You know, there is nothing I enjoy more than holing up in the kitchen, on a cold blustery day, and making a big, pot of soup. I could spend the entire day, just prepping, and fussing, and tasting, til that simmering pot of goodness is perfection. There is something so comforting about this process for me. Perfect example: the Fall of 2001, I found myself making pot, after pot of soups, until there was no more room in the fridge, and the freezers. What up with that? Guess it was my way of dealing with the shock of 9/11. Yep, hiding in the kitchen is my way of coping with stress. Trust me though, I don't need stress to get me to fuss over a pot of soup, just a desire to feed myself, and others.
What, you don't have this same passion for soup making? Hey! I get it (not really, but I will humor you). But you say you do love to eat comforting bowls of homemade soup? Well, before you go and 'give up' soup for lent, why don't you 'give' a bit while indulging in multiple bowls of soup. Take a break from your Winter Olympic Games marathon, get off the couch, and head out to
The Hideout on a wintry Wednesday night for their weekly
'Soup n Bread' night.
To get through the s-l-o-w winter weekday nights, and harder economic times, the folks at
The Hideout launched a brilliant idea last winter: a free weekly soup dinner. Volunteers, made up of Hideout staff members & regulars, local musicians, writers, chefs and bakers, donate pots of homemade soups, breads, rolls, muffins ,and sometimes desserts, then invite one and all to partake. Now, here is where the 'give' comes in. Though the soup dinner is free, a donation bucket is set out. All donations collected are then distributed to a number of local food pantries and soup kitchens. So not only will you fill up on some pretty delicious soups, but you will help others fill their stomachs as well. And if you do like to try your hand at soup making, then get yourself a copy of the
Soup & Bread Cookbook -- filled with recipes of all the soups that were donated last winter, and yet another chance at the 'give' as all proceeds are donated to
The Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Soup & Bread takes place every Wednesday from 5:30 - 8pm (
or til the soup runs out. My advice, get there earlier than later) at
The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago, thru March 31st.
P.S. big shout out to Magda (in pic above, in red scarf) and the FAB soup she donated a few weeks back. I bet if you ask nicely, I can get a copy of Magda's soup recipe for you....
Mo
moira@efete.net
Labels: Chicago Farmers Markets, seasonal organic produce, soup n bread, The Hideout, To Market with Moira
