A culinary theme and variations, with the theme being a simple and hearty chicken soup.“Soup and Variations” is many recipes rolled into one, or you could say, one recipe expanded into many. The basic soup is explained with a short ingredient list and simple but explicit instructions. If you’ve never made soup before, this is for you. You will be successful on your first try.This is followed by a long list of alternative and additional ingredients, some of which are explored in some depth. Different combinations are suggested, as is the “Try it and see what you get” approach. Where helpful, there are cautionary notes: (“Don’t rub your eyes after handling hot chilies.”)The final section is the variations. While a change in ingredients could be considered a variation, these involve different methods of preparing the soup as well as specific combinations, substitutions and emphasis that yield significantly different results.All in all, this will be the jumping off point for a wide range of soups, stews, and many other recipes, as your creative juices get inspired. There is enough hand-holding for the new beginner, and more practiced cooks will be reminded of combinations and techniques they may have missed.
