Souptember Begins Today!

Soup is a primarily liquid food. Generally served hot. Made by combining ingredients of meat or vegetables with stock, milk, or water. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth. Soups are similar to stews, and in some cases, there may not be a clear distinction between the two; however, soups generally have more liquid (broth) than stews. [^1] Wikipedia...

Refrigerator Soup

It is Soupember! The beginning of soup season. I love this time of the year! Soup is my favorite meal served with homemade bread or crackers. Soup is such an easy unrestricted meal to make. There are no rules to follow when I make my "Refrigerator Soup". Refrigerator Soup is soup that I make from leftovers in the refrigerator once a week through the Fall and Winter months. I gather up my fragments (leftovers) from the refrigerator, add a liquid such as water, milk or broth, and simmer with spices for a few hours on top of the stove to create a hearty soup. It is that simple! Simmering soup on the stove warms up the house and warms us up on cold days. 

Chicken Barley Soup made from chicken thigh bones
that I save up from deboning chicken thighs. 

Breads

Sesame Crackers

Bazlama

Soup is such an affordable meal, especially if made from leftovers or fragments of vegetables made into a stock. Soup, broth or pottage can be found in nearly every culture. Soup has been used throughout history to feed the masses during economic downturns like the Great Depression and during wartime. Soup kitchens and breadlines fed thousands of needy people every day during the Great Depression. A flavorful hearty soup can be made with inexpensive foods like root vegetables, cheap tough cuts of meat and simple seasonings like salt and pepper. 

Homemade Vegetable Broth made from
vegetable scraps collected and stored in the freezer 
throughout the Spring and Summer months.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken vegetable broth made from a smoked chicken carcass
and vegetables.

Potato Soup with turkey bacon.

Enjoy a pot of homemade soup today!
Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

Refrigerator Soup - Save Money - Save Food - No Waste

Soup is a primarily liquid food. Generally served hot. Made by combining ingredients of meat or vegetables with stock, milk, or water. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth. Soups are similar to stews, and in some cases there may not be a clear distinction between the two; however, soups generally have more liquid (broth) than stews.^[1] Wikipedia...

Many years ago, my mom was in a time of transition after the death of my dad, so she stayed with us for about six weeks while waiting to move into a new rental.  It was getting cold outside, so I started making "Refrigerator Soup" and my mom loved it. It is my favorite way to use up leftovers in the Fall and Winter months. 

First snow of the season happened today.

This technique of cooking leftovers is nothing new, in fact, it was probably created out of necessity and used frequently during wartime and depressions to help with the effects of shortages. Soup kitchens also used this technique to feed more people. It makes complete sense not waste food even in times of plenty. Save money. Save Food. No waste. 

Homemade vegetable broth.

I make stock out of scraps that I keep in a bag in the freezer.

 

Every week I gather up the fragments from leftovers or items that need to be used up before they go bad and I create a meal or meals like burritos or veggie fried rice. In the Fall, I start making "Refrigerator Soup". I take any meats, pastas, grains or vegetables that I have leftover and I make a pot of soup. I usually have homemade stock to use as a base, if not, store bought can be used instead. If I don't have enough leftovers to make a pot of soup I just add potatoes or rice to the pot. 

I am not limited to using leftovers only. I use whatever I want to add flavors to the pot if it needs it. Be careful with seasonings like salt. Most leftovers already have plenty of seasonings. It's easy to make soups like chili or taco soup with leftover ground meats. Just add the other ingredients to the pot and cook. 

I made a soup out of leftover smoked chicken and veggies. I threw everything into a pot, added water, seasonings, celery, onions and carrots. I cooked it in the Sun Oven until the meat fell off the bones.

Sad celery. 

Homestyle Pasta

Seasonings

Pasta

I cooked the pasta in the broth on the stovetop until the pasta was done.

I made a lovely chicken noodle soup. I could have easily made a chicken pot pie with potatoes and a little dough instead of noodles. Options are only limited to my own imagination.

I Cooked the broth in the Sun Oven and saved hours of propane use.

My dad... 

My dad and Abby, our dog.

My mom and dad.

Cooking together...

Blessings,

Mrs. Smith