This month on This Cookin’ Dad, I’m focusing on soups and stews.
In the cold winter months, there’s just something comforting about a good bowl of soup or a thick, hearty stew. There’s a thin line between what constitutes a soup and a stew. That’s why I’m lumping them into one category. Generally speaking though, I’d think of a soup as a flavorful liquid that may or may not have a few other ingredients floating around in it. On the other hand, a stew consists of a number of ingredients held together by a thicker liquid.
I don’t want to start a national debate over what is or isn’t a soup or a stew, but I will say that I have often turned what should have been a soup into something more akin to a stew by adding too much rice or pasta. I’m taking this month to delve a little further into the subject and to take the opportunity to introduce my kids to cooking this category of dishes. I know first-hand that even the best can of soup cannot compare to the comfort of digging into a homemade bowl.
We’ll make a Venison & Butternut Squash Stew, Pork & Chickpea Chili, a traditional Cajun Gumbo, the ever-popular Chicken Noodle Soup, Grace’s new favorite, and maybe a couple of other surprises! Along the way, we’ll talk about (and make) broth as a base for our creations and learn about the history or some of our favorite dishes. We’ll even get the kids into the kitchen so that they can join in the fun.
I hope you’ll join us this month for a crash course in soups and stews. Enjoy!
What’s your favorite soup or stew? You know, that one that really takes you back to your mother’s kitchen on a cold winter day? Leave a comment and share your story!
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