Monday, January 11, 2016

Blog With Friends: Baby, It's Cold Outside

Today’s post is the next in our series of Blog With Friends theme collaborations. Each month a group of bloggers get together and each publish a project based on a theme. What I love about this partnership is that it’s not bloggers with similar interests or strengths but a diverse group coming up with a variety of posts. In any given month we may have a recipe, sewing tutorial, crafts projects, book review and/or a technology post all related to the theme of the month.

Blog With Friends | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

There will be individual project pictures and links to what everyone else has to offer at the end of my post, but here’s a peek at what we all came up with:


Blog With Friends, a monthly group post of projects and information designed around a theme. January's theme: Baby It's Cold Outside | www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe


This month our theme is Baby, It's Cold Outside. For my project I made Crockpot Italian Soup.


Crockpot Italian Soup: A hearty meal, this soup will warm your insides on a cold night. Quick preparation, then let the soup simmer durring the day. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | Blog With Friends: Baby It's Cold Outside | #recipe #soup #crockpot


I have a confession to make. Two, actually. First, I never in my life had a crock pot until just a few years ago. I only have one now because it was a gift from a friend. I had no idea what I'd been missing out on.

But there was also a pretty long learning curve, something I'm still going through. Which leads us to the second confession: I don't like a lot of foods made in the crockpot. For the most part I find that many meats take on a shredded consistency I just don't like. Now soups, stews, sauces and roasts basically anything intended to cook long and slow work out really well. Oh, and a few desserts (when done right) because chocolate + warmth . . . that's a no-brainer.

So for my "Baby, It's Cold Outside" post, I've chosen to share a winter favorite, a crockpot soup. There are a few things I love about crockpot cooking in general and this soup in particular is that with little effort in the beginning and at the end, it cooks itself through the day. You have the luxury of smelling it cook or the option to be out while dinner pretty much makes itself.

I start by adding most of the ingredients to the crockpot. I make a white sauce that's then mixed in and let that thing take care of itself for most of the day.


Crockpot Italian Soup: A hearty meal, this soup will warm your insides on a cold night. Quick preparation, then let the soup simmer durring the day. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | Blog With Friends: Baby It's Cold Outside | #recipe #soup #crockpot


Then add the last few ingredients and let it cook one more hour until the tortellini softens and the spinach starts to wilt.


Crockpot Italian Soup: A hearty meal, this soup will warm your insides on a cold night. Quick preparation, then let the soup simmer durring the day. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | Blog With Friends: Baby It's Cold Outside | #recipe #soup #crockpot



And serve a big hearty bowl of deliciousness. Add some garlic bread and this soup is truly a filling meal.


Crockpot Italian Soup: A hearty meal, this soup will warm your insides on a cold night. Quick preparation, then let the soup simmer durring the day. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | Blog With Friends: Baby It's Cold Outside | #recipe #soup #crockpot


As always, any time you make one of my recipes, feel free to post a picture of it to my Baking In A Tornado Facebook Page. I'd love to see it!


Be sure to visit all of this month's other Blog With Friends projects:


Melissa of Home on Deranged shares a way to warm your imagination. Cold Outside? Warm up with romantic movies and books


Rabia of The Lieber Family Blog shares a fun DIY, how to make a Snowflake Wreath



Lydia of Cluttered Genius shares the Best At Home Date Nights.

Robin of Someone Else's Genius shares her first attempt at crocheting, an easy beginners Head Warmer with Flower.


Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Crockpot Italian Soup
                                            ©www.BakingInATornado.com


Ingredients:
2 cups water 1/2 cup white wine
1 (14 oz) can vegetable broth
1/2# mushrooms, sliced
1/2 onion, chopped
2 green onions, sliced
1/2 carrot, chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
3 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp basil
1/8 tsp pepper
3 TBSP butter
3 TBSP flour
1/4 tsp cayenne
1 1/2 cups warm milk
1 (8 oz) package cleaned fresh spinach, stems removed
1 (8 - 12 oz) package dried cheese tortellini
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 cup cooked ham or sausage, chopped
1/4 cup grated parmesan  (OPT: more for serving)

Directions:
*Place  water, wine, vegetable broth, mushrooms, both onions, carrot, red pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning, basil and pepper into crockpot. Turn on to low.
*In a small saucepan, on medium low, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cayenne. Heat and continue to whisk for 2 minutes. 1/2 cup at a time, whisk in the warm milk. Add this mixture to the crockpot, mix well.
*Allow soup to cook for 6 hours on low, then add the spinach, tortellini, evaporated milk, meat and parmesan. Cook one more hour or until the tortellini is no longer hard.
*OPT: serve topped with more parmesan.

26 comments:

  1. I agree with your sentiments on the crock pot. My biggest issue is that I'm gone for ten hours and most recipes don't really stand up well to that. Soups and BBQs have been my best bet and this one looks delicious! I'm going to have to give it a try!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, when you're gone that long you really need to use the crockpot only for certain foods. Hearty dinner soups are a great option.

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  2. Replies
    1. Any kind you like, of course if you choose a hot sausage it will add a lot of heat to the soup.

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  3. I was a late comer to the crock pot too. I only use it for chili and soups. Your looks great. Did you say a dessert in the crock???

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I have a few crockpot desserts posted. The smell of chocolate slow cooking for hours is mouth watering!

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  4. Recipe looks amazing---pinned it for this weekend!

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  5. Mmmm. I have to confess that soup is my go-to meal throughout the winter. And a lot during the other three months of the year.

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    Replies
    1. Us too. Hope you try this one. And I'm posing the recipe for another soup this week too.

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  6. Looks really yummy! I'm gonna go try those out.

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  7. That sounds delicious! I love the crockpot. My favorite winter appliance!

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    Replies
    1. I love not only the ease, but getting to smell the food slow cooking all day long.

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  8. I love my CrockPot. I'm going to have to try this!

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  9. Your soup looks wonderful. I agree with you on making meat in a crockpot, I am not always a big fan of it.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, I think over time we all figure out what we do and don't like in the crockpot. I definitely have meals I won't use it for.

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  10. I am so annoyed I just had that second handful of grapes, because I am too full to move, but that soup looks soooo tasty. I wonder if I can finally convince my little one that soups are not the devil's handiwork with this recipe...

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    1. I have to admit that it took many years before my kids would eat soup as dinner, but this one sure is a good place to start.

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  11. So this sounds really good. I am adding it to our list of to-makes! (Once I can get to the store!)

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  12. Making it right now. Not cooking it as long and am using the high setting. Used chicken stock instead of water to add flavor and pretty much eyeballed the spices....everything else is pretty close to this recipe. I'm picky about soups because sometimes the soup I make never comes out as good as it looks on the recipe. I think this recipe might be a hit, though :)

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    Replies
    1. I'm a big fan of changing up recipes to fit my own taste. Let me know how you like it with your adjustments.

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  13. hi I really appreciate your soup and quick bread recipes. I find that the crockpot is good for somethings, one I tried to make ribs in it one time and instead I ended up with a wonderful pulled pork recipe instead( no need to use a grill). you have inspired me, I used to make a knock off of a local restaurant's Minestrone and I was feeling the urge to try to whip it up again. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. So glad to have inspired you, minestrone is a great soup for a cold night.

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