Week 215: Italian Wedding Soup

Happy Valentine's Day!!

On the menu for TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14th is ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP and ROSEMARY FOCACCIA. Italian Wedding Soup gets its name from the Italian phrase "minestra maritata" ("married soup"), which refers to the tasty flavor produced by the combination or "marriage" of the greens and the meat.

As I was planning the menu for Valentine's Day, this soup just seemed like a perfect fit!! This rich chicken soup is filled with lots of good things - fresh spinach, creamy pasta and plenty of those delicious meatballs.

The soup begins with browning the meatballs in the oven to intensify their flavor. The meatballs are made with ground turkey, Italian sausage, breadcrumbs, garlic, fresh parsley, milk, and egg.

Meanwhile, onions, carrots and celery are sautéed in the pot. Once the veggies are soft, homemade chicken stock, white wine and orzo pasta are dropped in. After the pasta is cooked, fresh spinach, dill and lemon zest finish off the soup.

The bread companion this week is my ROSEMARY FOCACCIA. It's crisp on the outside yet soft and chewy on the inside. Extra-virgin olive oil gives the bread texture and flavor while fresh rosemary and flaked sea salt add the finishing touches to make this bread unbelievably delicious. This bread is a perfect choice for this Italian soup!

On the menu for dessert is SWEET & SALTY EVERYTHING COOKIE! The cookie dough begins with browned butter - a favorite technique of mine that amplifies cookie flavor to next level deliciousness. Then I add in sea salt, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips and finally - chopped pretzels! These cookies are perfect for anyone that is a fan of sweet and salty food! - Jenny from Jenny Sue Delights