Soup, Glorious Soup!

I have fond memories of helping my mother prepare fresh soup on cold winter days.  The smell would fill the house and warm us from head to toe.  I watched her prepare the Trilogy, carrots, celery & onion and add the other ingredients as their time came.  It came so naturally for my Mom.  This is a skill that was fortunately handed to me.  I love making soup!

Cooking for me is therapeutic.  It’s a good thing, seeing that this  is also my livelihood.  I love touching people through food.  Soup, to me, is a perfect meal.  It has everything that you need in one place.  It feeds the masses and has its own character.  It makes people SMILE!  My family enjoys soup.  I get nostalgic each time I make a fresh pot; it takes me back to the kitchen with Mom.  I consider each soup a work of art.  It is amazing how bits and pieces of vegetables, grains, herbs, beans and broth can develop into a masterpiece. 

Do you have a warm soup memory?  Here is a pot of soup for you to make and create some new memories.  Let me know what develops.

TOMATO BISQUE
INGREDIENTS
2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes                                                                            1  cup heavy cream     
1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil  or 2 teaspoons dried basil

DIRECTIONS  
1.  Place stewed tomatoes in a saucepan. 
2.  Bring to boil, and then turn down to simmer. 
3.  Stir in cream. Stir in basil, and serve.

1.22.2011