Soup is the dish to have on Saturdays (in Jamaica) that is.  Regardless of the weather, hot or cold, it is a must have. It is tradition.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be Chicken Soup. Just any kind of soup.  To this day, my mother still remembers what the dinner menu when she was younger; Wednesdays was the day Stew Peas was prepared and served, Saturdays was Soup day, and on Sundays it was Rice and Beans, with some type of meat.

For me, I cook soup whenever I feel the need, regardless of the day or the weather.  I enjoy it best whenever, I am not feeling well. It really soothes my insides. There is something about the vapors that emanates from a steaming bowl of soup.  It’s an instant cure for most colds or flu like symptoms.

Most people prefer soup during cold weather, but I beg to differ.  The traditional  Jamaican version of a soup, isn’t the watery, brothy kind of soup. It is hearty, loaded with dumplings and  garden vegetables, such as chayote, turnips and root vegetables as well. Pumpkin squash is usually the base for chicken soup, it creates a smooth consistency and adds that wonderful pumpkin color.  There are other food substitutes, other than pumpkin that adds color as well, such as sweet potatoes and carrots. I usually rely on the American sweet potato/yams whenever the pumpkin doesn’t provide that extra brightness or rich color that I aim to achieve.

Throughout this site you will be viewing all types of soups, from chicken to beef to lentils.  This is just the beginning…..