I love the cold weather. It’s soup season at our house. I’ve found some great secrets to making perfect soup and my family loves it. Come and read my secrets and see if your family doesn’t enjoy soup as well.
Soup Stock
I make my own soup stock. I simmer left over peelings and bits of vegetables in my stock pot and then strain the vegetable bits out. I’ve kept these in the freezer until I have enough to make a soup and then just toss them in. Peelings from carrots used in a salad, or potatoes used for something are perfect for this stock. Simmer your stock on low and allow all of the flavors to meld.
Then I add in some freshly chopped vegetables toward the end of cooking. You can always leave the mushy vegetables in that you use to make stock but there’s just something about the crunchy vegetables with the soup that make it special.
Creamy Soups
I love Manhattan clam chowder with tomatoes, but my sons love the basic clam chowder. We discovered that if we make a white sauce and add in some vegetable bouillon cubes we get a fabulous flavor. The white sauce can be purchased or homemade it doesn’t matter. Adding that little extra flavor boost with the bouillon cubes made all the difference in the world. Be bold and take a chance.
Fresh Ingredients
Shop at your local farmers market and freeze the extras. Pull these out for soups later in the year and you’ll have a fantastic healthy soup.
Sauté
I sauté onion, garlic and celery on medium heat before adding it to my soup. Sautéing releases the flavors and seals in the crunchiness before adding it to my pot of soup.
Patience
Allow your soup to simmer throughout the day for the best flavors to develop.
Pots and Pans
I have a stock pot that I just love to cook soups in. I’ve had it for over 17 years and it’s lost a handle and seen better days but it’s perfect for making a big batch of soup up for the family. Use a pot or pan larger than the amount of soup you’ll be making so that you have room to stir. Occasionally someone will sneak in and add a few extra ingredients and this size pan helps to contain that little bit of extra when someone does that.
Signature Spices
Mrs. Dash has it, grandma had it, their very own signature spice mix. You can create your own signature spice mix. Simply gather the herbs and spices you use most and measure out into an empty spice container. Shake well and you’re on your way. If your spice mix is often raved about consider making a few extra bottles up for family and friends during the holiday season.
Garnish
Some people like croûtons floating on top of their soup, others like dumplings or grated cheese. Depending upon what sort of soup you’re serving garnishes can add that little extra touch to your recipe and help make what might otherwise have been a boring meal extra special.
Another favorite treat is cheesy garlic toast. We simply make garlic bread and shake some Parmesan on it just before putting it under the broiler. The result is a taste tempting treat that melts in your mouth.
Leftovers
Save your leftovers in the freezer for a quick lunch later in the week or make enough for a quick meal later in the week. You may find that you have to double your recipes to have any leftovers using the above secrets though.
A good bowl of soup is always welcome on a cold winters day. With these tips your friends and family will rave about your cooking and no one will ever have to know your secrets unless you want to share them.