Family Foodies

Steaming hot soup full of tummy satisfying ingredients is particularly well suited to cold weather and to begin your holiday dinner.

Soup has many advantages over other foods. Vegetables can be hidden inside and the picky eater will never know the difference – pulverize them in a blender. Just stifle the urge to ask, “Do you know what you just ate?” or giggle uncontrollably when they eat it and ask for more.

Your grocery will stock many soups that are ready to serve. Many of them are just terrific to use as a base for other things and are great helpers for holiday meals. A wide variety of sauces, gravies, and whole meals can be based on these soups, whether they are single serving or condensed. This makes four main dish servings or at least eight if served in cups depending on size.

Your holiday meal can start with ready to serve New England Clam Chowder.

18 oz. (or more) can New England Clam Chowder
5 four-inch long potatoes small cubes
1/2 to 3/4 cup thin sliced or diced celery
2 tablespoons onion chopped
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1 ¾ to 2 cups of water
1/2 cup of milk
12 to 16 (or more) cooked whole shrimp
Croutons

Optional
1/2 cup diced fresh mushrooms
Additional canned clams
Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on soup

Boil together water, potatoes, celery, onions and mushrooms until tender with black pepper, and parsley. Mash a portion of the potatoes so mixture becomes thick. Add soup and milk to swirl out remainder of soup in can. Stir well and heat gently until hot and simmering. Serve soup, top with shrimp.

Mom, you are a “souper” cook!