Tasty Tuesday - Get Your Spoon On - Soups & Stews!

In many parts of our beautiful country, the cool fingers of autumn are reaching out and grabbing hold. The wind has a chill to it and summer is becoming a memory as the focus turns to the holiday season and, my personal favorite, autumn and winter food!

And remember, copy your recipes into your 4virtu family blog, make your grocery list and send a text to your phone with the list ... easy!

The theme for this Tasty Tuesday is Soups and Stews - Are you ready to get your spoon on?  These Foodies and Bloggers have given us some awesome recipes to keep the warm inside on a chilly night ...

French Onion Soup from Cooking with Caitlin (@cookingwcaitlin) - one of my all time favorites and Caitlin has solved the issue of how to serve this for a party and ps - I go for the Gruyere every time for French Onion Soup!

Serving French Onion Soup by Caitlin

Chicken Pot Pie Soup by The Divine Secrets of a Domestic Diva (@AskDomesticDiva) - what to do with chicken leftovers?  Create a yummy traditional soup ...

Smoky Black Bean & Corn Vegetarian Chili by Cookin' Canuck (@cookincanuck) - besides having some of the most beautiful food pictures on the Net, Dara has some of the best combos in food blogger world.  YUM and Vegetarian friendly!

Barefoot Contessa's East Hampton Clam Chowder by Kitchen Monki (@kitchenmonki) - first, I love Kitchen Monki's site ... they make lists easy and recipe sharing easier!  This recipe was posted by Kevin on Kitchen Monki who we all get to tweet with ... and since clam chowder is one of my huge weaknesses, how can we not include it!? 

Guinness Stew by 4virtu - posted in anticipation of fall and ready to go - grab a Guinness and start cooking, but make sure to save some Guinness for the stew!

The holidays are coming and that means not just cuddling in front of a fire but entertaining!  Mrs. Bliss has listed some must-do's to prep for the coming holiday season & we figure that we better start now -
Holiday Workshop - Planning the Perfect Gathering by Housewife Bliss (@housewifebliss) 

My family has a standby soup that can be used in any season but always seems to taste better in cooler weather: 

Wedding Soup

Broth:
3 quarts chicken broth
1 small onion chopped
2 stalks of celery sliced1 carrot sliced
1 package of chopped spinach (cooked & drained & set aside) or substitute fresh!

Simmer veggies in chicken broth until tender while making meatballs.

Meatballs:
1 pound hamburger
1 egg beaten
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients and form into small meatballs.  Bake 350 degrees for 10 minutes. 

Add meatballs to the broth and cook on medium for 15 minutes.  Add spinach and heat.  Serve with grated parm or asiago cheese on top.  

Depending on the mood and if this is a first course or the meal - I will add orzo pasta to make it heartier!

And what goes better with soup than bread?  warmed and crusty - sour dough and french - or add a fun twist that the kids always love - use a bread bowl! 

Thank you to all the bloggers that inspire us for every Tasty Tuesday and in between!  Next week ... Halloween Recipes ... tweet me a link if you would like your Halloween recipe included! 

What is your favorite Soup or Stew?  Please Share!