As winter settles in and the days are darkest, we crave warm and cozy. After weeks of flitting from office holiday potlucks to last-minute happy hours with friends, we crave sustenance. And as we’ve wrapped up another year filled with shopping, parties, family and, let’s face it, a fair amount of stress, we crave comfort.
Soup is the answer to it all.
From ramen, gumbo and borscht to pozole and the staple of chicken wild rice, settling in with a steaming bowl of soup can make us forget, at least momentarily, the chaos that surrounds us.
Multiply the benefits of soup even further by creating in your kitchen, starting with the zen of chopping vegetables and ending with a sigh of relief that tonight’s dinner is simmering on the stove (and the leftovers can be tomorrow’s lunch).
Revisit a favorite family recipe or use the occasion to try something new.
Make restaurant-quality hot and sour soup or a twist on beef barley soup that gets a spark from lemon.