Soup’s On

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

It’s getting chilly out, and I am working on getting my soup shelf stocked.  On a cold day, soup is a welcome cozy meal that is light but filling.  It can contain veggies, grains, meats, and even dairy.  Soup is a meal in itself.

My favorite soup is French Onion.  I love the crusty bread and the melted cheese on top.  I also love tomato soup with goldfish crackers or chicken noodle soup when I am sick.  Chicken noodle soup has been said to even help rid a cold.  Not sure if it is a scientific fact or not, but it at least temporarily makes you feel better- like a cup of hot tea.

You can do many things with soup- stir in a ton of your own veggies, add pasta of any shape, and even put it into a bread bowl like at Quizno’s.  Soup also freezes easily, so homemade soup can be made into batches and simply placed on the stove when desired.

(Image: Agoosa)

You can get really creative with soup.  You can add almost anything you want to it, or mix it with other things to make a more filling dish.  My boyfriend recently told me that he and his coworkers have made a quick and easy meal out of soup that was amazingly delicious.  It seems like he eats it everyday now.  I was skeptical at first, but the idea is actually simple and tastes good.

He gets a can of Campbell’s Chicken and Sausage Gumbo and dumps it over heated rice.  Not complicated, but certainly something I would have never thought of.  This turns it from a soup into a version of Jambalaya.  I like it because all I have to do is buy the soup and he gets a decent meal that isn’t from the drive-through.

(Image: Viewpoints)

While we are talking about soup and the chilly weather, please keep in mind that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a bowl of soup at their fingertips, so please donate to Food for Others this fall.  Food for Others distributes food directly to Northern Virginia residents in need and would love to take canned goods and soups among other items off your hands.  Clean out your cupboard and give to a good cause.

-Liz Stevenson

Tags: Food for Others, Gut Check, Liz Stevenson, Northern Virginia Magazine, Quizno's, soup