Notes from Stella's Kitchen
I love making soups. They’re a little bit like an adventure in that they are so easy to modify to fit an occasion or a whim or whatever you might have on hand. I call it an adventure in that there are so many ways you can go with a simple basic soup recipe that will create changes that are so very different from one another.
But there is much more to it than that. I have found that despite each recipe’s precise list of ingredients, I am constantly surprised by the variation in taste a soup I prepare one time has with the soup I prepare from the same recipe, another time. I suppose this has to do with the fact that we use natural ingredients that vary in quality and ripeness. All this does is instill in a cook such as myself the realization that we must constantly taste the food as we prepare it whether it be soup or salad.
Although I am taking about soups here, in all my recipes I have tried to stick to the basic idea that if you start off with good food and be careful how you fix it, then the results will be a good meal.
There is one secret to remember in making good soups. That is that many improve with age! Letting these soups sit overnight allows them to blend the flavors of their ingredients. The longer they sit, it seems, the tastier they get. I realize that this doesn’t apply to all soups, but I have found that for the many that it does apply to, it is a wonderful secret to keep in mind.
Another secret to remember is that the basic recipes for some soups are very versatile. The Oyster Chowder that Paul makes such a fuss over can be easily made into Clam Chowder or Fish Chowder. Or you can leave these out altogether and make an excellent Potato Soup!
The other soups I’ve included are the same way; they can be easily changed. Have fun! Experiment. Think of making soup as if they all originated from the same basic recipe as Rock Soup. Remember that recipe? “First take one rock, Place in boiling water. Add other ingredients as available. Allow to simmer till ready. Remove rock and serve.”
Bon Appetit!
