b'food mattersPlay With Your SoupThis flexible recipe invites your creativityWORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ILYSSE RIMALOVSKIW henIpre- Ihiding in aingatheToday, the concept of adding paretoleftover or on-hand ingredients to makeapotsouppotremainsapractical, ofsoup,flavorfulmeal.WhenIslow-roast lookforin- beefbrisket,theleftoversauceand spiration in thescraps of meat become the beginnings refrigerator, freez- of my familys favorite soup. After enjoy-er and pantry and see what emerges. fewbowlfulsandsharingsomewith There are potatoes, onions and garlicneighbors, I freeze the rest for an effortless meal dark cabinet. The fridge offers carrots, celery and some wilt- on a lazy evening.ed parsley. A bag of chopped spinach is reliably tucked away in theNow its your turn. Use the following recipe as a guide freezer. Up on a shelf, I spy cartons of chicken broth, a can of white beans,to adapt or follow. The steps are ordered to accommodate the various diced tomatoes and some dried barley. I can taste my soup already and wondercooking times of particular ingredients. Dried barley, for example, will take the what you will put in yours. longest to soften. Potatoes and other dense vegetables you may add (like turnips This soup recipe is an invitation to get creative. Like the folktale Stone Soupor rutabagas) will need more time as well.illustrates, one ingredient builds upon the next until the resulting soup is farIn truth, however, this recipe is quite forgiving. Sometimes impatience gets more delicious than its parts and is ready for sharing. the best of me and Ill dump everything in at once and cook the soup until the Even if you are a beginner potager, trusting the process helps to build confi- toothiest ingredients are soft enough to eat. I also find that the soup tastes even dence and a foundational knowledge of flavor layering. A recipe this flexible isbetter the next day.also an opportunity to exercise your taste buds, especially when balancing saltIf youre cooking for family or friends, perhaps theyll want to help prep or and acid. add a favorite ingredient to the mix. Take stock of the items you already have A bubbling pot of soup over fire is typical daily fare for multiple culturesand those you wish to gather: vegetables, broth, hearty grains, perhaps some around the world. Especially during times of scarcity, soup making allows peopleleftover meat, pasta or vegetarian protein to toss in at the end.to stretch resources, ensure a steady food supply and still have enough to offer aAnd when youre done cooking, garnishes offer yet another opportunity to bowl to a neighbor. play with your food. Ill be serving my soup topped with chopped parsley, grated One traditional practice known as everlasting soup, perpetual stew or pottageparmesan and some crusty bread on the side. Come springtime, youll likely find refers to a method of continuously adding ingredients to a boiling pot or caul- a swirl of pesto in there, too. dron of soup so that the flavors develop over time. Historically, vegetables andIlysse Rimalovski is a well-seasoned home chef, personal coach and content developer plants in season would simmer alongside fresh game or a chunk of bacon withliving in Maplewood, thrilled to be back at Matters Magazine. Have food questions the liquid replenished as necessary. When properly cooled and stored betweenor need inspiration? Visit Ilysses free Food Matters Zoom Room on Fridays from batches, such a soup could continue cooking for decades. 12:15-1:15 PM. Email forilysse@icloud.com for further details.34/ matters magazine / hearth + home 2024'