The Virtues Of Soup

By Beth Yarbrough

Here is what I love about soup: Everything. I promised a focus on my favorite versions of soup during the month of January, and I will finish up later today with a repost of the Sweet Potato Soup that has put my Thanksgiving table on the map - but back this side of that, I really do want to sing a few praises about a good, basic Homemade Vegetable Soup.

Soup is every mother’s friend. We all know it, if only by instinct. One of my favorite episodes of The Andy Griffith Show featured a possible move to South America. Aunt Bea, rightfully concerned about keeping Andy and Opie alive using unfamiliar ingredients, was quizzing Andy on South American cuisine. Unsatisfied with his reassurances, she finally sat back in her front porch rocker and said, “Well, just the same, I’m going to take some heavy soup.”

And the thing is - she wasn’t that far off the mark. With enough “heavy soup” along for the ride, she could have sustained those boys for months.

I have nothing bad to say about soup. It is economical, nutritious, versatile, easy to prepare, saves, reheats, and freezes beautifully, holds healing properties, is easily stretched to feed a crowd, and is thoroughly comforting, filling, and delicious.

In the recipe below, I elaborate on all the different options that I use when making a batch for my family, and I offer pointers for a summer version of it as well.