Soup For A Swarm
By Calli Rhoades
I grew up in a large family (six kids) so it is fair to say that my mom has been "cooking for a crowd" for a very long time. In fact, some might say that her cooking become somewhat worse when she tried to adjust to serving for just a couple (this is the part when I really hope my amazing mom isn't reading this... love you Mom!). As big as we may have started out, with every wedding and joyous birthdate we have only grown. What was eight is now a whopping 27! When we are all together it is some amazing feat to keep everybody fed and happy. Somehow my mom has always handled it in stride.
In recent years she has embraced her inner wisdom and changed things around a bit. What used to be roast and potatoes or steak and salad for everyone has given way to more simple things. Maybe it was the sheer number or maybe it was just what came of spending family gathering after wonderful family gathering trapped in the kitchen preparing and cleaning up! Whatever brought on the change it has been a nice change. Sometimes I even get to talk to my mother when I go to visit her on a Sunday. Who'd have thought?
She started to think of what you could put a whole lot of in one dish or slow cooker. She also considered what allows for flexible timing in case one family gets delayed or we need to keep leftovers warm for someone. And the hands down favorite for our family was soup. She did invest in a second slow cooker and sometimes she doubles up in those and sometimes she sticks with grandma's giant stock pot, but either way, everyone knows that there will be lots of warm deliciousness waiting when they arrive. Throw in some fresh bread and it is pretty much like heaven.
We have even started splitting the duty so mom isn't always stuck feeding all the hungry masses. One of the beauties of a slow cooker is how wonderfully portable it is. On occasion we even do soups potluck style. My sisters and I (let's face it, the boys in my family usually volunteer for soda or ice cream assignments) will each make a soup and load it up in the old family with the kids and go mobile. That is fun because we get to try new soups and there is a variety that even the kids get excited about.
Enough chit chat about my loud, wild, and hungry family... my blood pressure is going up just thinking about it. Let's get to some recipes! Here are two soups to try cooking for a crowd and some bread, because, let's face it, soup isn't soup without some bread to dip.
Baked Potato Soup For a Crowd
Ingredients:
12 large Idaho potatoes (8-9 lbs)
2 medium onions
1/2 cup virgin olive oil
1 quart sour cream
1 cup bacon drippings
1/2 pound mozzarella cheese, grated
1 quart whipping cream
10 1/2 ounces cream of mushroom soup
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
2 teaspoons white peppers
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound butter, melted
1/2 pound Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 bunch green onions or 1 bunch shallot, chopped
2 cups bacon bits, crumbled
Directions:
2. Bake potatoes and onions in 375 degrees F oven for 45 minutes.
3. Let cool for 30 minutes.
4. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise; use a spoon to scoop out the potato.
5. Peel the skin and roots from the onion.
6. Use a food processor to blend all of the ingredients except cheddar cheese, green onions, and bacon bits. The heat will melt the cheese.
7. Put the blended soup into a 10 quart stock pot over low heat until serving temperature.
8. Put shredded cheddar, bacon bits, and onions for everyone to use to top their soup.
Yields 2 gallons.
Recipe courtesy of Chef lovestocook at https://www.food.com/recipe/baked-potato-soup-for-a-crowd-203896
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Minestrone Soup for a Crowd
Total Time: 1 Hr 30 Min
Ingredients:2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
2 small zucchini, chopped (2 cups)
2 medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)
2 medium celery stalks, chopped (1 cup)
1 can (28 oz) muir glen organic diced tomato, undrained
Directions:
2 Stir in remaining ingredients except pasta. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 45 minutes.
3 Heat to boiling. Stir in pasta. Return to boiling. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 10 to 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.
Source: bettycrocker.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Easy Dinner Rolls
Ingredients:
1 cup water (110 degrees F)
2 packages yeast (Do not use the quick rising in this recipe)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/4 cups flour
Directions:
2. With wooden spoon, stir in butter, sugar, eggs and salt.
3. Add flour, 1 cup at a time and beat in as much as you can.
4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 3 days.
5. Grease a 13x9 baking pan.
6. Turn dough out onto floured surface.
7. Divide into 24 equal pieces.
8. Roll each piece into a smooth round ball.
9. Place in rows in prepared pan.
10. Cover and let rise for 1 hour; until doubled.
11. Heat oven to 375*.
12. Bake until golden brown, about 17 minutes
Recipe from MizzNezz at: https://www.food.com/recipe/easy-dinner-rolls-40633?oc=linkback
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
