As a child, autumn was the season of the aroma of roasted butternut browning in the oven and the whir of the handheld blender smoothing it into a silky orange medley of in-season fall ingredients. When I started living on my own as a junior in college, the only soup I would consume was a small slurp encased within Trader Joe’s frozen soup dumplings. I would feel the warm broth through my bones, but only for a split second, as most of the dumplings had exploded and had barely any broth left within. When I went home that year for the first time, my food requests were butternut bisque and chicken noodle soup.
This year, I am taking matters into my own hands. No longer do I have to wait to go home to warm my soul with  savory broth. I realized this semester that not only is soup the ultimate meal prep meal, but the process of making and consuming it is the ultimate homesickness cure.Â
This fall, I have made two different soups, both inspired by Pinterest sweeps and TikTok scrolls. Despite my inclination to follow the recipe, I have always had a knack for creating my own recipes. I take bits and bobs of anything in the fridge and find a way to blend them together in a perfect amalgamation of savory goodness. The first soup that I made this semester was a blend of lentils, canned tomatoes sent from my mom from home, curry, and cumin. I threw in some other random ingredients, and it was perfect. The soup lived in Tupperware containers in my fridge the rest of the week. After a late night out, it was perfect in a pinch. Every dinnertime, I would spice it up by adding some feta or even fresh herbs.
The next soup I decided to make is one I saw in the various “favorite soup compilations” on my TikTok ForYou Page, “Avgolemono”. This soup is a Greek chicken soup. It is honestly one of the most incredible meals I have ever made for myself. The soup is hearty, warming, and comforting with a base of rice and chicken stock. However, the freshness of the lemon and sprigs of fresh dill on top add a lightness to the soup that balances the flavor profile perfectly.
What started as a simple idea to meal prep for the week has become my favorite part of the week. Next week, I am taking a page out of my mother’s book. I will be making the nostalgic butternut bisque that defined my childhood autumn. As I grocery shopped, I felt a sense of deja vu, remembering going to the store with my mother as a child watching her toss the same ingredients into the cart that I handled now.
Fall has always been my favorite season. I find myself the most content when I am bundled up in a sweater, cuddled under my blankets, sipping tea or soup, and lighting a candle. This feeling of comfort was one I have tried to capture since going to college. The process of making and consuming my soup provides me with an intense level of comfort and hominess that makes me think of my mom.
I can’t wait to explore more recipes close to my heart and try new things that I have no experience with.
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