The Wonders of Homemade Soup
I’ve written in the past about the self-nurturing, wholesome aspect of cooking meals at home. (See “One Thing at a Time“) When cold weather strikes, I really start to embrace the comforting experience of preparing a good meal for myself, and particularly if that meal is soup.
Warm soup on a chilly, damp, foggy day… is there really anything better?
My M.O. is to spend an hour at the farmers market (my favorite urban market is at the Ferry Building in SF) and talk to the farmers about what’s in season and perhaps how they recommend preparing it if I’m needing guidance or inspiration.
On a recent visit, I learned all about heirloom varietals of beans that are only available fresh for a short period every year-like cranberry beans, which shell like English peas, but taste more like a hearty white bean. (Incidentally, they are so beautiful that it’s difficult to get yourself to throw them in the pot.)
I worship all of the aspects of cooking soup, from picking out the ingredients, talking to the farmers, washing the wonderful, mineral-rich, healthy dirt off the vegetables, shelling the beans, chopping and dicing and peeling, sautéing garlic in olive oil, and patiently watching the big pot of soup simmer on my stovetop for an hour, filling my entire home with its warm, rich goodness.
Homemade soup is not just a psychologically comforting phenomenon; it’s truly brilliant for your health, especially when made from farm-fresh organic ingredients. It’s also easy to reheat, lasts for days, and can be frozen for another night when you aren’t so much in the mood to cook which makes it the perfect healthy food for singles and families alike.
Make wonderful soup,
Amy
17 Jan 2010
Lin Barcellos
I loved reading your thoughts about soup! I think it is very beneficial to prepare soup in our homes and would love to know how you prepared your bean soup!