Happy Friday! I am so excited to share all the details about my new Soup Club with you all. I am also guest hosting the Fit and Fashionable link up for Nicole today over on her blog where I am also sharing some of the Soup Club details. So please hop on over and check that out as well-thanks!
Why Start a Soup Club?
We are moms = We are busy
We are runners = We are hungry all time
I noticed that my friends and I talk about food a lot. We often talk about what we are making for dinner and the challenges we face to get healthy home cooked meals on the table for our families. Wouldn’t it be great if we could help each other out? We all want to have home cooked meals but some days are just crazy busy. Thus the Soup Club was formed.
The How To’s
Invite your friends to join your Soup Club
-I recommend no more than 5 people in each group otherwise each member has to cook a very large quantity. We started with 2 groups of 5.
-I found it easiest to use a Facebook messenger group to communicate so that everyone could keep up with the chatter and questions easier. We are still chatting in our group about the soups as the ladies are defrosting and eating them.
-Ask about any food allergies or dietary restrictions.
-We have a Vegetarian group of 5 and a Non-Vegetarian group of 5.
-Each member is responsible for making soup for the 4 other members of their group and packaging it in freezer safe 2 quart containers. These can then be re used the next month. Something like this works great:
-I personally find it easier to use a Crock Pot especially when making a large quantity. The soup just tastes better when it has a chance to slow cook all day. If you don’t have a crock pot you need one asap! (affiliate link)
-Decide on a date and time to meet and exchange your soups. We chose a Sunday afternoon and somehow that turned into a happy hour of sorts. It was so much fun that I forgot to take pictures.
-Make sure you have room in your fridge or ask everyone to bring along small coolers or bags to store the soup in while you are chatting away.
-Everyone leaves with 4 other soups to freeze and use throughout the next few weeks. Luckily my boys had no interest in my soup so I was able to enjoy them all myself.
-Ask everyone to include and ingredient list and any re heating instructions. Some garnishes etc are better left on the side. I provided an avocado and some home made chips on the side of my Veggie Tortilla Soup.
-Your friends do not have to be bloggers or even really great cooks to join your Soup Club. Soup is something that most people can make even if they “don’t cook”.
-Our first exchange went so well that we have already planned the next one. We will be doing our exchange once a month.
-As the months get colder, we will include stews and chili etc. The possibilities are endless really so no chance of anyone getting bored.
-We did not have members post their soup choices in advance but that is probably a good idea so that you don’t end up with 5 tomato soups etc.
What do you think about the Soup Club? Would you start one with your friends and family?
Don’t forget to hop on over to Nicole’s blog today too!
That is a really nice idea! We have done Christmas cookie exchanges before. Hadn’t thought about general cooking, but it makes a lot of sense!
Thanks! It was lots of fun can’t wait to do it again
I don’t have friends, so i would have to do this on my own, lol. But my goal this fall and winter is to use my crockpot!
LOL the crock pot rules!
I’ve never heard of this. What a cool idea! Especially when it gets cooler. Fun!
Thanks we are having lots of fun with it!
What a great idea! Using a crock pot is definitely a great way to make a huge batch of soup if you don’t have a large enough pot. When I make soup, I love letting it simmer for hours and letting the aroma carry throughout the entire house. Makes me so excited to eat the final product!
Exactly! Would be great for you to do one of these bc you will me finding less time to cook 🙂
This is super cool and my head is already busy thinking sooooo to make sure I get this right, we only exchange the soups we do not eat them? How long did you all meet? Just had drinks?
Ok so we only exchanged soups and did not eat them that day. You then have 4 meals in your freezer. We just hung out for about an hour having some wine while everyone came to drop off. You could really do what works best for you.
Well, how fun is this idea? Altho I have to admit that I”m always a little nervous about trying other people’s foods.
So I am too but everyone gives you a printed out recipe so you should know exactly what’s in them. It’s lots of fun
This sounds like a fabulous idea!!! It’s so easy to make a bigger batch of something while you are making it anyway….. On the whole food and drinks thing, every year I host a adult ladies “cookies and cocktails party”…. we sit around decorating hundreds of plain sugar cookies while drinking wine, and then everyone takes home batches of cookies to give to friends/teachers/etc… I think you and your friends would enjoy that!
Oooh that sounds like fun too although I wonder how many cookies would actually make it home 🙂
Ahhh I love community groups like this! What a fun idea, and PERFECT for the cold weather that I know is right around the corner!
Yes exactly! So much fun
I am not a big soup fan but this is a really great idea. And like you say, it could work with other types of food….
definitely!
This is really a great idea for a number of reasons. We all need to eat more home cooked meals vs eating out. This would be a great way to try new recipes and have supper already planned for those busy nights. A get-together that revolves around food, just doesn’t get any better than that! Thanks Deborah!!
I totally agree! Have a great weekend
I have that same crock pot and it is my favorite kitchen appliance! The soup club sounds like such a great idea! I always find that my soups make such a huge amount that we are sick of it by the end of the week. It would be great to share and exchange!
Yes exactly! Hope you give it a try with some of your friends too
What a fun idea!
Thanks! We all loved it and can’t wait to do it again
This looks like so much fun! I think it is a great idea!
Thanks we all really enjoyed!
This is a fun idea! I used to do a dinner club with a bunch of friends, very similar. It was always a good time!
Thanks! Always fun to find new recipes too
Fun! Soup is my specialty – I make tons of different ones each winter. Glad you guys had a good time!
Maybe you will join us one month!
This is a really cool idea! I have never heard of a Soup Club. I think I need to start one. I need to put my crockpot to use. I see some chili in my future!
Sounds like a great plan to me! Let me know if you give it a go
Love this idea! Maybe I can convince my friends to do this (but I’d probably contribute cookies or something as I’m a bad cook haha)
Lol It’s hard to mess up soup in a crock pot. You can do it!!
Great idea! I wish we lived a smidge closer. 😉
I know we’d love to have you join sometime
What a fun idea! I’m not sure that I have any like-minded (vegan, that is) friends though :-). Still, I think it sounds like a great way to have some food fun with friends.
It’s a lot of fun! I bet you could find a few who are willing to come to the dark side 🙂
Such a great idea! I would jump for joy to have a variety of soup in my fridge ready to reheat!
I have an awesome chili recipe 🙂
It was lots of fun to do with friends 🙂
Awesome idea Deborah! I think I’m going to try this with yoga friends.
oh awesome! Please let me know how it goes
What a great idea!!! I love soup. I am new to my area and do not have a lot of friends yet, but I will definitely try this out when I meet some.
It’s a great way to bond with new friends right?!
Love the idea of a soup club! I wish I knew more people who liked to cook 🙂
I picture you as very social! Just about anyone can make soup right?
Such a great and awesome idea Deborah. Soup is on the top of my list for weekly fast and nutritious meals.
It was a fun thing to do with friends and who doesn’t love soup?
Thanks for sharing this. With cooler temperatures HERE and right around the corner, this sis something I woudl love to do and organize! 🙂
Awesome! Hope you give it a try with your friends too
This is such a great idea! I think I might try this with my friends. I love this and what a great way to get to hang out with your friends and also be productive.
exactly! It was lots of fun hope you give it a try with your friends too
Super fun idea!!! I love making my soup in a crockpot too, so much easier!
This was such a fun thing to do with friends. We’ve decided to make it a monthly occurrence
omg this is a great idea! my mom is trying to figure out how to start a monthly meetup/group with her friends, I will definitely suggest this. Thanks for sharing!
thanks! We all loved it and plan to do it this month again