As the temperatures begin to drop around the region, it is time to warm up with a tasty bowl of soup. A mixture of broth, meats and vegetables, soup dates back to the earliest days of humans on the planet. Soup adopted its name from the Latin word, “Suppa,” which translated means, “bread soaked in broth.”
Every civilization throughout history has passed down soup recipes from generation to generation. Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Babylonians and ancient Chinese dynasties all created variations of soups using whatever they had at their disposal. Many Asian cultures even used versions of soups for medicinal purposes. I guess chicken soup can really heal a cold!
The big question we all must face as the season changes to fall is what soup is best for staying warm. This debate could turn ugly when it comes to family recipes, but here are a few delightful cool weather soups to help warm the bones.
One of the top choices for fall weather is Beef Barley Soup. Often made with chunks of beef, barley, carrots, onions, celery and diced potatoes, this soup is perfect for fall weather substitutions that can be added — things like butternut squash, pumpkin, mushrooms, kale and leeks. Mixed with beef broth and your favorite seasonings, this slow-cooked soup will have the whole house smelling like fall.
Another popular fall weather soup is Chicken and Dumplings. This popular comfort meal is one of the more popular choices around Central Pennsylvania and became a staple in many households during the Great Depression due to its limited ingredients. The simple use of chicken, chicken broth, carrots, onions, celery, seasonings and a little flour to thicken it up and the soup is ready. Next you will mix up more flour, baking powder, salt, butter and buttermilk. Roll that up into small balls and drop them into the soup. A hearty and filling meal that will keep the family satisfied.
Speaking of chicken, no cool day can stand up to a delicious pot of Chicken Noodle Soup. The staple of every household in America, this classic dish has the simplest of ingredients that make you feel good with every bite. Chicken, chicken broth, carrots, celery and egg noodles are the most common ingredients for this dish. Every cook has a special blend of seasonings that they use, but the basic ingredients rarely ever change. Whether you have the early fall sniffles or you just need a meal to make you feel relaxed, a bowl of chicken noodle soup will work every time.
Lastly, there is another classic favorite, Vegetable Beef Soup. A pot of this soup is usually filled with whatever can be found in the pantry. Common ingredients are chunks of beef, potatoes, diced tomatoes, onions, green beans, corn, carrots, celery and peas. All are slow-cooked together in a pot for several hours as your family anxiously awaits the dinner bell. This dish can also be made without the beef, making it a hearty meal for vegetarians by simply substituting vegetable broth for beef broth.
There are so many varieties of soup it is difficult to choose which are the best. Soup recipes are passed through family generations with each new cook adding a special touch to it. Whether it is Tomato Soup, French Onion or Broccoli and Cheese, or the other soups mentioned here, they are all perfect for any fall day. Which one does your family choose?
“What’s Cooking” is back at LocalNews1. The relaunched column will feature recipes, kitchen inspiration and the stories behind the dishes that bring families and communities together.
Written by Dusty Fleischman, with occasional contributions from Jillian Pavlick, “What’s Cooking” invites readers to become part of the table. Send us your favorite recipes, whether it is a weeknight staple, a treasured handwritten family recipe or a dish you are known for bringing to gatherings, and we may recreate it for a future column. OR, suggest a friend’s special recipe.
We are also planning a holiday special featuring cookies and family favorites. Readers are encouraged to share the recipes, traditions and memories that make their holiday baking and meals meaningful.
