I live in a community that has lots of activities and groups in which we can get involved and do fun things together. One of the activities that I really enjoy is a dining group that cooks and has lunch together at each other’s homes. Each month there are 6-8 hosts that plan the menu according to a special theme. The recipes are then distributed to all the diners to prepare and bring to their host’s home for the meal.
Our recent theme was Soup-er Bowl. It’s that time of year and a nice play on words, but we didn’t have football related foods. The menu featured soup. But, some of the hosts had Super Bowl themed decorations and diners showed up displaying their teams’ colors.

In keeping with the theme, Just for fun and to learn a little more about soups I did a
soup trivia to share with those eating at my house.
I’m sharing some of this trivia with you. How much do your really know about soup?

Q: In which TV series does a character declare “No soup for you!”

A: The iconic quote: “No soup for you!” comes from a 1995 episode of the sitcom
Seinfeld. This episode featured an eccentric soup chef who became known as the Soup Nazi. The chef was known for his delicious soups but he had a zero-tolerance policy for too many questions, mistakes or hesitation from the customer’s ordering. When someone failed to follow his rules, he sternly declared, “No soup for you!” and banned them from his soup stand.

Q: True or false? Lentil soup can be considered vegan.

A: True. The basic ingredients in lentil soup are vegan. It is typically made with olive oil, onion, garlic, carrot, celery, lentils, tomato, water, cumin, paprika and vegetable stock. Some people make it with chicken stock—this would make it not vegan.

Q: Name the traditional Mexican soup often eaten after a night of partying.

A: Menudo. The main ingredients in this soup are beef  tripe (cow stomach), broth,
hominy, lime, onions, cilantro, oregano and red chili peppers. It takes a long to prepare
and is said to be a “cure” for a hangover.

Q: What does “From Soup to Nuts” mean?

A: This phrase originated from Latin and typically means the whole thing from
beginning to end. For centuries, any foods served at the beginning or end of a meal
stood for the entire thing: the start and finish and everything in between. This
expression was from eggs to apples and from pottage to cheese. In the United States in the middle of the 20th century, the expression developed into “from soup to nuts.” At many meals, soup is often the first course and a dessert with nuts is sometimes the last. However, the expression does not have to refer food. It could be the selection of a variety of goods for sale or classes offered.

Q: What is the primary vegetable in Vichyssoise soup?

A: Leeks. Vichyssoise, a cold potato and leek soup, has been a staple of French-American cuisine for nearly a century. It is typically made with a combination of potatoes, leeks, onions, and cream, which are pureed together to create a smooth, creamy texture. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is often credited with popularizing Vichyssoise in the United States.

Q: What does the idiom “Duck soup” mean?

A: Something very easy to do.

Q: What is the base of the traditional Greek soup Avgolemono?

A: Chicken broth, lemon, and eggs. As a soup, avgolemono usually starts
with chicken broth, though meat, fish, or vegetable broths can be used.
Typically, rice, orzo or pastina are cooked in the broth before a mixture of eggs and
lemon is added.

Q: What is the moral of the “Stone Soup” story?
"Stone Soup" is a European folk tale in which hungry strangers convince the people of a town to each share a small amount of their food in order to make a meal. The story
goes that the soup was started with boiling a stone in water and the others added bits and pieces of foods until it made an edible soup out of nothing. The moral: Working together can accomplish more and benefit everyone.

Q: What does the phrase “in the soup” mean?

A: It means to be in trouble or in a difficult situation. The phrase "in the soup" is a colloquial expression used to describe a state of difficulty or trouble. It is similar to saying one is in a tight spot or a sticky situation. For example, if someone has made a mistake they might say, "I'm really in the soup now", implying they are having problems.
Similar expressions include "in a pickle", "in a jam", and "in hot water".

Q: In which Shakespeare play is soup mentioned?

A: Macbeth (in the form of “cauldron broth”).  In the play, the witches are shown
stirring a cauldron and mixing lots of horrid ingredients. The phrase “Double, double toil and trouble" also comes from this play.

No matter what team you’re cheering for in the Super Bowl, enjoy it with a comforting Soup-er Bowl.

Syracuse is a Family and Consumer Science team member and can be reached at NC Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County Center 910-253-2610 or by email at clsyracu@ncsu.edu