I love to cook and try new foods and recipes. I try to do my best to incorporate healthy foods, but sometimes I need a little comfort food.

Our Family Soup Recipes

Until recently, I never knew January was National Soup Month. Now that I know about it, it's a cause for celebration! Let's seize on every opportunity to celebrate something.

While it might not be a widely or universally celebrated holiday, it is appropriate for this month. In the Northern Hemisphere, things are chilling down and there is nothing like a nice hot soup to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I am going to share some old family recipes with you. As a bonus, I am going to share a recipe concocted by me. Someday, it may be an old family recipe.

At least one of the following soup recipes is going to seem a little strange to you—but trust me, you will love it. All are super easy to make and require only a minimum of ingredients. In fact, you might very well have all the ingredients you need on hand right now and be able to run off and make yourself a bowl of warm hearty goodness.

1. Sauerer Sahne Soupe (Sour Cream Soup)

When I was a little girl, I watched my grandmother and my aunt eat this soup. To me, the whole idea was a turn-off. Once I tried it as an adult, however, I was pleasantly surprised. It doesn't sound good, but it actually is very good.

The sour cream (sauerer sahne) turns the water into a rich cream soup and the rye bread add zest. Try it. You have nothing to lose.

This is a quick and simple soup. It is a great recipe if you are making it for one person. If you want to make it for more than one person, simply multiply it.

Ingredients

• 1 slice of stale or toasted rye bread
• 3 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 cup water boiled

Instructions

1. If your rye bread is not stale and hard, toast it. Pour 1 cup of boiling water into a soup bowl. Add the rye bread. Top with a dollop of sour cream.
2. Done! Eat!

2. Butter Dumpling (Schwämschen) Soup

These are little dumplings full of buttery deliciousness. Our family always called them Schwämshchen. If you do an internet search for "German butter dumplings" you will find them called "Butternocken."

Traditionally, they are dropped in chicken soup or beef broth.

Our family came to the United States in the early 1900s. My great aunt used this recipe for dumplings but dropped them in Campbell's vegetable soup.

Again, this recipe is for one serving. It is quick and easy and can be easily multiplied.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of broth or soup
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine (softened)
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 1 egg
• salt and nutmeg

Instructions

1. Cream butter or margarine. Add egg. Blend well.
2. Gradually add flour.
3. Add salt and nutmeg to taste. (Start with 1/4 teaspoon salt and an 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg. You can add more on your next batch if desired.)
4. Put soup or broth on the stove and bring to a boil.
5. Drop the batter into the boiling soup by the teaspoon full. Simmer approximately 8 minutes.

Photo Guide for Butter Dumpling Recipe

Basic ingredients. The nutmeg is optional.

1 / 6

3. Potato Pickle Soup

This is not an old family recipe. Maybe someday, it will be.

It was developed by me after I tasted it in a restaurant. You can tell it is one of mine as it uses ready-made soup as the base.

Ingredients

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 dill pickles, diced
• 4 small potatoes, diced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 can Campbell's Condensed Cream of Potato Soup
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 cup water
• 1 soup can of milk
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Saute onions in butter until light yellow. Add carrots and potatoes and a cup of water and bay leaves. Cook until they are half soft.
2. Add slices of pickles, soup and soup can full of milk. Keep cooking until veggies reach desired softness. Add pepper and stir and stir in parsley.

Please Comment

What's your favorite? Do you think you will try these? All soup opinions are welcome!

© 2012 Ellen Gregory

Do you enjoy a nice bowl of soup?

HairBowHanna on December 07, 2012:

It's the best way to warm up on a cold, winter's day! And not bad cold, either (I'm having squash soup for lunch right now!)

Kristen from Wisconsin on July 26, 2012:

I am a soup lover, no matter the time of year! Sometimes people look at me funny when I eat soup in the summer. I absolutely cannot wait to try your dumpling recipe and potato pickle soup recipe!

Ellen Gregory (author) from Connecticut, USA on June 07, 2012:

@lollyj lm: My grandparents made a lot of rich foods -- with lard, cream, bacon fat. They all lived to their 90's --so go figure.

Laurel Johnson from Washington KS on June 07, 2012:

YUM YUM. My grandma made home made potato soup a lot and it was so delicious, but guaranteed to harden arteries after one spoonful. She made her roux out of flour and bacon grease in which onions had been sauteed, then added diced potatoes and crumbled bacon and cream.

Marika from Cyprus on May 21, 2012:

That definitely sounds yummie!

anonymous on May 21, 2012:

I love a mixed veggies soup (tomatoes, onions, potatoes, carrots and green peas is my favorite mix). Then I add some cheese and it makes a complete meal.

jolou on May 21, 2012:

I love homemade soup. I don't really have a favorite as there are so many I enjoy.

Blackspaniel1 on April 23, 2012:

Nice lens

anonymous on March 04, 2012:

The Butter Dumplings sound yummy!

nickirc lm on February 13, 2012:

I love soup, it is hands down the best comfort food.

Fabio Sanna on February 09, 2012:

I need to try this one!

E L Seaton from Virginia on January 25, 2012:

Chicken Noodle is still the one! Keep up the good work.

anonymous on January 23, 2012:

My favourite is tomato soup. I also like most types of vegetable soup. The recipes here are interesting - I've never heard of the sour cream soup and it sounds a bit weird, but I wouldn't mind trying it one day.

normandes on January 22, 2012:

Will try sour soup.

WriterJanis2 on January 21, 2012:

Soup is one of my favorite things to eat.

lilymom24 on January 21, 2012:

I love hot soup on cold days and would really like to try these recipes.