Comfort Food: Giving Soup as a Gift
There is something so comforting about soup, especially during the chill of autumn and winter. It’s definitely a food that asks to be shared, but it can be hard to come up with ideas for giving soup as a gift. There are some great ready-made soups and some you can make yourself. Here are some ideas for giving this wonderful comfort food as a gift.
1. Chili Bean and Rice Soup
In a small zip-top bag, place the following ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 2 teaspoons garlic powder
* 2 teaspoons onion powder
* 1 teaspoon turmeric
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin
Once the spices are in the bag, zip it up and place it in the bottom of the jar. Then add the following dried, uncooked ingredients in this order:
* 1/3 cup black beans
* 1/2 cup brown rice
* 1/3 cup kidney beans
* 1/3 cup white beans (such as navy beans)
Use the jar’s proper top, but cover it with a pretty square of cloth tied with a ribbon. Include a card with the recipe instructions below, either attached with the ribbon, written on the top or side of the jar, or tucked into the mix.
To make soup:
Empty beans into a large bowl and cover with water (about 2 inches above the beans); cover and leave overnight. Drain. In a large pot, place beans and spice mix. Add 8 cups (2 quarts) of chicken broth or half chicken broth and half water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 2 hours. Add more liquid as it cooks if desired. Add salt and pepper to taste at the end of cooking time.
2. Vegetable Soup Basket
Give a lovely gift of soup with only a little assembly required! Here is how to make a vegetable soup gift basket.
In a nice basket, place the following items:
* 2 cans or 1 one-quart carton beef or chicken stock
* 1 can mixed vegetables
* 1 can petite-diced tomatoes
* 1 eight-ounce can tomato juice or V8
Include the directions below written on a pretty card.
Directions for soup:
In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add 1 small chopped onion and saut