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Sunday, May 16, 2010

I'm The Guy Who Makes Stone Soup..


Perhaps you remember the old parable of the Russian soldier who came to town one day, starving.. to shorten the story, he kept getting the villagers to add to his stone soup..nothing but a rock and water- until there was enough ingredients to actually have a soup they could all share and enjoy... I love this story, for many reasons..it shows what can be made from little, if we all work together!
I make a lot of "stone soups"...something from nothing- which is what a lot of folks consider leftovers! A jar of Alfredo sauce, a splash of Champagne vinegar, Parmesan and Romano grated, a can of mushrooms, some cherry tomatoes sliced, left over chicken breasts sliced and diced..over fettuccine..stone soup pasta! Don't turn your nose up at leftovers..might be the best meal you ever had!
I love this kind of challenge..I wish the Food Channel had one for guys and gals like us!

41 comments:

Liz Mays said...

I love that story! I wish I could make something from nothing, but alas, I'll order out instead.

buffalodick said...

Blue V- I live that story! It means so much to me!

Tracie said...

I like that challenge too - even if I'm not very good at it.

There used to be a radio show on NPR where people would call in and tell the host (can't remember her name) the food items they had in the house and she would tell them what to create. I loved to listen.

Mike said...

I am good at looking in the cabinet and throwing things together when it first appears that there is nothing to eat.

Brian Miller said...

and this is the write up for the back of the book...

Kate said...

I love to use leftovers and make something fun! This one looks amazing! I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my black bean and corn "salsa" other than throwing it in my lunchtime salad. But I think that's where it's going tomorrow! So far, it's been a side dish, quesadillas, heated with with cheese for tortilla chips and some just eaten out of the bowl.

Akelamalu said...

It's a legend in our family that my grandmother could make a meal from a dishcloth! ;)

Sheri said...

so curious as to where you come up with your imaginative way of cooking? my mouth starts to water the moment i see the photo you've posted...and i'm hooked until the very last morsel of food is swiped from the plate, with a piece of artisan bread!! your post was delicious and now i'm going so that i can rummage through my own frig and see what i can come up with...thanks so much for the push ;)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

would love to try some of your stone soup

very delicious post!

Martie said...

I'm so hungry now...

Heff said...

Never heard the "stone soup" story, but i AM familiar with slappin' a lot of leftovers together !

buffalodick said...

Tracie- Sounds like my kind of radio show!
otin- It's fun and cost effective...
Brian- It would, wouldn't it?
Kate- To vary what we eat can be a trick, too...
Ake- I like that!
sheri- It's almost like a game, where the winner gets dinner!
Jingle- Tonight, it will be soup and grilled cheese..simple but a perfect pairing!
Marty- Welcome! I guess I'm a foodie...
Heff- They can be better than the original meal!

Mona said...

Ah! That used to be my favorite story told to us by mom!

But I guess, that the stone might actually have some minerals to provide some tinge of flavor!

At least I would like to believe that!

Donna-FFW said...

I remember that story..

I like the idea of that Food Network show.. it would be interesting to watch.. Pitch it to em, BD!

Marjie said...

Stone Soup was a perennial favorite story around here. All of my soups are pretty much "Whatever I have" soup. There's nothing like it.

Full-On-Forward said...

That my friend is a POSITIVE INSPIRATIONAL story,
that we should all take STOCK of! My bad!

John

buffalodick said...

Mona- I think it might have been one of the first stories I ever heard, where being clever paid off..
Donna- The show "Chopped" is sometimes very unfair..some things just don't go with others..
Marjie- Tonight is tomato soup, with a few extras, along with a grilled cheese sandwich..
John- I just have fun with a little challenge..

The Blonde Duck said...

I've never heard of stone soup.

JihadGene said...

I loved the Stone Soup story too! I think it was even done by Captain Kangaroo between Mr Moose and the bouncing ping pong balls.

buffalodick said...

BlondeD- Simply a fable about making something from virtually nothing..Look it up, you'll enjoy the story!

buffalodick said...

Gene- I thought you were on a mission in N.Korea!!!!Good to have you back!

Sarah said...

Cooking with leftovers is like alchemy - turn that stone into gold.

buffalodick said...

Fingers- Well said!

sage said...

It's a great story--once out west I was able to borrow a large cast iron cooking pot that probably held 10 gallons or so and was suspended from a huge tripod. At a family camp, we had everyone to bring vegetables (a sheepherder supplied lamb) and we cooked it all day and ate it in the evening--it was wonderful.

The Good Cook said...

I love that old parable and like you am an avid maker of stone soups. Never the same and always delicious!

buffalodick said...

sage- Exactly the point of the story!
Good Cook- So fun to create!

Anonymous said...

So love this! Going to have a go at it myself!

buffalodick said...

Ruth- Anyone can do it, and I bet you do it well!

Anonymous said...

I've not ever heard of the stone soup story. Like it. I love leftovers! I'm not as creative as you at creating new dishes, but always make extra of anything to have a couple of days. Always better tasting after the flavors sit overnight in the fridge.

Christo Gonzales said...

nice parable and well played meal.

Velva said...

Stone soup is a wonderful story. You drive home the importance of using leftovers. Soups, and stir fries can make great meals with a little of this, a little of that-

G-Man said...

We had a name for something similar to that...
Mulligan Stew.

Chris said...

Trevor and his class made that last year in 3rd Grade while they read the story.

Your "stone soup" looks great.

Char said...

I've never heard the stone soup story before.....but I'm sure I've made lots of it. Pretty sure not all of them were great....but I can't remember any bad ones.

xoxo

UBERMOUTH said...

I love soups actually,especially hearty vegatable and wonton. But why do they call 'letfovers' soup stone soups?

buffalodick said...

highlander- It's almost a plan here to get two meals out of one..
DogB- A blend of convenience and tasty..
Velva- I saw a statistic that said Americans throw out a large percentage of edible food...what a waste..
G-man- Or Slumgullian....
Chris- I bet those kids had fun!
Char- You get a sense of satisfaction creating from left overs..
Uber- Read the story and you'll know...

Anonymous said...

I love stone soup and your mix of food for stone pasta sounds gourmet to me. Give me leftovers any time...to me the second go around is always best. Love me some pasta.

J-

buffalodick said...

J.J.- Just going to put up another post- gourmet tomato soup and grilled cheese!

Jamie said...

My husband does this and calls it Clean Out The Refrigerator Meal, different name, same results! And everything comes out like a gourmet meal. Yes, there should be a tv show like this!

Chef E said...

This is inspiring me to write a little song about you- I took up my guitar lessons again, and when I read your post at times I feel like singing such a happy song!

MarmiteToasty said...

I prefer 'pebble soup' against stone soup :)

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