soup is awsome

Lentil soup is a comfort food for me. When I was home my mom cooked soup when I was sick and needed something healthy that would comfort me. Something about soup is so cleansing and really does heal. All of the fresh vegetables and garlic are like medicine that help me feel better. Today in class, the lentil soup reminded me of my moms cooking and brought back memories of us cooking soup together. Instead ,of my family getting together, we as a class made that meal, in turn creating a different bond. Not every class gets to cook together. Cooking but mostly eating together is something that I feel has brought our class together because of the conversations we have and the time we have to get to know each other. Other classes simply sit in their seats and listen to their teacher but don’t really get the chance to talk to each other which I think is important in an academic environment. I think that today really expressed what this class is about. The way I see it, this class is about knowing what goes into your food which we did because we put every ingredient in ourselves, feeding your body fresh nutritious food, and creating bonds with others through food. I am not sure whether or not the vegetables we used were organic, however if we wanted we could use organic vegetables that were grown locally, another thing I have become interested in during this class. This meal made me feel replenished after watching “super size me” and made me feel good that I was feeding my body something healthy. No matter where one comes from, I believe that everyone could agree that soup is a world wide comfort food whether it is eaten for breakfast or when one is sick. Even though every country, or culture has their own recipe for different kinds of soup, I feel that soup is an worldy cuisine not only pertaining to one country. There are so many types of food such as; chicken soup, tomato soup, lentil soup, hot and cold soup and thicker soups such as clam chowder or gumbo. The great thing about soup is that it has so many possibilities and works with a vast array of ingredients. It also lasts a long time and is even better left over because the spices and other elements flavor the water longer. Soup is just amazing!

Today reminded me of a story my mother told me when I was little. One day I asked my mom what we were eating for dinner and she said stone soup. Believing that rocks don’t taste very good, I gave her a weird look wanting her to give me an explanation. She told me this story.

The Story of Stone Soup
Once upon a time, somewhere in post-war Eastern Europe, there was a great famine in which people jealously hoarded whatever food they could find, hiding it even from their friends and neighbors. One day a wandering soldier came into a village and began asking questions as if he planned to stay for the night.
"There's not a bite to eat in the whole province," he was told. "Better keep moving on."
"Oh, I have everything I need," he said. "In fact, I was thinking of making some stone soup to share with all of you." He pulled an iron cauldron from his wagon, filled it with water, and built a fire under it. Then, with great ceremony, he drew an ordinary-looking stone from a velvet bag and dropped it into the water.
By now, hearing the rumor of food, most of the villagers had come to the square or watched from their windows. As the soldier sniffed the "broth" and licked his lips in anticipation, hunger began to overcome their skepticism.
"Ahh," the soldier said to himself rather loudly, "I do like a tasty stone soup. Of course, stone soup with cabbage -- that's hard to beat."
Soon a villager approached hesitantly, holding a cabbage he'd retrieved from its hiding place, and added it to the pot. "Capital!" cried the soldier. "You know, I once had stone soup with cabbage and a bit of salt beef as well, and it was fit for a king."
The village butcher managed to find some salt beef . . . and so it went, through potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and so on, until there was indeed a delicious meal for all. The villagers offered the soldier a great deal of money for the magic stone, but he refused to sell and traveled on the next day. The moral is that by working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good is achieved.

Here’s a great chicken soup recipe by Bobby Flay that will help anyone feel better when they are sick!

1 pound chicken parts (wings, necks, and bones) 2 stalks celery, including leafy tops, cut into 3-inch pieces 1 whole chicken Salt and pepper, to rub inside chicken 1 large whole onion, unpeeled 1 large whole carrot, peeled 1 medium whole parsnip, peeled 2 teaspoons salt
2 cloves of garlic(I added this)1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 bunch dill, tied with a string
Pour 12 cups of cold water into a large stockpot, and add the chicken parts and celery. Bring to a boil. Meanwhile, rub the inside of the whole chicken with the salt and pepper.
Add the chicken to the pot, cover, reduce heat, and simmer gently for 45 minutes. Do not let the soup come to a rolling boil. Test chicken with a fork to see if it is tender and fully cooked; then remove it from the pot, and set aside on a large platter. Leave chicken parts in the pot.
Add onion, carrot, parsnip, salt and pepper. Let the soup simmer for another 1 hour and 15 minutes. When chicken cools, remove skin and bones and cut meat into bite-size pieces. You can add it to the soup, just before serving, or save it for chicken salad.
Strain the soup, and discard all solids except the carrot. Drop in the dill for 1 minute before serving and remove. Add more salt and pepper, to taste. Slice carrot and return to the soup. Also add the chicken pieces, if desired. The soup can be served with noodles, rice, or kasha and a matzo ball. The soup tastes best the following day. Allow the soup to cool and skim the fat from the top.
Adding matzo balls adds a great flavor and texture too.