30 Days of Soup

Natasha’s Corn Chowder and homemade ciabatta recipes shared with me by Johanna Mustapic

Thirty days of sobriety. Thirty days of exercise. Thirty days of abstinence. Thirty days of soup.

In the pursuit of forming new habits, the ultimate goal remains unchanged: to transform behavior without fundamentally changing oneself. It is widely believed that through consistent repetition, habits can be ingrained, seamlessly becoming part of our daily routines in just twenty-one days. This phenomenon is evident every January 1st when fitness gym memberships soar to all-time highs. However, when day twenty-two arrives and the allure of the sofa outweighs that of the treadmill, the reward of exercise loses its appeal in the comfort of one's living room. Yet, if February 1st finds you stepping foot into Bob's Fitness Center at 6:05 AM, you are well on your way to a healthier heart and a more positive mindset.

While the ambition of cooking and consuming soup every day may seem trivial in comparison to the exertion of attending a snowy morning yoga class or resisting the temptation of a glass of Pinot Grigio during "Dry January," the underlying purpose and benefits of such an endeavor are parallel. By creating and adhering to healthy lifestyle habits, we affirm our inner strength and motivation for change, even if that change involves savoring a tantalizing Le Creuset Dutch Oven filled with roasted tomato soup and homemade cheese croutons instead of the customary Tuesday night burger and fries.

"Thirty days of soup" serves as a metaphor for togetherness and familial bonds. The simple command, "Alexa, save this recipe," often echoes through the kitchens of my household. Mouthwatering visuals of desserts, salads, appetizers, and complete meals grace the screen of our beloved Alexa, inspiring us to embark on culinary adventures. One person wields the knife while another carefully measures ingredients, resulting in a bustling kitchen island adorned with an array of provisions, an InstaPot humming with anticipation, and a symphony of utensils clattering in harmony (often accompanied by the familiar voice of Gordon Ramsay in the background). This collective effort yields nourishment, as recipes of easy pea soup, lentil soup, roasted carrot soup, and creamy chicken orzo soup enter the realm of possibility, tantalizing our taste buds with their culinary delights.

The Nostalgic Roots of Soup:

My affinity for soup stretches back to my childhood, where I frequently indulged in Ukrainian beet-based red borscht. In those days, my sisters and I would eagerly assist our mother in cleaning and dicing the freshly harvested beets from our garden. As we worked, we shared stories from our day at school or discussed current events. It was a habit easily made and kept, one that fostered not only conversation and camaraderie but also the creation of hearty pots of homemade soup.

Traditional borscht

In the realm of habit formation, the power of repetition cannot be underestimated. Whether it's committing to a daily workout routine or embarking on the journey of "Thirty Days of Soup," the rewards lie not only in the immediate benefits but also in the discovery of our own inner strength and determination.

“Would anyone like another bowl of chicken noodle soup?”