Warm up from the winter weather with a bowl — or bowls — of homemade soup.
{{tncms-inline content="<p><strong>What:</strong> Taste of Soup and Art Exhibit<br /><strong>When:</strong> 11 a.m. Saturday<br /><strong>Where:</strong> Carrollton Community House<br /><strong>Details:</strong> Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Carrollton-North Carrollton Library or from any Friend of the Library. To reserve a ticket, call the library at 662-237-6289 or Pam Lee at 662-237-6910.</p>" id="3b12c8a5-c821-4815-8939-50e9cf47843b" style-type="bio" title="Coming up " type="relcontent"}}
The Friends of the Carrollton-North Carrollton Library will hold its 12th annual Taste of Soup and Art Exhibit fundraiser Saturday at the Carrollton Community House.
“It will begin at 11 a.m., and we’re usually out of soup by 12:15 p.m.,” said Pam Lee, a member of the Friends of the Library, who recommends those attending arrive as close to the start time as possible.
Lee said this year’s soups will be some fun and easy-to-make ones, ranging from soups for the health-conscious to comfort food.
The six soups are slow-cooker recipes or can easily be adapted for the slow cooker. There are two “seven-can” soups — one a beefy vegetable and the other a chicken taco soup. Other soups being featured are chicken, bacon and wild rice; chicken and corn chowder, which is gluten-free; king ranch mac and cheese; and creole chicken gumbo.
“We like recipes that are fairly easy to make and recipes that we think will appeal to a lot of different people,” said Lee. “We try to get a variety of recipes — beef, chicken, potato.”
Every year, the friends also pick out what Lee calls a “shocker recipe,” which is an unusual-sounding soup that catches everyone’s attention. One year, it was a turnip green soup; another year, it was a cold peach soup.
This year, it’s the king ranch mac and cheese soup.
“It was my personal favorite of all the ones we tasted,” said Lee.
Back in the fall, the friends got together with several of their favorite soup recipes and held a taste-off.
“We talk about them, and then we say, ‘That one sounds good,’ and ‘These sound the best,’” said Lee. “That’s when we vote on which ones we will cook that year.”
The friends encourage those attending to bring a muffin tin to hold their soups because it’s easier to carry than the cardboard platters, which will be provided for those who do not bring muffin tins.
Every year, the friends pick a theme for the event. This year, it is “The World of Eric Carle.” Carle is the writer and illustrator of numerous children’s books, such as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?”
“The one my grands like the most is ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar,’” said Lee. “He’s found in all the children’s school reading lists, and he talks a lot about animals, colors and foods.”
The Community House will be decorated in the theme. Each of the seven tables will feature decor from a different Carle book. The decorations are being created by Susan Dunn, a retired Carroll County elementary school teacher.
Susan Dunn created the decorations in the theme of “The World of Eric Carle” that will be featured at this year’s Taste of Soup.
“We like to encourage reading, and this is a fun way to do it,” said Lee.
The event will feature an art exhibit and sale by several different Carroll County artists. The friends have been successful at finding new and different artists each year.
“There is so much talent in this county,” said Lee. “We just keep our eyes open, and when we see something that’s pretty, we ask who made it. A lot of times, we find artists at the Pioneer Day Festival.”
Here is a list of the featured artists:
• Pam Harris decorates cookies, which will be the event’s dessert. Her decorative cookies will feature the theme. She is the president of the Friends of the Library. Her daughter, Dawn Mitchell, designed this year’s take-home soup cookbook.
• Debbie Houston embellishes serving pieces with wire and beads. Some of her pieces include serving spoons, forks and cake knives.
• Carrie Deaton makes hand-formed pottery.
• Janis Clayton is a painter, and her artwork will be featured.
• Crafty Travelers is a group made up of good friends who travel together and create crafts together — Allen and Joan Dunn, Jiles and Debbie Mims, Tommy and Susan Foster, and Lanny and Rebecca Lancaster, all from Carroll County.
“We’ve been friends forever, and we’ve been traveling somewhere together for the last 10 years,” said Rebecca Lancaster, who is also a member of the Friends of the Library. “We just decided we would start making crafts and selling them to help with our traveling expenses.”
The group gets together on a Saturday and crafts all day until they get tired.
“Then, we’ll play cards,” said Rebecca. “We just have a good time together.”
The Crafty Travelers make crosses, bottles with lights, cup and jewelry holders, dust pans and pencil holders made out of car tags, and different items made out of wood pallets, such as signs and plant stands.
Not only does this event showcase tasty soups and Carroll County talent, but it also raises money for the library.
“Because of this, we have not had to hold any other fundraisers during the year,” said Lee.
In the past, the group has used the money to buy books and equipment, replace old furniture or do anything else the library needs that is not covered by the county’s budget.
Tickets are $10 and include six cups of soup, cornbread or crackers, refreshments, dessert and door prizes for the lucky winners.
Each year, the jars are placed beside the soups, and those who attend vote for their favorite soups by placing money in the jar — a penny per vote.
Here is last year’s winner:
Burger in a Bowl
½ pound ground beef
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
¾ cup shredded carrots
¾ cup diced celery
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
4 cups cubed, peeled potatoes
3 cups chicken broth
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
16 ounces Velvetta processed cheese
1½ cups milk
¾ teaspoon salt
¼-½ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup sour cream
In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook and crumble beef until no longer pink. Drain and set aside. In same saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over low heat. Sauté onions, carrots, celery, basil and parsley until tender, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes, beef and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer covered until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.
In a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir until bubbly, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add to soup when potatoes are tender and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheese, milk, salt and pepper. Cook until cheese melts. Remove from heat, and stir in sour cream.
Tickets to the event typically go fast, said Lee, who recommends reserving one as soon as possible.
For more information, call the library at 662-237-6268 or Lee at 662-237-6910.
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
What: Taste of Soup and Art Exhibit
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Carrollton Community House
Details: Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Carrollton-North Carrollton Library or from any Friend of the Library. To reserve a ticket, call the library at 662-237-6289 or Pam Lee at 662-237-6910.
