National Soup Month

Turns out that a bowl of delicious miso soup may burn belly fat. Since this is great news and since it's still National Soup Month, I thought I'd pass on this great little recipe. You could always make miso soup with an instant packet (just add water), but a homemade version is going to be a little heartier and taste a lot better. Unfortunately you will need to find miso paste (try Whole Foods or some place like that), but if you can track it down, it'll be worth it. To check out a recipe for vegetable miso soup, read more

On today's date, January 8, in the year 1800, the first soup kitchen opened in London, England. A soup kitchen is a place where soups and foods are served free of charge to low income families and the homeless. There are many different ways to help, you can volunteer, donate money, or offer to make a batch of your favorite soup and deliver it to the kitchen. Since it's National Soup Month and I'll be discussing soups for the next several weeks, I thought this was an interesting fun fact that could motivate us all to do some act of kindness today.

In the long cold days of winter there is nothing more soothing than sitting down to a warm bowl of soup and a glass of wine. Soups chock full of ingredients and flavor are hearty and heating, yet sometimes a simple soup that highlights the goodness of one or two vegetables is the only way to go. I first heard about this technique when I read French Women Don't Get Fat.

Apparently one of the reasons French women stay so thin is because they eat a lot of simple vegetable soups. I propose that tonight we all pretend we are French by enjoying a no frills simple cream of broccoli soup that reader Colormesticky requested. To be French for a night, and to celebrate National Soup Month, read more

At a family gathering on Christmas day, my aunt Anne asked me, what's your favorite comfort food? I knew my response immediately: soup. I love soup! I find it the most comforting food in the winter and even on a cold summer's night. I love it in all forms, purees, broths, chowders, creams, stews. If it's bubbling, hot and full of flavor, I want to eat it. I'm not the only one who loves soup, because January happens to be National Soup month!

In honor of my aunt who started me on the subject of soups, tonight I will make her favorite bacon and crab chowder. I'll make others throughout the month (if you've got an awesome soup recipe, add it to the recipe database), but tonight I celebrate with chowder. To make my beloved comfort food, read more