Sunny’s Special Soup
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
With the stress and strain that all of us are feeling, it’s nice to know that little acts of kindness can make things better.
When SurfWriter Girl Patti talked to her longtime friend Kathleen Mulcahy this week Kathleen told her that she and her neighbors are helping each other and that she made chicken soup for a neighbor in her eighties who is recovering from pneumonia.
It wasn’t easy finding ingredients, but the woman’s smile made it worth it.
Inspired by this, SurfWriter Girls decided to make a pot of Sunny’s Special Soup – her homemade vegetable soup that keeps the chill away – and share the recipe with you.
Given today’s difficult shopping environment, it’s a recipe that encourages you to be creative and use whatever is on hand whether it’s fresh, frozen or canned veggies.
If you have any chicken, you can add it, too. Or maybe some sliced sausage or even hot dogs. Sunny made some changes this time by adding a can of diced tomatoes and a couple of sliced potatoes – “Because I happened to have them.”
The recipe is easy. Start by sauteing chopped fresh or frozen onions. If adding meat, brown it in the pot. Then add 32 oz. of broth (any kind you like) and two cups of water. Season to taste. Sunny uses salt and pepper, assorted spices from the cupboard, and parsley and cilantro (if available).
When the meat is done she adds the veggies and cooks everything for 20 minutes. And, to jazz it up, If you have a lemon or lime, squeeze in a little juice at the end.
Serve with bread, rolls or crackers…and enjoy a warm bowl of comfort – with enough to share.
Kathleen says that if you know someone in need, help them as much as you can. And, if you’re the one in need, let others help you. Even if we’re temporarily distanced from one another we can still build community…
a spoonful at a time.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.