"Of soup and love, the first is best."
- Spanish Proverb
Welcome to the March issue of Seasoned Cooking. While there might be a little disagreement with the proverb above, it does get to the heart of the matter: Soup is loved all around the world. It's a wonderfully simple dish that often relies on what's on hand. It's found at the tables of kings and paupers alike. And, when you're feeling ill or cold, soup becomes more than the satisfying meal that it has always been ... it becomes a cure for what ails you!
With that in mind, we're offering the best that soup, stew and chili has to offer you this month. It's comfort food at it's best and what a perfect month to showcase it all. March is famous for teasing us with promises of spring, only to dump large quantities of snow, wind, sleet and rain when we least expect it. But, through it all, our trusty stockpots wait patiently to work their magic on the simplest of ingredients.
We start out our journey with a look at bread bowls and some hearty dishes that long to be served in them. With a little creativity and some ingredients that are readily available, you can transform any meal featuring soup into an event. If more soup is on your mind, try the simple and ever-changing Stone Soup recipe found in the Home Cookin' column this month. It's a great recipe to make with your children -- with simple ingredients and a legend to make it a fun experience.
Continuing on the comfort food trail, we come to a special feature article that gives a nod to the art of making chili. With a selection of the best chili recipes on hand, it also supplies the know-how to round out the meal in the most traditional -- or unusual -- manner. With the smell of homemade chili wafting through your home, you're not likely to care a bit what the weather's dumping outside your door!
If you're looking for something to serve with any of the delightful soups and chilis that are being offered in this month's issue, you might want to check out Victoria's Vegetarian Victuals for a large collection of tasty Irish Soda Bread recipes. In addition to the bread recipes, you'll find a wide range of bread and potato recipes that will make you dream Irish dreams with every bite!
That's just a sampling of what's packed into this month's issue. So, put the stockpot on the stove and sit back and enjoy this issue while the chili's simmering. Have a great month and here's to a seasoned lifestyle!
