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Monday, December 21, 2009

How to go from zero to soup in 5 easy steps - PRINTABLE GUIDE

I have a special something for you. It's not a giveaway or a product review (boring), it's a tool to help you throw dinner together with whatever is in your fridge and cupboard. I have put together a guide on how to go from zero to soup with anything in your pantry and fridge. Really, anything. My sister Megan has provided us with a printable version of this guide so that you can have it taped inside your pantry cupboard or on your fridge.


Soup is one of my go-to meals and I want it to be one of yours too. A reader friend named Erin e-mailed me and asked what my go-to meals are and I listed soup. But I wanted her to be able to make it as easily as possible. And a printable guide was born. After writing, editing, adding and changing, I have come up with a 5 step guide on how you can go from empty pot to soup in less than an hour.

I hope this helps you be more comfortable in putting together a delicious, hearty soup using what you and yours like best. Homemade soup is very flexible and that is why it's one of my go-tos and I want it to be one of yours as well. So print off this guide and count it as a Christmas present from me to you.

As an essential note, I must let you know that this guide is property of me. I wrote it and I developed it. It is mine and my sister and I worked hard on it. Please do not steal this and call it your own. You are welcome to link to it and you are welcome to print this off. But if I find it the content of this guide on the internet somewhere with some idiot claiming it as their own, I am not going to be too happy. And plus, then I won't want to do the other guides I have simmering in my head. Like a guide for a pasta and cream sauce out of anything. So please, do not abuse this. Use it for personal use only. If you have any questions about this guide or how to use it, please do not hesitate to e-mail me. I really do respond. Ask the people that e-mail me for cooking help. Complete strangers, yet we end up friends by the end of our correspondence. whitney_leigh_ingram@yahoo.com

As you read this, I am on my way to Southern California for Christmas. I hope that you and your family enjoy the holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thank you to my dear friends for help on editing this and giving me great feedback. Ashley of Bird on the Lawn, Kalli of My Life As A Kalli and Lindsey of Cafe Johnsonia. And extra special thanks to my mother and Megan for their insight.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

The timing of this post is pretty perfect. I have been wanting to make homemade soups lately, and even have the ingredients, but I've been a little gun-shy. I think it will be too complicated and take too long. So I continue to procrastinate. I am so excited you have put together this guide and now it doesn't seem so scary. Thanks for doing this and I look forward to giving it a go. I'll let you know how it goes when I do. Have a great Christmas!

{natalie} said...

thanks for the guide. you know i am a soup fan.

and i will attest that you will email back!

i hope you guys have a great Christmas. Enjoy the warm weather

Barbara Bakes said...

What a wonderful guide! I'm planning on making soup once a week this winter so this will be a great resource!

Kalli said...

I'd like to thank myself for adding absolutely nothing because your brilliance stands alone.

You're welcome, you're welcome.

Melanie said...

Whitney - you are amazing! Not only is the guide to soup aesthetically charming but wow, is it ever thorough and helpful. You really are a master in the kitchen!

Unknown said...

Trying this right now (leftover glazed ham, fire roasted corn, and potatoes with the aromatics and garden herb combination)....I love the format. Thanks!

L said...

Gracias dear Rookie! Enjoy the authentic Mexican food in Socal.

Erin L said...

thank you! I've been waiting for this and I am so excited that you posted it. I am SURE I'm going to share this on my private family website, but don't worry, I'll link back to you. I think we'll have soup tonight. mmmmm....

Anonymous said...

Perfect! I love making soups to save up for a rainy, or I guess now I should say, snowy day. What a great guide, thanks!

;) amy

Jessica said...

I just printed this out for my little sister who is a new mommy. It's pretty awesome, Rookie. I'll be printing it out for myself when I get back to SoCal later this week. I hope the drive went well and that you didn't feel the need to pull out all your hair. That drive can be difficult sometimes.

ec said...

thank you, whitney. that beautiful guide is now residing on the inside of my cupboard. and it is happy there. it will be well loved.

merry christmas!

Jena said...

Fabulous! Thank you for sharing your knack in the cupboard. I'm going to work some magic with this little piece of Rookie soup paper taped to my Frigidaire.

Rabid said...

I just received a phone message from the Winder. I should really figure out a way to record it and send it your way. Here's what she said:

"Hi! It's just me. Nothing of serious value. I called to tell you that thanks to Rookie Cookie's soup guide, I just made an awesome soup. Bye."

Now that should feel good. People all over the nation are phoning each other over your soup guide.

Take that Tiger Woods. Your news is old now thanks to the Rookie's Soup Guide.

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Thanks! I couls use this. Unlike yourself I'm not comfortable just throwing things into pot as I haven't quite gotten the hang what tastes good together (other than the obvious). Looking forward to your other guides.
~ingrid