups of fresh green beens, 1/2 inch dice<br />6 cups of chicken stock<br />1 - 12 ounce can of whole tomatoes<br />4 cups of cabbage, shredded<br />3 cups of spinach<br />1/2 pound of pasta<br />salt & pepper<br />fresh basil<br />parmesan cheese<br /><br />In a large stock pot, cook bacon in olive oil, then add onion, carrots, celery and green beans.  Cook for about 4 minutes until they are tender.  Add chicken stock (may need more or less depending on desired consistency).  Add tomatoes one at a time, but crushing them (squeezing) into the pot.  Bring to a simmer.  Add the cabbage, pasta and salt & pepper.  Cook for 10-15 minutes until pasta is tender.  Add spinach just before serving.  Served garnished with basil & parmesan.

Holiday Entertaining | Soup Supper! | Easy Holiday Entertaining

A couple of weeks ago, I did a soup supper for a benefit holiday show.  I think it is a great option for easy entertaining this holiday seas...

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