For many, soup is considered to be the main meal of the day. Homemade soups are most often concocted from the imagination instead of a recipe and are passed down through generations of many skilled cooks. Home grown vegetables, market produce, leftovers and seasonings have found their place in many of the homemade soups we love today.

Soup is pure comfort food that warms the body from head to toe. Ask any cook how easy it is to make a good hearty soup. Then ask any child who slurps soup from the spoon how much fun it can be to eat a bowl. This hearty dish fills you up but is easy on the tummy because it’s so easy to digest.

Where Did Soup Begin?

Soup is believed to have come from the word “sop.” This term means to pour a rich warm broth over a slice of bread. Bread is a main staple in many homes and goes perfect as a complement to soup. Torn bread, a crusty loaf of bread and even croutons find there way into soup bowls all over the world.

Experiencing a Bowl of Homemade Soup

With the ready made convenience of canned soups many have forgotten just how warming and comforting a good bowl of soup made from scratch can be. This has caused many of us to put that warm pot of homemade soup on the back burner.

Soup is an extremely versatile dish because it can include just about any ingredient you’ve got on hand, including leftovers. Vegetables, fresh or frozen, chicken, beef, pork, fish and even fruits can be placed in a pot of soup to create a delicious meal.

Depending on what is put in the soup it can be a warm concoction served in country style or a silky-smooth dish fit for even the most polished setting. Hot or cold the possibilities are endless when it comes to homemade soup.

Tips for Creating the Perfect Homemade Soup

A good soup has a strong and hearty flavor. Ingredients such as garlic, tomatoes or onions can give flavor to a simply prepared soup. These types of ingredients will give any type of liquid you add to your soup the best flavor and appeal.

Another way to enhance the flavor of your soup is by using a well flavored stock. Stocks are made by using raw vegetables, meats or fish. Place the ingredients into a stock pot with water and allow them to simmer until the liquid becomes infused with the hearty flavors.

Once the stock has simmered, strain it well and use it as the base liquid for homemade soup. Wondering how much stock to use for a pot of soup? Using 8 ounces of stock per person will make just the perfect amount of delicious soup. Stocks are best when made in large amounts and frozen for later use. This not only saves money, but time. There’s no waiting for the stock to be prepared before putting together the other soup ingredients.

Water is always acceptable in place of stock when making homemade soup. Just remember when you use water the soup will have less of an infusion of flavor and less body. That doesn’t mean your soup will be bland and boring. Simply, create the flavor you’re looking for with herbs and spices.

There is something to be said about having a bowl of chicken soup when you are feeling under the weather. Comforting and warming soups can supply us with everything our bodies need to make it though a long cold winter. Head to the kitchen and see what you can come up with to create your own homemade soup today.