Hi Friends! It’s another Tasty Tuesday and today I have a savory, delicious and easy recipe for Wedding Soup. I’m a soup girl year round. I love soup! And I am branching out trying some different soups to shake it up a bit. This soup is like the perfect comfort food! It takes rich and flavorful and oh so good!

So what is wedding soup and how did it get its name? It actually comes from the name “minestra maritata”, and it means “married soup”. It has nothing to do with an actual wedding. But it has everything to do with “marrying” the flavors of the green vegetables and the meat. The meatballs are so tender and soft soaked in the rich broth. And the greens are just out of this world! And I don’t really like greens. I have been transformed!

So without further ado, let’s begin!

Ingredients:

Meatballs

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb ground pork
• 1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 1 tsp (2 cloves) crushed garlic
• 2 eggs slightly beaten
• salt, pepper
• 3 Tbsp olive oil (to cook the meatballs in)

Soup Broth

• 5 quarts chicken stock (homemade or store bought is fine)
• 1/2 lb greens (any of the following will work: Kale, escarole, curly endive or spinach. I used Kale)
• 2 carrots cleaned and chopped
• 2 stalks celery chopped
• 1 cup orzo
• salt, pepper

Begin by pouring your 5 qts of chicken stock into a large soup pot. Bring to a boil. Add in the carrots, celery and greens. About 15 minutes later add in the pasta (orzo). Add a good size dash of salt and pepper. (can flavor to taste). Simmer on low. I actually made my own chicken stock, which is quite easy and oh so tasty. But the stock you get from the store will were just fine. While that simmers, it’s time to move on to the meatballs.

Place all the ingredients for the meatballs in a large bowl. Combine the mixture well.

Make small meatballs, place on a plate or platter.

Add the olive oil to a large skillet, and over medium high heat, brown the meatballs cooking about five minutes or less on each side.

Drain on paper towel.

Add the meatballs to the soup.

Let the flavors all “marry” for about 20 minutes simmering on low on the stove.

Note, there is a whole lot of liquid so season with salt and pepper according to taste. I confess I like mine salty.

Mmmm… something magical happens with the rich broth and the greens and meat!

I added that little orange pumpkin today! A little find from Pier One.

I love adding all sorts of tasty treats to go with a soup meal! It’s like a license to go completely bonkers on the extras!

I think I could eat soup every day!

There is something so comforting about a bowl of soup! It warms you up on a cold day! The aroma floats through the house and as you walk in the front door, the very fragrance begins to make you feel better! It’s like a restorative tonic! And when you serve it up with crusty bread, it’s as though it goes straight to the part of your soul that has felt angst and unrest and soothes it with a warm dish of love and well being! And you get that full feeling without feeling over stuffed!

As the delicious potion begins to work, you find yourself smiling and making cheerful conversation. What was depleted if even in spirit is now being restored with each spoonful of warmth and goodness, and with each glance at this dear family. Ahhh here is where I find myself again! What the world depletes, you restore. Good food that has been made just for you is a medicine like no other! Why is that? I think it’s because someone cared enough about you to meet this most basic need in such a comforting and delicious way. And you know what is served up for dessert after such a fine meal as this? A thankful heart… you just can’t help but be filled with gratitude and love as you gaze around the table. This miracle is for your loved ones tonight. We may never know just how precious these moments are to them! But it sure feels good to know that once again, you were the super hero who saved them today.

If you were here, I would share my soup with you! But now you have the recipe too!

I hope you have a fantastic week, my friend!

I’ll be back Friday for another Fashion Friday!

Love Always,

Amy

Family… Where life begins & love never ends.   ~unknown