When the weather turns cold and wet, and everyone around you seems to be snuffling or sneezing, it's a good time to protect yourself with a hearty bowl of soup.

There's something about hot soup that makes me feel better when I'm battling the seasonal sniffles.  There is some scientific evidence that chicken noodle soup does help you feel better.  I believe it's a combination of the hot, steamy liquid with the soft vegetables and the chunks of chicken, anchored by thick egg noodles, that promotes healing.  Even if it can't be validated, it makes me feel better just spooning it down, accompanied by corn muffins or a slice of sourdough.

So I made a big batch of homemade chicken soup.  It's easy:  about 6-8 cups of water, some raw chicken breasts or thighs (you can also use cooked chicken, but the bones impart some extra flavor to the soup stock), chopped carrots, onions and celery.  Heat to boiling and simmer for an hour or so.  About 15 minutes before serving, toss in a handful of noodles and cook until they are al dente, or soft as Italian pasta.  Season to taste.  You can add garlic, which also promotes well-being.  This soup can be frozen and reheated.  If it thickens too much when it's refrigerated, just add more liquid.  It's usually eaten within a day.

On a roll, I next made beef noodle soup with leftover pot roast and added some potatoes near the end of the simmer stage, and that was a big hit, too.  On to split pea soup, which couldn't be easier, especially since I had a big piece of cooked ham that needed to be reworked into something. Split pea and lentil soup are exceptionally hearty, and are stand-alone meals in themselves.

Next up for my soup kitchen efforts is some kind of curry.  Curry is one of those spices that really heats you up, and if you like the flavor of curry, there is no end to what you can add.  I've included apples, coconut, some peanuts for garnish, sweet potatoes and green beans, along with slivers of chicken.  Curry in soup just makes me feel good.  The hotter the curry, the better!

Finally, there's the southwest twist on chicken noodle soup.  It's a chicken soup stock, heavily flavored with plenty of fresh lime juice, subbing out pieces of tortilla instead of noodles, and stirring in some fresh chiles, chopped into spicy little bits.  This is a soup with meat on its bones, so to speak, and it will keep you warm and full all through autumn. 

Does anyone have a soup that works wonders when you've got a cold?  And, what ingredients do you like to include in your homemade soup?