Soup Swap - and 5 recipes for soup

I read about National Soup Swap Day sometime back in December (sadly I have no idea where) and immediately knew I HAD to host one.

An Evite went out and a few weeks later (last Saturday to be exact) it happened. Small, but very successful, this will be a regular occurrence!

I served cheese and crackers, crudite of peppers with spinach dip and baby liquor-soaked cakes and red and white wine. We talked, laughed, drank, swapped soups and went on our way. I LOVE having homemade soups in my freezer waiting for me!

Soups included:
French Onion
Split Pea with Ham
Chili x 2
Yellow Lentil
Wedding Soup
Taco Soup

Thanks to Chrissy, Lisa, Alison, Kelly, Kelley (swapping by proxy), Mom and Becky for making to the swap, everyone else...there is always next year!

For more information on National Soup Swap Day (Jan 23) and how a soup swap works, click here:


And here are the recipes...

1. Kirsten's Easy French Onion Soup:
4-6 large onions (yellow, sweet, red, white, etc.), sliced thin in half moons
10 cups beef broth
4-5 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 c Marsala Wine
1 tbs butter
1 tbs olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Saute onions in a large stock pot with butter & oil and salt & pepper, until softened. Deglaze pan with Marsala, add thyme, then pour over beef broth. Simmer on low for 2-3 hours. To serve, ladle into a small crock and top with a piece of day-old or toasted french bread. Top with slices gruyere, broil until crusty and golden brown.

2. Alison's Chili:
1.5 lbs. hamburger
1/2 onion diced
2 cans of tomato soup and 2 cans of water
1 can red kidney beans
1 can of chile beans
1 can of mushrooms
1 can of diced tomatoes w/green chiles
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 red chili pepper (optional)

Directions:
Brown meat and onion. Add soup, water, beans, and remaining
ingredients. Simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. More water can be added
if you prefer a thinner soup.

3. Anthony's (Lisa's contribution) Chili:
1 28 oz can tomato sauce
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 11 oz can kidney beans (with liquid)
1 lb ground beef
2 green peppers, chopped
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 packet Chili seasoning
Chili powder to taste
Garlic powder to taste
Seasoning salt to taste

Directions:
In a large skillet, brown beef with onion and peppers. Drain, return to skillet and add chili and garlic powder and continue to cook.

Meanwhile, in another pot, combine tomato sauce with tomatoes, beans and garlic. Add meat mixture and chili seasoning. Simmer on low heat for about an hour adding more chili powder and seasoning salt as you go.

Enjoy with fresh baked bread or over pasta with shredded cheese and onions (known in Cincinnati as a "4-Way").

4. Kelley's Good-N-Easy Taco Soup:
1.5 lbs ground beef (the fattier the meat, the tastier!)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 4 oz can green chilis
2 packets taco seasoning
Fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions:
Cook onions, garlic and beef until cooked through. Add entire contents of canned beans, corn and tomatoes and chilis (including liquid), then slowly add seasoning packets. Stir, cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Top with grated cheese and serve with tortilla chips or buttered corn bread.

For a thicker soup, add more beans, for a spicier soup, add jalapenos...can add green peppers, black olives, avocado, etc. This also can be made leaner by using ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.

5. Grammy's Split Pea Soup (by Chrissy):
1 bag shredded carrots
1 large onion
4 stalks celery
2-3 tbs Olive oil
1 ham bone
1 thick ham steak (optional)
2 1 lb bags of split peas
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Soak peas overnight in large stock pot with water covering about 1 inch over peas.

Cook peas over low heat and scoop out foam (created from cooking peas) with a slotted spoon until foaming stops (about 45 min). Stir often so peas don't stick to the bottom as they cook.

While peas have begun cooking, chop carrots finely in a food processor...continue with onion and celery. Heat olive oil over medium heat and saute vegetables until softened, seasoning with salt and pepper. Add vegetables to soup after foaming has stopped. Submerge ham bone and cooking, stirring often, until peas are soft and smooth and ham just about falls off the bone. Remove bone, cut up ham and add back to soup and serve...add extra ham before serving if desired.