soup's on.(health)(Brief Article)

Come in from the cold and warm up with healthful homemade soups

January is here and "Old Man Winter" is guaranteed to make a few visits over the next few months in the form of cold, arctic air and blustery snowfalls. While there's nothing that can be done about the outside temperature, it's easy to make the atmosphere warm and inviting at home. One of the best ways to beat the freeze is to have a big pot of homemade soup simmering on the stove. Many people, however, are afraid to make their own because they think they just don't have enough time. Yes, most soups need to simmer for an hour or two, but they don't need to be watched every minute. While the ingredients slowly meld, one can be off doing laundry, cleaning the house, or even reading a good book. And, at the end of an hour, there are lunches for the whole week. But perhaps the best part of making homemade soup is the nutritional value. Think about it: most soups are low in fat and contain several types of vegetables, beans and legumes--an easy way to incorporate a wide assortment of vitamins and minerals into your diet.

SHORT CUTS

Certainly opening a can of soup is easier than preparing your own, but the taste just can't compare (and let's not even mention the outrageous sodium content of most canned soups).

There's no mystery to making a hearty soup or warming bisque. The difficult part is the prep work, and even that can be made easier with some shortcuts. First, don't stress about making stock from scratch. It can be very satisfying, but really, most of us don't have the patience it takes to make homemade stock. A more practical option is to use canned. Gone are the days when pre-made stock meant flavorless broth with a whopping sodium content. Today there are several good brands of low-sodium stock (minus the MSG that traditionally was present in many ready-made varieties) available at your health food store.

Another timesaving trick is to use canned beans instead of soaking and cooking your own. Organic and sodium-free varieties are readily available; just open the can, rinse the beans and you're all set.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER