Soup Wonders

I. Let me share, “The Stone Soup Story”

A long time ago, somewhere in Europe, a terrible famine spread throughout the land.

People were selfish with each other that each family kept their food hidden away so no one would find it. Each one fought over food.

One day, a poor traveller arrived and set up a tent by the side of the road. He had with him a large pot, a wooden spoon, and a stone.

The villagers said, “You can't stay here! There is no food for you.”

“That doesn't matter. I have enough food I need,” said the traveller.

In front of his tent, the traveler gathered his sticks and built a fire. He placed his pot on the fire and added some water. The villagers came one by one watching him. The traveller smiled with satisfaction. Then from his pocket, he took out a big stone and put it in the pot. He waited for the water to boil as he stirred patiently and gracefully.

The villagers had gathered around the pot. They were all curious. “What are you making?”

“Stone soup,” replied the traveller. “ It smells good isn't it? Of course, salt and pepper and some potatoes would make it more delicious.”

“I have salt and pepper,” one villager answered.

“I have some potatoes,” another one answered.

The villagers looked at each other. Each brought something to put in the boiling pot.

The rumor spread around the whole village, as each desired for the boiling soup that smelled so fragrant. Truly, the villagers hungry stomachs craved for the stone soup.

Each household took a dish and there was plenty of soup for everyone to eat.

II. Healthy, Affordable, Easy, Staple Soups

No doubt, soup is boiled water/liquid or sap and all the nutrients of the ingredients in it. It is liquid food by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables. It can feed anyone – both babies and the elderly. It can feed the sick, those who diet, and just anyone all the time of day.

In different countries soup is a famous dish. Oftentimes, it comes before the main dish is served. It can go with a side dish, bread or croutons, or just simply the soup itself.

People like soup because it warms the stomach. It comes in a variety of foods mixed
even with milk, paste, cream, among others. Of course, the ideal soup come in measuring the right ingredients to make up for almost a complete food.

1. Baby soup. An old tradition from the province believes that the rice stock (am/hugas bigas) is good for babies who are starting to feed on solids. This rice stock with some milk added contains a lot of nutrients. Some old folks even say that it is cheaper than milk. But of course, the nutrients found in milk are different. Hugas bigas plus milk would make good food served together, especially for babies.

Some mothers even prepare 1 kilo of ground rice and cook it in small amounts adding water and a bit of salt or sugar.

2. Everyday soup for good health. Malunggay, squash, or any vegetable boiled in water make a healthy everyday soup. Grandparents call this soup “bulanglang.” Again, rice stock (hugas bigas) or any meat stock (but not so fatty) are boiled with the vegetables.

The simple malunggay soup is boiled in water, salt, and garlic. For added flavor, it could be dashed with desired spices. The malunggay (rich in vitamins and minerals) is plucked leaf by leaf, washed thoroughly, then boiled for a few minutes. The soup would turn yellow and smell good with the garlic flavoring.

Bulanglang, on the other hand, is cooked with ginger and rice stock. The vegetables are sliced in tiny pieces, washed thoroughly, then boiled. A bit of salt may be added.

3. Common vegetable soups. Some veggies may also be boiled and mashed. With the sap in water, milk or cream plus spices.

For variation we can add Knorr or Campbell ready soups. Usually mushroom, asparagus, and chinese soups blend well with fresh vegetables.

4. Chicken soup. Again elders tell us that chicken soup has lots of nutrients to restore sick people. And especially those who got flu and are recuperating. Chicken essence has special extracts old people believes.

5 Egg soup. Egg soups are very easy for moms to prepare. Egg is added to broth, which is classified as thin soup.

6. Seafood soups. This soups contain mussels, clam, and shell families sauteed in ginger with tomatoes, onions, or leaves of, and some herbs that make up a healthy seafood soup.


III Complete Food for the Sick

Moreover, soups are convenient and healthy food for the elderly, those who can't eat from the mouth, and those with tooth problems. Ingredients blended together makes a rich complete healthy food ... Slurp!

And don't forget the alphabet soup for children, the noodles and macaroni soups, the fish lip soup that make wonders for everyday meals.

/Rose Flores – Martinez
For Ezine Articles, 2009

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