Soup Potluck Parties

While making delicious soups has always been a special favorite of mine, lately it is becoming a popular favorite today in group entertaining.

 Soup is economically providing a refreshing gourmet treat at social and family gatherings. 

Soup Parties are growing in popularity. There are various types of Soup Parties including the popular “Soup Party Potlucks” which are most entertaining.

Invitees are requested to prepare and submit their favorite soup, and possibly discuss and share the recipes with others at the party  Non cooks attending the parties are encourage to provide  wine or an appetizer, etc.. To avoid duplicates of dishes the guest are usually requested to rsvp , confirming attendance and what they are providing.

The host usually provides a salad, lots of crusty bread (rolls ) beverages, wine, etc. and provides small bowls or mugs for the soups.

  Potlucks can be imaginative,   with a variety of gourmet  flavors  and interesting shared conversations as to the origin of recipes and possibly games like voting on the favorite soup of the party and awarding a prize,  while still easy on the pocketbook.   

Soup Parties are particularly enjoyable anytime,,  however fall, winter and spring are enjoyable due to the cooler weather. They also work well for a late brunch.

Try inviting a small group of friends or have parties with family members to share in an affordable means of quality entertaining.

Soups are easy to make , once  you learn the basics you can let your creativity and  taste buds experiment.  Check the local markets for seasonal supply of abundant produce for your delicious recipes. 

Soup, an easy treat to make in advance and serve for those gatherings of families and friends.  I always make extra soup and freeze for the easy dinners in busy times by adding a great bread and salad.

 Various soup recipes and invitation cards are available at www.soupnstuff.etsy.com

PERSIMMONS "Fruit of the Gods"

A most misunderstood fruit! Some folks claim, “you either love it or truly dislike it”



Perhaps those that dislike it have , have never tasted the ripe fruit. There is nothing as sweet and delicious as a ripe persimmon, thus the title of “Fruit of the Gods” (Diospyros) known to the ancient Greeks .The word persimmon is derived from the Algonquian language . It’s origin is native to China, where it has been cultivated for centuries, and was introduced to California in the mid 1800's.

Persimmons do best in areas with mild summers—Thus doing extremely well in California , where a delicious golden-orange fruit is in season from late September through late December. When ripe, these fruits are delightfully sweet.


As an east coast transplant , residing in southern California for few decades, I was introduced to this marvelous fruit years ago by my neighbor with a persimmon tree. It was an experienced worth noting, for I attempted a taste of this fruit prior to its ripen stage, and it can be and was really bitter! Fortunately I waited several days prior to thanking my neighbor for the generous gift and once again, tasted a ripe persimmon ..and WOW! “Fruit of the Gods” I was delighted .


Every year around late November my neighbor provides me with a generous supply of this marvelous fruit which I immediately put to good use. When they are ripe they are most enjoyable eating as a whole fruit sliced or added to everything from salad to waffles, to making a puree and jams. I especially enjoy baking everything from a persimmon loaf to muffins, and of course I always share some of the baked goodies with my neighbor. I usually bake several extra loafs which I will freeze ,thus providing enjoyment for months on end.

In this blog for your enjoyment I have added my own well tested recipe for the persimmon loft which I bake every year during the Holidays.


You can find additional favorite enjoyable recipes of mine for hearty soups and pastry and all sorts of other stuff at my ETSY Site at  http://www.soupnstuff.etsy.com/ which are presented and preserved on laminated heat sealed charts for your continued use.

PERSIMMON LOAF CAKE Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar         1/2 cup salad oil          3 eggs (beaten)

1 1/2 cups persimmon ( roughly pureed)       1 1/4 cups chopped walnuts

1 cup raisins          2 cups flour       2 tsp. baking powder    1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves     1/2 tsp. salt     1 tsp. lemon extract   1 tsp. orange zest

1 tsp. baking soda           2 tbsp. warm water


Instructions:

Stir together, mixing well the first 5 ingredients.

