Monday, February 16, 2015

Warm Winter Soups

Vegetable Beef Soup for a Crowd: The Charm of Home
This weekend we had a soup luncheon style birthday party for my youngest and I tried out some good new soup recipes I thought I would share with you.  This soup was a Vegetable Beef Soup for a crowd and it made a lot but; our immediate family is 30 plus people, so I needed a lot of soup.  
This was favored by the crowd so it must have been good.

Veggie Beef Soup (slow cooker version)

1-1 1/2 lb. beef stew meat
2-14 oz. cans cut green beans
1-14 oz. can corn
1-14 oz. can carrots, sliced
1-14 oz. can lima bean (you could use peas here)
2-28 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
6 cups (1-1/2 quarts) beef broth (more or less as needed) 
1 large onion, peeled and diced
4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
4 stalks celery, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 whole bay leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil

Place beef stew in a large slow cooker with enough water to cover (about 2-3 cups) and cook on low for 9-10 hours.  I did this part overnight.  I shredded the beef and added the canned veggies, draining the juice on all except the chopped tomatoes.  Add the beef broth. I then sauteed the onions, garlic, and celery in a little olive oil and then added it to the crock pot.  I also made the cooking process faster by placing the potatoes in a medium pot and parboiled them and then added into the soup.  Add the oregano, salt, and pepper, and bay leaves.  Set your slow cooker to high for two hours and then set on low and serve.  
Serves: around 20-25  
This was made in a 5 qt. slow cooker. 
  
Taco Soup: The Charm of Home
This was Taco Soup.  I have had so many people tell me their family loves taco soup and I have never made it.  I made this with all the garnishes to go with it and it seemed to be well liked by everyone. 

Taco Soup (slow cooker version)

1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1-14 oz. can black beans, drained
1-14 oz. can great northern beans
1-14 oz. can pinto beans
1-14.oz. can Ro*tel original tomatoes
1-14 oz. can tomato sauce
1-14 oz can diced tomatoes
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet Ranch dip
Brown the hamburger and drain.  Place this and all of the other ingredients into a 3 quart slow cooker. Turn it to high for two hours and then turn to low and serve.  Garnish with sour cream, black olives, shredded cheddar cheese, and serve with Frito Scoops.
Serves: 8    

Creamy Cheddar Soup:The Charm of Home
This soup is a long time favorite I have made for my family. It is from a Paula Deen recipe so it is sure to please.

Creamy Cheddar Potato Soup

1 medium onion, chopped
3-4 medium potatoes, peeled and parboiled
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons flour
3 cups chicken stock ( could use beef)
3 cups half-n-half
3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
salt and ground black pepper to taste
dash of paprika (optional)
Bacon, crumbled

In a saucepan saute onions in butter and cook until softened, 5-8 minutes.  Blend in flour with large whisk and make a roux.  Cook for 2 minutes.  Add stock, half-n-half, and potatoes and cook until thick.  Add cheese and whisk till smooth and melted.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add paprika if desired.
Serve hot.  Cook the bacon and serve crumbled with soup as garnish.
Serves: 8-12

We are still enjoying the leftovers of this soup warmed up and the timing was great for it because we had 7 inches of snow today.  #wintercanendnow!
Sherry
I will link this to:

Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm
Homemaking Linkup at Hope In Every Season 
The Best Blog Recipes link party 
Tickle My Taste Buds Tuesdays at Lori's Culinary Creations
Fridays Unfolded at Nancherrow
Weekend Retreat Linky Party at AKA Design and Life
Foodie Friends Friday at Walking on Sunshine
Project Inspire at An Extraordinary Day

8 comments:

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

I love a hot mug of soup - I could eat soup everyday but hubs says he's not a soup fan so I usually only make it when I have ladies over - which is often enough. Your pics of yummy soup has gotten me hungry to make some now!

Alicia said...

I love soups! It's been such a short winter here though that it is hard to think of making something hot. But I'm saving these because I love the look of all of them! Thanks for sharing the recipes!

Cathy @ My 1929 Charmer said...

I love soup, any kind of soup. It's so good,filling and comforting. I will be trying a few of these soon. Great to have some to add to my recipes.

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

There's nothing like a nice hearty bowl of soup when you're in sub-zero temps in Ohio!! My crock pot has been working overtime this winter making soups. Love your post!

Blessings & hoping for spring, Edie Marie

Lady of the Manor said...

Each of these looks so delicious, I don't know which would be my favorite. Thanks for sharing the recipes.

Marigene said...

We love soups of all kinds. Yours look yummy, especially the potato one.
How many potatoes in the creamy cheddar potato soup?
Have a wonderful week, Sherry!

The Charm of Home said...

Oh Marigene thanks for reminding me about the potatoes in the recipe! That is something I add in that wasn't in the original recipe. I always forget to list it! :)
Sherry

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Oh yes, those soups look wonderful! Especially the first two