Mama's Homemade Recipes for Soup and Stew

It's not so much the thickness like most people seem to think but more that stews are more about the ingredients while soups are more about the broth.

Take for example beef stew. When you think of Beef Stew, you think about beef, potatoes, carrots and those tiny little pearl onions...well besides the cornbread that you use for sopping up the juice!

When you think of vegetable soup, not only do you think about the veggies but also about that wonderful beefy, tomatoie (is tomatoie a word?) broth.

Now, don't get me wrong, no matter whether you are making a soup or a stew, the broth is extremely important.

Every one of the recipes for soup and stew on this site can be made with canned broth if you're in a hurry but, if at all possible, you'll want to make you broth from scratch. No, don't freak out...it's not hard just a little time consuming.

For Homemade Chicken Broth:

One whole chicken or pieces (about 2 1/2 pounds)
2 large carrots, cut into large chuncks
4 stalks of celery cut into large chuncks
1 large onion, skin removed and cut in 4 pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 quarts cold water

Combine all the ingredients in a large stock pot. Slowly bring to a boil; reduce heat. Skim the foam off the top. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.

Cool, remove the meat from the bones. Discard bones; save meat for your soup or stew or freeze to use later. Strain broth, discard the vegetables and seasonings.

For Homemade Beef Stock

4 pounds beef ribs or short ribs
1 large onion, skin removed and cut in 4 pieces)
2 medium carrots, cut in large chunks
4 stalks celery, cut in large chuncks
4 large garlic cloves
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
2 quarts cold water

In a large stockpot put the ribs along with the other ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to medium-low; cover and simmer until the meat and vegetables are tender, about 2 hours.

Cool, remove the meat from the bones. Discard bones; save meat for your soup or stew or freeze to use later. Strain broth, discard the vegetables and seasonings.

Keep in mind when making these recipes for soup or stew that you are going to need plenty of bread for sopping. So, checkout the bread page to learn all about breadmaking.

Enjoy these homemade soup and stew recipes

Homemade Chicken Soup

Homemade Potato Soup

Chili

Vegetable Soup

Brocolli Cheese Soup

Beef Stew

Here are some homemade soup recipes that are not southern cooking but are very good so I thought I'd share them with you anyway:

Italian Wedding Soup


If you'd like some more great homemade soup recipes, visit:
Homemade-Soup-Recipes.com

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