Picture from Campbell's Soup Website:
When you think of it, it's not all that surprising, is it? Don't we all want to return to the comforts of childhood in times of stress? Remember when you were sick and home from school? And your mother or father gave you Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup? Or when you walked home from school in the cold rain and there was Campbell's Tomato Soup in a mug waiting for you? No matter how sophisticated our taste buds become when we are older, there is something about the simplicity and warm comfort of those soups that still make us smile.
I was glad to hear that as Americans struggle through these financial complexities, we retain that simple belief that we all need small comforts now and then. And soup can give us a little comfort. I like the idea that even the most sage investors return to the comforts of childhood every now and then.
Do you have a fond memory of soup or other things that gave you comfort as a child? Share them with us. We all need some help.
16 comments:
Carolyn--I heard the same story and had a similar thought. When you don't feel well, what do you want to eat--soup!
Soup memories? Well, I have written about our church bistro several times, where we have a 4 soup dinner to raise money. And I have posted some of those soup recipes under Saturday soups--haven't for a while, but as the weather gets colder, I should start up again.
I remember many soup suppers as I was growing up, homemade, never canned. When I look back at photos of my childhood I am taken by how little we had. But I never noticed it. "Financial complexities" often have their roots in wanting more than we can afford. Time to go back to soup for sure.
Good ol' Campbells. I guess it helps that we are finally getting some good soup-eating weather around here, too. "Chicken and Stars" was my childhood favorite.
And here's a good comforting soup story: my mother in-law just gave me 4 different kinds of homemade soup to take to my parents when I go back up. She's such a special person - she must have been cooking all weekend!
Carolyn i enjoyed all your bird photos lately. yes i do look in every so often.
As for soup we love soup and started our soup night for the fall and winter months. My youngest son and daughter in law come over once a week for soup. we have been doing this for over ten years now since my son moved out.
Carolyn - I enjoyed your trip down memory lane - oh, yes, I have soup memories, but it's late, now, so I'll just dream of comfort and warm soup!
I still eat the Homestyle Chicken Noodle on occasion. Indeed, we all need some comfort in these times.
Carolyn: I used to hate soup when I was a kid. I especially hated the instant type that had those green parts floating on top. I now enjoy homemade soup when my wife makes it.
My mother gave me campbells soup as a child.....if ever I had a cold it was always the chicken.....aahhh fond memories....
My most comforting food though was spam fritters....I loved them....Mum would make them for me as a treat......
strange thing is I gave up eating meat 26 years ago .......
Campbell's Tomato Soup, my all time favorite. Nothing better!
Donna - I have used some of your recipes and they were delicious. We have "empty bowl" soup nights at our church. Local potters donate slightly imperfect soup bowls so that you get a nice bowl along with great-tasting soup and the good feeling of helping someone else.
Ruth - I believe you have nailed the base of our problem. The folks in my children's generation and younger want it all and want it all NOW. So they overbought houses they couldn't afford and ran up huge credit card debt. Like you, when I look back on my childhood I realize we didn't have a lot of things. But I never knew it back then.
Dog Geek - What a wonderful M-I-L. Being a soup maker myself, I can imagine the hours she spent chopping veggies and cooking. How nice your parents will have a freezer full of soups.
Toni - We have soup night every Wednesday. Just bread and soup but what more could you need?
Helen - I enjoyed listening to the NPR spot. It made perfect sense to me.
Jayne - I still eat canned soup for lunch occasionally as well.
Fishing guy - Oh, I never liked anything floating on top of my soup either, except perhaps some parmesan cheese.
Cheryl - Spam fritters? What an ingenous idea. I'll bet there is a recipe on the Spam Website. I'm going to look it up just for fun.
Diane - Yep, you can't beat it.
I agree about the comforts of soup! whether you're sick, came in from cold weather or feeling down - soup seems like a good bandaid.
tomato soup and grill cheese still can stop my tears.....
A second vote for tomato soup and grilled cheese! Pure comfort.
Oh and do follow KGMom's soup posts - she shares the best recipes!
I heard that same story - a bunch of NPR fans here! - and had the same "Awww" feeling. Nothing like a bowl of soup when you feel blue, and Campbell's was always on the shelf when we were kids.
I still have a row of red and white cans in my kitchen, Chicken Noodle for when I am sick, Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken for cooking with, and plenty of Cream of Tomato because I can't live without it. A perfect meal? Why, grilled cheese and Campbell's tomato soup, of course! It's what I would take if I were going to be stranded on a desert island.
~Kathi, who likes homemade soups, too
Shelley - Soup IS sort of like a bandaid.
Pat - Oh, me too. I forgot about the grilled cheese.
Laura - I do use Donna's soups. Toni has some good recipes as well.
Kathi - I don't know what we would do without NPR. It's our primary source (along with Jim Lehrer) of news. I download several programs to my iPod in case I miss them.
Carolyn, this week has been somethiong, hasn't it? Wachovia is still being jerked around (my daughter's employer here in Charlotte) and the stuff just kept coming... Wednesday, at my house, was a Campbell's Tomato Soup and grilled cheese night.
When growing up, soup on the stove was always a comfort.
Post a Comment