Many people rely on packet soups and canned soups when they want something soothing and tasty, unaware that nothing beats homemade soup for flavor. Soup recipes are very easy to make because there is not a lot to remember to do. If you can boil a pot of water and add things to it, you can make yourself some soup. Soup is an incredibly versatile dish and you can add whichever ingredients you like to make your perfect soup recipe.

Different Kinds of Soup

There are many types of soup and way too many to list here. You can get chilled soups and hot soups, thick chowder type soups and thin, watery consomms, fish soup, meat soup and vegetable soup, spicy oriental soup, country style soup and so much more. You have probably tried quite a few different types of soup, such as tomato or chicken noodle soup but what about Chinese egg drop soup or a chilled watermelon soup?

One of the most popular soups in the world is chicken soup and many countries have their own chicken soup recipes. Chicken is economical to buy and if you have used a chicken in another recipe and only have the bones left, you can use them to make chicken soup. You can choose from chicken rice soup, chicken noodle soup, Chinese chicken soup, creamy chicken soup and plenty more.

Perhaps the reason why chicken soup is so popular is that it is customizable. Some people like a meaty soup with plenty of vegetable and potatoes, pasta or noodles. Others like a smooth, creamy style soup, and some people prefer a thin consomm type soup.

How to Make Chicken Soup

One of the simplest ways to make chicken soup is to boil a chicken carcass in a pot of water, take the carcass out, add vegetables and herbs, and simmer the mixture for an hour. If you use a chicken carcass and leftover vegetables, you can make a delicious soup from ingredients, which you would otherwise have tossed in the trash.

When you remove the chicken carcass, it is best to use a sieve to remove any small bits of bone, which might be floating in the mixture. You can pick any bits of fat or meat off by hand and add these to the soup with the vegetables for flavor.

Chicken noodle soup has been used for many years to soothe people suffering from colds or the flu. The steam from the soup is good for congestion, the fluids are great for the illness, and chicken soup is especially soothing and comforting. There is no doubt that a bowl of homemade chicken soup will lift your spirits and cheer you up.

Do you remember your mother or grandmother making chicken soup for you as a child? Now you know just how simple it is to make your own, maybe you would like to have a go at making some delicious, comforting soup for your family to enjoy.

When you have small children, feeding them can be a chore, especially if they are fussy eaters. Their nutrition is very important, and there are ways of getting them to eat even if they do not want to. Such dishes as homemade chicken noodle soup, crockpot chicken noodle soup, hotdogs, or pizza are always favorites.

Even though it may be a chore, when you are preparing dinner, prepare several different dishes so your child has choice of what he or she wants. You could try asking them what they are in the mood for on occasion to get a guaranteed winner night with no fitting over them eating anything let alone enough.

Encourage your child to take a no thank you bite of each of the dishes that you prepare. This way he or she will at least taste the food before disliking it. Nine out of ten times, he or she will like the dish and possibly ask for more.

Another way that you can encourage your child to eat is to give the food names of their favorite cartoon or fictional character. Atomic Betty beans or Patrick pancakes can bring a smile to your child’s face and a full belly. Children identify with their favorite shows, and if they think that they are eating their favorite cartoons food, then they will most likely clean their plates.

Making dishes that are colorful and fun is a great way to encourage a finicky eater to actually eat. When you use bright and colorful ingredients such as green, yellow and red bell peppers, and give the dish a name like Christmas casserole, or if you make a veggie lasagna and call it Diego’s delight, you will have a better chance of a having a peaceful dinner.

Children are fussy when they are small and they know what they like. If something appears unappetizing, you won’t have much chance encouraging them to eat it. Children depend on you to get them to eat healthy foods.

If you like to cook, one way that you can encourage your child to eat is to let them prepare the meal with you. When you do this, they will see the ingredients, which are being added and feel like they are a part of the cooking process. They are more likely to eat what they prepare because they are proud to have done it. They would much rather have some homemade chicken noodle soups than the stuff in the red and white can.

If you know your child does not like something and it is a necessary ingredient, then wait until he or she is out of the room and run it through the food processor until it is finely ground up and then add it to the pot. He or she will never know it is there.

When you are feeding a child, sometimes these alternative methods help. The main thing is to be flexible while still providing adequate nutrition. Simple meals like chicken noodle soup, lasagna or grilled meat with a sauce and vegetables provide excellent nutritional value. Nobody wants dinner to be a battleground and if you follow these tips, it doesn’t have to be.