I thought I would ask you a question this morning. Did you know February 4th was National Homemade Soup Day #NationalHomemadeSoupDay? I don’t know about you but I love Soup especially Homemade Soup.
In our Home I make Homemade Bacon Potato Cheese Soup. My mother in law makes Tiny Noodles which is a Soup but I can’t tell you what’s in it. Then in my dad’s family they used to make Poorman Soup which is like Potatoe Soup with Dumplings. I sure wish I had some of it.
I have a question for you. Is Chicken and Dumplings a Soup? Because David and I’ve been wanting Chicken and Dumplings. I wish I had had my Grandmother Dorie teach me how to make them. Since she didn’t I plan on looking online for a recipe and making Chicken and Dumplings to surprise David with.
Would you want to join us for dinner? Even though Charlie would eat Chicken and Dumplings from Cracker Barrel when he was a baby I don’t he eats Chicken and Dumplings now. But with that child you never know. Do you?
Come and join everyone you now on National Homemade Soup Day which is celebrated on February 4th. Everyone knows Soup is the perfect Winter meal. Did you know people have been enjoying Soup a simple yet extremely delicious dish since 20,000 B.C.
Different flavors and types of Soups are eaten around the world according to the culinary culture of a particular region. For example, Soups in India and China are spicier than those served in New Zealand and Canada. Soup is combined with other ingredients including Meats and Vegetables to add more taste to Soups. However, Soup is generally just a liquid, normally served warm. Or is it?
.Soup has remained a popular dish throughout the globe for many years. However, the European Countries were majorly responsible for Soups origination and growth. Its discovery proved to be vital for restaurants all over the world, as its demand has continuously increased amongst the masses.
Here is a fun tip to share with your families. Soup dates back as far as about 20,000 B.C. to before the time humans used modern cooking equipment or techniques. Boiling was a common practice in terms of how food was prepared and served.
After the discovery of waterproof containers made out of clay, boiling became even more common and humans started cooking Plants and Animals. A vital element of their diet was liquid containing chunks of Vegetables and/or Meat. This is how Soup came into existence.
Did you know the word ‘Soup’ itself originated from the French word ‘Soupe,’ which means Broth. This French word, in turn, is derived from the Latin word ‘Suppa,’ which means a piece of soaked Bread. I don’t know about you but I didn’t know that.
In the 18th Century, French street vendors started to make and sell high-quality exotic Soup dishes called ‘Restoratifs,’ which lead to the birth of the first restaurants. Furthermore, in 1765, a particular businessman in Paris opened up a shop that was dedicated entirely to the preparation of good quality Soups.
Apart from Europe, North America also played a role in the progression of Soup. One of the first-ever Cookbooks was written by William Parks, which had a great impact amongst the Americans who were interested in cooking. In the book, several chapters included recipes and ways of cooking Soup.
Emma Pike Ewing wrote an American cooking pamphlet on Soups (“Soup and Soup Making”), which was distributed all over the Country. Lastly, for better storage, the portable Soup was also created in the 18th century, which made Soup even more popular.
National Homemade Soup Day Activities
- I’m sure that by this time we’ve all tasted a lot of Soups from different places. Haven’t we? National Homemade Soup Day allows you to dig deep into your memories and recall one of the Soup experiences that stands out to you, and why.
- If we should list the various flavors of Soups around the globe, it will probably take us a while because there are numerous variants of Soups such including Buridda, Butajiru, Cazuela, Chicken-Noodle, and Chupe. On National Homemade Soup Day, you should cook, and consequently try, a completely different flavor of Soup with the ingredients of your choice. Essentially, you can try to develop a completely new Soup recipe. Creating your own Soup will enhance not just your cooking skills, but also the extent of your creativity.
- A gathering of the whole family is an integral part of any holiday. and National Homemade Soup Day expects no less. On February 4th, bring your whole family together and prepare a Soup that is loved and enjoyed by everyone. You can also learn how to make different Soups from different members of your family. It’s not just all fun and games, National Homemade Soup Day can also be a learning experience. Especially if your #Homeschooling your children and teaching them to cook. Even though Charlie has finished School I think I will take him to the Store with me and we will make a Soup using ingredients of his choice and we just might end up with a Stew which sounds so good. Doesn’t it?
Facts About Chicken Soup
- Did you know Chicken Soup dates back 7,000 to 10,00 years ago?
- Chicken noodle Soup was first introduced as ‘Noodle Soup with Chicken’ back in 1934 by the American company, Campbell’s.
- ’Five years after Campbell’s released ‘Noodle Soup with Chicken’ the host of a radio channel mispronounced it by mistake, saying, ‘Chicken Noodle Soup.’
- Did you know the most expensive bowl of Soup goes for about $190? I don’t know about you but I will pass on that Soup. How about you?
- Even though Soup is mainly liquid, the verb used to define its consumption is ‘eat’ and not ‘drink’ as we use a spoon to consume Soup. Or do we?
Why People Love National Homemade Soup Day
On National Homemade Soup Day, people from cultures all around the world enjoy this culinary masterpiece we call Soup. People from different regions and entirely different backgrounds come together and taste each other’s Soup because each culture has its own way of preparing and eating Soup.
Soup is delicious and it’s beyond our comprehension that a single bowl can have so many flavors! The taste from a piping hot bowl of Soup brings all the Spices and Seasonings together to make it almost impossible for any person to stop until they’ve finished the entire bowl. Moreover, there are several combinations of flavors to choose from. All of them are unique and tasty in their own way.
The best thing about Soup is that no flavor gets left out. The options are so diverse that Soup can be enjoyed by every type of consumer. Those who prefer Soup plain can have Chicken Noodle Soup. And others who are fans of Spices will enjoy Shrimp Creole Soup. Since it’s relatively easier to prepare, you have the option to experiment using different ingredients, which opens up a range of different types and flavors.
Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jalapeno pepper , seeded and diced
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 lb chicken breasts, (2 medium)
- 20 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 32 oz chicken broth
- 14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 14 oz can corn, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped, divided (reserve 1/4 of it for garnish)
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
Homemade Tortilla Strips
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 8 corn tortillas , (6″ tortillas)
Toppings
- 1 large avocado, diced
- 1 lime, cut into wedges, to serve
Instructions
Tortilla Strips:
- Preheat a pan with 1/4 cup oil over medium-high heat. Cut tortillas into thin strips and fry them in batches in the hot oil until crisp. Remove from the pan and allow them to drain on a paper towel. Repeat with remaining tortilla strips, adding more oil as needed then set aside.
Chicken Tortilla Soup:
- Preheat a pot with oil over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, garlic and chopped jalapeño and sauté until veggies soften.
- Add whole chicken breasts, corn, beans, chilli powder, cumin, crushed tomatoes, salt, ¼ cup of cilantro and chicken broth. Bring to a boil and let simmer for at least 25 minutes.
- Remove chicken from the pot and shred it using 2 forks. Add shredded chicken back to the soup and simmer another 5 minutes then add lime juice.
- Serve the soup with some tortilla strips, pieces of avocado, fresh cilantro and lime wedges.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