Sugar, salad oil, 3 eggs, persimmon, chopped walnuts

Stir in the next 5 dry ingredients into the persimmon mixture.

Raisins, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ground cloves

Add the last ingredients. Mixing well.
Salt, lemon extract, orange zest, baking soda ,2 tbsp. warm water.

Pour into greased standard loaf pan.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce to 350 degrees and bake 40 –45 minutes until done. Makes one standard loaf or two small loaves.

Making Soup Instead of Lemonade

Acknowledging that I am a card carrying Foodie has opened the portals and released my floodgates of inspiration and creativity.

We have heard that when life hands you a bunch of lemons … make lemonade! Well for me it’s “Make soup!” There is something almost pleasurably primal in cooking up a batch of wonderfully healthy, nourishing and deliciously tasty soup!


With the encouragement and help from my friends I am following my BLISS!

What had started as a stress reliever has led me to some exciting and creative work.
I have started my very own on-line store “Soup N Stuff” at http://www.soupnstuff.etsy.com/


This has given me the great experience of getting out of the stuck and non-productive void of negative surroundings and energies. I’ve come to appreciate more what I do have, putting aside of what can’t be changed.
For many this could be as simple as going out into the day and sunshine, but for me getting into my kitchen and creating delights I can share is my saving grace.


In my new online shop I’ve started with some of my favorite soup recipes and added popovers and , specialty holiday breads, and luscious dessert recipes.
Then I added cookie cutters, vintage items and various kitchen tools and pretty accessory serving dishes to my shop just in time for the upcoming change of seasons and the busy kitchens preparing for our favorite holidays.
I’m presenting my recipes either as colorful laminated recipe charts or sent as PDF files, and have created some great Kitchen Bookmarks (with easy reference measurements for wet and dry ingredients) , all ideal for gift giving.


Stop by the shop where new delights are always a given!
    Photo of Orange Cran-Nut Loaf ,just out of oven and glazed and ready to slice 

The Last Time!

When was the last time you actually looked at someone, and could you recall what you saw ?  When looking into their eyes, did you see joy, delight, enthusiasm, sadness, pain, despair?  Where are you, and do you really see them ?

When was the last time you made an effort to look up and communicate directly with the cashier, waitress or clerk providing you a service?

I am absolutely not against the tech age, with cell phones, twittering etc, were it not  t for the "Tech Age"  we wouldn’t have the opportunity to write and share these blogs,etc. . . . However, I am aware and concerned of the extreme lack of personal contact we are experiencing; we are really losing the experience of real personal sharing.with our children's obsession of playing video and on-line games to our very own ongoing endless on-line chatter.
We are constantly talking on  cell phones or twittering, and believe we are indulging in direct personal communication.  Stop and look up … see what is going on around you... what are the kids, or our love ones doing, seeing. feeling, and experiencing? Can they possibly share with you, or are they continually voided out. Have you noticed they are there and need to share.

Daily we are all the recipients of some form of extreme rudeness with indifference as to the actions of such conduct in our society.
How do you feel when someone is busy talking on phone, twittering, nodding or waving at you when you really need them? Think about it!
When was the last time you sat across the table with your family members , love ones, or friends, enjoying and sharing good food or special dessert and some real conversation , really seeing, feeling , tasting and experiencing it all fully?
It can be quite rewarding sharing around the table, "Breaking Bread" as the expression goes.
Maybe it’s time for direct personal face to face contact with an intimate family supper, or perhaps brunch with a friend or two, without the ongoing cell phone or tweeter talk... Are we so addicted, we cannot turn it off at times?

I personally enjoy cooking and sharing , however if you don’t cook or have the time to do so,….get together anyway ,invite them over to a take home pizza or other EZ dessert treat and enjoy the sharing.

"The Cook"    Soup N Stuff              http://www.soupnstuff.etsy.com/