Alright, let’s talk about this kitchen sink soup, you know? It ain’t nothin’ fancy, just good ol’ food for your belly. My grandma used to make somethin’ like it, throwin’ in whatever she had layin’ around. That’s the whole point, see?
First off, you gotta understand, this ain’t no recipe you gotta follow to the letter. It’s more like… a suggestion. You use what you got. Got some carrots lookin’ a little sad? Chop ’em up! Celery gone limp? Toss it in! Don’t be wastin’ good food, that’s what I always say.
Now, I like to start with some onions. Chop ’em up small, you know, so they cook down nice. And garlic, gotta have garlic. Lots of it, if you ask me. My old man, he used to say garlic keeps the devil away. Don’t know about that, but it sure makes things taste good. Fry them up in a big pot, a little oil, a little butter, whatever you got handy.
- Veggies is Key: Like I said, anythin’ goes. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, green beans, peas, corn… you name it. Just chop it up and throw it in. Don’t matter if it’s a little old or bruised. We ain’t picky here.
- Meat Makes it Hearty: Got some leftover chicken? Beef? Pork? Throw it in! No meat? That’s fine too. Beans work good. Lentils, kidney beans, whatever you like. Adds some oomph, you know?
- Broth is the Soul: You gotta have somethin’ to hold it all together. Chicken broth is good, beef broth, vegetable broth… even water works in a pinch. Just make sure you got enough to cover all the goodies.
So, you got your onions and garlic fried up, then you throw in your veggies. Give ‘em a stir, let ‘em cook a bit. Then you add your meat, or your beans, whatever you’re usin’. Stir it up again, let it all get friendly.
Now, for the broth. Pour it in, enough to cover everything good. Bring it to a boil, then turn it down low and let it simmer. This is where the magic happens, you know? All those flavors gettin’ to know each other, makin’ somethin’ real tasty.
And here’s a secret… You can add some pasta or rice to make it even more fillin’. Got some leftover rice from last night? Toss it in! Same with pasta. Just make sure it’s cooked already, or it’ll soak up all your broth. I usually keep them little bags of ready-made rice around, just for things like this. Saves a lot of fuss.
Don’t forget the seasonings! Salt, pepper, of course. But don’t be afraid to experiment. A little paprika, some cumin, maybe even a pinch of chili powder if you like things spicy. My grandma, she used to add a bay leaf. Said it made everything taste better. I don’t know why, but it does.
Let it simmer for a while, you know? An hour or two, even longer if you got the time. The longer it simmers, the better it gets. All those flavors really come together.
And that’s it, really. Kitchen sink soup. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good. It’s warm, it’s hearty, and it’s a good way to use up all them leftovers in your fridge. Don’t be throwin’ good food away, that’s what I always say. Make soup! And don’t be worryin’ too much about followin’ a recipe. Just use what you got, and trust your gut. You’ll make somethin’ delicious, I guarantee it.
This “Everything But the Kitchen Sink Soup,” they call it, is the real comfort food. Stops you from wastin’ food and makes somethin’ you’ll love eatin’. So go on, make yourself some soup. Your belly will thank you.
Tags: [kitchen sink soup, leftover soup, vegetable soup, hearty soup, easy soup, budget cooking, food waste, comfort food, soup recipe, simple soup, homemade soup]
