Create A Slow Cooker Soup Bar At Home
Have you noticed that grocery stores are offering self serve soup bars in their ready-to-eat deli sections?
I’ve noticed this trend and indeed I do support it if the soups are high quality. On more than one occasion, my son has wandered over to a store’s steam table, surveyed the selection, and asked for a hot cup of chili or even an Indian-inspired dal. I generally give the nod of approval, because I figure that a bean or vegetable soup is a far better snack choice than a donut.
At home, I’ve started to replicate the “Soup Bar” approach. By using my high quality All-Clad Slow Cooker, chili and soups can cook unattended on the kitchen counter. When the soup or chili is done, the machine’s digital timer automatically switches the cooker to warm. The dish then simply waits to be served.
Like the grocery stores, I offer an array of toppings. If I’ve made chili, then I set out bowls with grated cheese, sour cream, crackers, diced onions, and homemade guacamole. If I’ve made minestrone soup, then I offer parmesan cheese, homemade No-Knead bread, and Caesar salad. This approach works equally as well for family dinners as it does for casual gatherings.
The "Soup Bar" simplifies and streamlines “food service” at our house. It takes pressure off the cook and assures that warm and nutritious fares stands at the ready.
Have you tried making a soup bar at your house? Try it, you’ll like it!
--Melissa A. Trainer
Nick on January 16, 2010 at 07:43 AM
I love the self serve soup in the deli. It is hard to go by it without buying some.
I want to come over to your house now, that sounds like a great idea Melissa. "soup bar" at home. Gotta love it.
Paul A'Barge on January 17, 2010 at 12:18 PM
Nice idea, but it's not a soup bar. It's a single soup sitting available on a counter cooked in a device that requires less attention than a pot on a burner.
Todd Tolhurst on January 17, 2010 at 02:17 PM
Perhaps you're expected to have two or three All-Clad slow cookers.
Melissa Trainer on January 17, 2010 at 02:50 PM
If you are looking to add more than one slow cooker soup at a home soup bar, you might consider the slow cooker buffets now available on the market.
http://www.amazon.com/Crockpot-SCRBC750-BS-Trio-Slow-Cooker-Server/dp/B001DIZ0H6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1263768541&sr=8-1
Bour3 on January 17, 2010 at 04:24 PM
Todd, that's exactly what I expected. Three slow cookers with different homemade soups.
Snabb mat on January 21, 2010 at 05:09 AM
wow its look attractive..I am using another but this seems to be cool
Kathy on January 23, 2010 at 11:13 AM
I have a Crockpot trio and it's awesome for any party. It's so nice to actually enjoy my parties instead of cooking through them. I have a bunch of vegetarian slow cooker recipes on my blog if you're interested.
spela on June 18, 2010 at 05:42 AM
great!
spela on June 18, 2010 at 05:42 AM
looking awesome :)