Sharon shared a simple, and simply delicious, recipe for an Italian Pasta soup with me the other day. I made it on Saturday night. As I
was putting the ingredients in the pot, I was thinking about the Oak Park Farmers Market I visited earlier in the day and the stone soup that would be made by a local restaurant with ingredients supplied by the vendors; carrots, turnips, beans, parsley, thyme, whatever is still being harvested come October 30. They call their final market Stone Soup and hand out cups of soup to patrons, first come, first serve.
An article I read on Oak Park’s Farmers Market’s Stone Soup said the soup is ready at 9 am – and the pot is usually empty by 10! Imagine. Hot, tasty soup on a crisp, maybe even cold, late October morn with the freshest of ingredients served outdoors. Can you see the steam rising from the cup?
Stone Soup
Do you know the story? It is old, very old, and comes as a folk tale with variations from many countries; France, Russia, Japan, Portugal, to name just a few. The basic story is that someone(s) come into a village, hungry, tired, perhaps poor, and ask for some food, usually carrying a big empty pot. The villagers refuse to feed them until the crafty soldiers or monk or whomever the protagonist is, set the pot on a fire, put water in the pot and add a stone or an axe or a nail, and proceed to make soup, admitting it would be so much better with seasoning. No matter who tells the story, no matter what language is spoken, a villager always offers up a carrot or potato or turnip to sweeten the pot. Not to be outdone, others ante up with whatever they have and sure as rain a tasty soup is quickly simmering and all are fed, especially the crafty fellow who wandered into the village that day.
Sharon’s recipe was outstanding and we have leftovers for another day. She and I are always sharing recipes and my life is more flavorful is so many ways for knowing her.
I was thinking about stone soup while the pot of Italian Pasta soup started to boil. I was pondering how much better our world would be if we each started a pot of stone soup to share with folks who are hungry or weary. Don’t you agree?
What ingredient would you give to a stone soup today?
My garden is almost a thing of the past. I guess I could add a few onions hiding among the still green tomato plants.
How my boys loved the story of Stone Soup! I can remember them taking an ingredient to school to make it so I know they read it there too.
Whenever I see “Oak Park” I think of my friend who lived there for many years. She moved to warmer climes (Arizona) many moons ago. My oldest granddaughter was born in St. Charles, IL when they lived in Aurora. They too moved (16 years ago) but only to Kansas City which is much closer to us and our second grandchild was born a few months later.
Onions would give it great flavor.
Isn’t Stone Soup a wonderfully old and always relevant tale? I’m glad your boys were so acquainted with it.
How nice that you now have these grandchildren close. Oak Park and St. Charles are both wonderful communities. I visit them both when I can. Enjoy those grands.
Of course I know the book Stone Soup. The soup sounds delicious. Maybe I’ll make some myself. When I was a Scout leader, we used to make a Cub Scout stew that was made on the same idea. We instructed the kids to either bring fresh fruit or vegetables or bring a can of something. It was all thrown together and heated in a large pot for us all. We ended up with a very delicious and unusual stew. It had everything a regular stew had plus peaches and pineapple. I was surprised, but the boys liked it. Of course, boys will usually eat anything made over a campfire.
I just love soup. I had leftovers tonight and it was even better. The addition of peaches and pineapple is intriguing, Janet. It must give the soup some sweetness. While I didn’t have a son, I was invited to a Cub Scout dinner at the grade school our girls went to, and they had the best stew – it would have been even more so over a campfire, I’m sure.
I can imagine the rush to get to the market in time to have a serving of their Stone Soup Penny, I would certainly like to try it. I love soups, especially thick soups. I never knew the story of Stone Soup growing up but do remember reading it to our children.
I may try to get there, Marilyn. I love all kinds of soup, and, yes, sometimes a good, thick soup or chowder hits the spot. There are so many versions of the story, any one will do. Thank you.
I love this post:-) Full of gentle camaraderie.I had completely forgotten this lovely story.
I’d put in the last courgettes of the year from my garden. They are monsters.
Thank you. Oh, the courgettes would be good. I had to look them up – googled them, and they are what we call zucchini here and are now monstrous in size as well.
Nothing like a good homemade soup Penny. I knew a dear old Irish nun who used to say ‘there’s as much eatin’ as there is drinkin’ in my soup’ and it was good! Stone Soup is a great old story.. a goody for acting out.
I love that Irish phrase! The sign of good soup, indeed. I made it with my first graders when I taught many moons ago and we acted it out as each child put their contribution in. I’d forgotten that part – thanks for reminding me, Joan.
How wonderful to know that stone soup is still being made. I discovered the story recently, when I was writing my latest book Dancing with the Seasons, and I put the story into one of the winter chapters. I enjoyed your telling of the story, and took pleasure in another ‘tasty’ blog from you. Thank you, Penny.
Thank you, Juliet. I agree. It was fun to see it on the schedule for this farmer market. A great story for your winter chapters I am sure.
You are making me hungry for the pasta soup and the Greek vegetable stew. Will you share your recipes, so I can try to get Jerry to make them. You and Sharon are both such good cooks.
Thank you, Bev.
The pasta soup is good and easy and I’ll send you the recipe, Bev. The vegetable stew is another story. I don’t have a recipe. I just do it. I’ll tell you what is in it then, you and Jerry will be on your own. I’m smiling. You, asking me for recipes “so I can try to get Jerry to make them.”! tee hee
I’m glad you liked my Pasta Soup, we really liked it and it was so easy…..I have another easy one without the pasta from Paula Deen with Zuchinni. I love soup, hot soup on a cold windy day and we have plenty of them. Bring on the cold weather my Soup Pot is ready…..
We loved it. I reappeared as a leftover last night. You and I are in the same boat, er, I mean pot in our love of soup, Sharon. Thank you for sharing.