Did you ever hear the story of “Stone Soup” when you were a kid? According to the story, some weary soldiers come to a poor village, carrying with them a huge empty pot. Upon their arrival, the villagers are unwilling to share what little food they have with the hungry men or even with each other. The undeterred soldiers fill their pot with water, drop a large stone in it, and place it over a fire right in front of everyone in the middle of the village square. One of the villagers becomes curious and asks what they are doing. The soldiers reply that they are making "stone soup", which tastes wonderful, though with some vegetables added would be even better. The villager doesn't mind parting with just a little bit to help them out, so he gives them some cabbage which gets added to the soup. Another villager walks by, inquiring about the pot, and the soldiers again mention their stone soup which hasn't reached its full potential yet. The villager hands them a little bit of seasoning to help them out. More and more villagers walk by, each contributing another ingredient. Later that evening, a hearty, hot & delicious pot of soup, and some long awaited laughter and camaraderie was enjoyed by all.
The very next day, the soldiers continued on their way leaving the villagers behind. They were never to be forgotten though and neither was the lesson that was so subtly presented by them… IF YOU WORK TOGETHER AND SHARE, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
So many people don’t make homemade soup because they presume that it’s a daunting or perhaps intimidating task, besides, opening a can is just so much easier (did you ever read the sodium content in those cans???). The point to my story is that simply combining ingredients that you enjoy into one pot will almost always result in a muddled masterpiece! It’s one nutritious and hearty meal that doesn’t even have to look appealing to your family because the first whiff of your passionate potage will take them prisoner immediately! If you enjoy beefy, cheesy, Mexican food, you can combine cooked burger meat with salsa, black beans, shredded cheddar cheese, heavy cream and taco seasoning. Let it simmer for a little while then, when you serve it, top it off with sour cream and tortilla chips… easy breezy! Do you love mashed potatoes & corn with lots of butter? There’s a soup for that. How about Kielbasa and cabbage? There’s a soup for that too! I guess peanut butter & jelly would be an exception to this rule however… I’d bet it would make for a great fondue… spreading toast points with grape jelly then dipping them into warm, creamy peanut butter… m-m-m-m-m!!! But that’s a recipe for another day!
Below is one of my soup recipes; a favorite of Mio marito bello italiano (my handsome Italian husband), Dominic! I have included specific measurments but in all honesty... don't bother measuring! Soup should be made to YOUR liking; not Dominic's!!!
Escarole & Bean Soup with Spicy Sausage
1 lb. of your favorite shaped Pasta
3 T. Olive Oil
½ Head of Garlic (peeled & chopped)
8 Links of Hot Italian Sausage (casings removed)
1 ½ Cups of Dry White Wine
½ tsp. Garlic Powder
¼ tsp. Black Pepper
1 tsp. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
2 T. Powdered Chicken Bouillon
29 oz. Can of Light Red Kidney Beans
2 Heads of Escarole (torn into pieces)
2 Cups of Water
Block of Pecorino Romano Cheese
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil; add pasta, stir & cook until al dente; toss with just a swirl of olive oil and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. When oil is hot, toss in chopped garlic and stir for about 1 minute. Break up the sausage into pieces and add to the pot, stirring constantly. When sausage is browned on the outside, pour in the white wine and add the garlic powder, black pepper, red pepper flakes and chicken bouillon. Stir well to combine until mixture starts to boil. Cover, turn heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
When the flavors are married, uncover the pot and add the can of beans (including liquid). After mixing thoroughly, toss in all of the pieces of escarole leaves and the water. Turn the heat up to high and stir soup until it starts to boil. Cover again, turn heat to low and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Place a scoopful of pasta into each bowl then ladle soup over the pasta. Using a vegetable peeler, shave your desired amount of cheese on top. Molto un'abbondante (very hearty)… and yummy too!
So experiment a little; make it a fun family activity on a snowy day. If you have trouble getting the kids interested, you can always divert back to the story of a couple of hungry soldiers, a big, empty pot and a stone!
