Tips for a Soup-ed Up Party this Winter

Whether you're ringing in the New Year, watching the Super Bowl, or just beating the chill, there is no easier way to gather with friends and have a bowl.  Warm up with Soup at your winter party. Tips on how to keep it easy and memorable.

1. Invite friends and neighbors for an informal night of socializing and ask each to bring a favorite soup or something to go with it. To keep things light and stress free do not require an RSVP required-but do enclose a blank card so that they can fill out the recipe for their dish.
2. Purchase bowls, spoon and ladles. If you would rather save on the clean up, sturdy plastic bowls will do. Or mine your local thrift store for inexpensive pieces.
3. Set up different stations for soup, salad and bread. Make sure that the soup table has plenty of extra outlets so slow cookers can be plugged in. You may also want to specify that those bringing soups should bring their own slow cookers if possible.
4. Prepare the garnishes and condiments ahead of time. You can shred cheese, chop onions, or fry tortilla strips a day ahead. Provide a selection of bread and easy salad-just in case..
5. Whenever the party falls, consider setting a large soup bowl on the main table to collect donations for the local food pantry. Even after the holidays, this is a nice way to give back to the community.
6. Let the guests serve themselves. There is no need to stress, set out soups as they arrive, with the corresponding recipe cards. Have guests ladle soups into mugs or small bowls so they can tailor each t their liking.
7. Take photographs of the soups and your guests enjoying them. As a gift consider using Blurb.com to create a cookbook of the different recipes for each of your guests.