What do you do when you win a free box of food products from Chicken Soup for the Soul and then remember that you don’t like to cook? Ask your best friends for help, of course!
Last March, I responded to a call-out by Chicken Soup, “We’re looking for a few volunteers to host Chicken Soup for the Soul comfort food dinner parties. We’ll send you our food products; you cook and invite your friends, and then take lots of photos and write up the results for your blog and/or social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.”Count me in!
Five months later…
I received an email, “Chicken Soup for the Soul food package is on its way! Your food party kit will contain a welcome letter, instructions, recipes, food products, and some other surprises!”
Yowza! Now what?
My friends and I celebrated fall with a Chicken Soup for the Soul lunch! Six of my best gal pals assisted with the meal preparation, including Sandra, foodie extraordinaire. She helped plan out a menu using all the items below:
Chicken Soup for the Soul Products
Hearty Minestrone Soup
Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Meal Builders Cooking Sauce Chili
Italian Style Chicken Broth
Soup Toppers with White Cheddar Focaccia Croutons, Crispy Onions & Honey-Roasted Almonds
Laura created an incredible table centerpiece made of miniature Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Her delightful chicken graced our table, an amazing fall arrangement.
Our meal started with a scrumptious Tucson bean soup and salad with the soup toppers, followed by a chili sauce chicken. Strawberry parfait made the perfect dessert. At the end, I raffled Chicken Soup for the Soul books, potholders, aprons and oven mitts.
For a gal who doesn’t like to cook, this meal plan was simple and delicious, thanks to Chicken Soup for the Soul new food products. Plus, we had a fantastic time cooking and celebrating together. Your food line added yummy flavor to the entrees.You can be sure that I’ll be using Chicken Soup for the Soup products again to satisfy my hungry family.
What did the gals think?
“Loved the grilled chicken. The soup was amazing. The combination of vegetables and seasonings was a perfect blend.” – Mary
“I had a lot of fun coming up with the idea for the centerpiece and keeping with the Chicken Soup for the Soul theme. I had a hard time choosing which book covers to use for my mini versions of the books. They have so many wonderful ones to choose from!” – Laura
“The food was delicious and easy to make. Marinating the chicken over night with the Chicken Soup for the Soul chili made all the difference.” – Vallery
“What a great opportunity to enjoy good food and lively conversation! The chicken, marinated with chili and Italian chicken broth was delicious with just the right amount of kick. The Tuscan Bean Soup, made with Chicken Soup for the Soul Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce was my favorite!” – Camille
Camille, Laura, Vallery, Stacey, Debbie and Sandra
“The Chicken Soup for the Soul chili sauce chicken is a definite keeper! Not only is it delicious, but this simple make-ahead entree is a great way to feed a family during busy weeknights.” – Sandra
Want to make your own Chicken Soup for the Soul meal?
Tuscan Bean Soup
Adapted from Emeril Lagasse’s Tuscan Bean Soup Recipe, 2007.
3 oz. diced pancetta
¼ cup olive oil
1 cup diced yellow onions
½ cup diced celery
½ cup diced carrots
1 quart reduced sodium chicken broth
2 cups Chicken Soup for the SoulTM Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
¼ cup chopped or torn basil
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 sprigs fresh thyme
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
½ tsp. Aleppo pepper
freshly ground black pepper
1 bunch finely sliced kale (approx. 3 cups loosely packed)
1 16 oz. can cannelloni beans, rinsed and drained
1 16 oz. carton Chicken Soup for the SoulTM Hearty Minestrone Soup
Optional: grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, day old sliced good quality bread.
Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the pancetta till brown; remove pancetta from pan and drain on paper toweling. Remove excess fat from pan. Add olive oil to pan and return to heat. Sauté onions, celery and carrots until they are soft, stirring occasionally (3-4 minutes). Return pancetta to pan, add the herbs, spices, 2 cups of tomato pasta sauce to the pan and stir. Add to pan the drained cannelloni beans and chicken broth. Stir, bring to a low boil and reduce heat. Add kale and simmer 8 minutes. Stir pot occasionally. Add container of Hearty Minestrone Soup, stir and simmer for 3 more minutes or until soup is heated.
To serve: place optional slice of bread in bottom of individual serving bowl, ladle soup over bread, top with optional grated cheese.
Kickin’ Chicken
1 16 oz. jar Chicken Soup for the SoulTM Meal Builders Cooking Sauce Chili
¾ cup Chicken Soup for the SoulTM Italian Style Chicken Broth
¼ cup olive oil
5 crushed garlic cloves
3 teaspoons dried basil
8 chicken breasts
Pinch of pepper
Stir the ingredients together, pour in a bag and add chicken breasts. Marinade overnight. Grill to perfection.
Want to plan your own meal using Chicken Soup for the Soul items? Check out http://www.chickensoup.com/foods/
Official Book Release
Are You Kidding Me? My Life with an Extremely Loud Family, Bathroom Calamities, and Crazy Relatives is available on Amazon and ebooks. It’s filled with stories you’ve never read on my blog, like the time I called SWAT on my neighbor or faked a heart attack in church. Hoping to make you laugh one story at a time. Get your copy now!!
Click to purchase on Amazon.
About staceygustafson
AVAILABLE NOW!
Who knew a non-cook like me could have so much fun at a cooking party?! Thanks for inviting me. But, for the record, put me down for dessert every time.
And what a lovely dessert it was! Thanks for the colorful, tasty treat.
Well, that’s a neat promotional idea. I hate to cook and might have declined… or had my husband do it. He loves to cook and is an amazing chef in his spare time. I would socialize, drink wine, and take pictures. Yep, that’s exactly what would have happened.
My besties did most of the work, they are the greatest. I had help with the pictures too. Lots of leftovers for the hubs.
This looks like so much fun!!!
Why aren’t you my neighbor?????
I would have invited you over. The meal was delicious and we laughed and laughed. Move my way!