Soup Satisfaction!

Whether you start from scratch or use a few handy shortcuts, your taste buds will certainly stand up and take notice. I guarantee it!

It’s really easy to make soup once you get the hang of it. Go ahead and experiment, and keep the following tips close, in case you need a
little extra help along the way.

Soup Tips You Need to Know:

• Save Time:
  Did you know that supermarket salad bars are a great place to get ready–to–use ingredients, such as pre–cut vegetables and chunked chicken? I bet you never thought of starting with those!
• Make it Heartier:
  Add leftover cooked pasta, meat, or vegetables to any of your soups to make them heartier. You can even purée left–over cooked veggies in a blender or food processor and stir them into your soups to give them extra body.
• More Flavor:
  You can give canned broth a boost of flavor by simmering cut–up leftover chicken or meat in the broth for 15 minutes or so. If you want, you can then strain the liquid and use it for your soup.
• Keep your color:
  Don’t boil your soups for too long or your veggies will lose all their color.
• Is your soup too salty?:
  If so, place a couple raw potatoes in the pot and simmer with the soup for about 15 minutes; remove and discard them or cook them up separately, since they’ll already be full of flavor.
• Thicken it Up:
  If you want to make your soup a little thicker, slowly stir in a bit of instant mashed potatoes. That should do the trick!

Is Chicken Soup Really “Jewish Penicillin”?

The jury is still out on this
age–old question.

 Some studies indicate that
 chicken soup contains healing  properties, while others show
 that any hot soup can deliver  similar results. Most doctors
 seem to agree,though, that a  steaming bowl of hot broth can  help relieve congestion by
 opening nasal passages, as well
 as soothing a sore throat, at
 least temporarily.

 The healing powers come not
 only from ingesting the soup but  from inhaling its steaming vapors.  Clear soups also can provide  necessary nutrients and
 hydration to help us feel better  while stimulating our appetites,  which we usually need when
 we’re sick.

 Plus, chicken soup often bring
 back fond, comforting memories
 of when we were young and
 Mom would nurse us back to
 health with her homemade
 (okay, sometimes it was store–
 bought) soup.

 Remember: The ingredient that  should never be left out of any  soup is TLC (“Tender Loving
 Care”)!