Sharon Hapton - The Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers Cookbook: More than 100 Heart-Warming Seasonal Recipes for You to Cook at Home

Copyright 2014 Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers
Illustrations 2014 Pierre A. Lamielle All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication, reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of the publisheror in the case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, license from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agencyis an infringement of the copyright law. Appetite by Random House colophon is a registered trademark Library and Archives of Canada Cataloguing in Publication is available upon request
ISBN: 978-0-449-01642-8
eBook ISBN: 978-0-449-01643-5 Cover design: Leah Springate
Cover image: Shallon Cunningham, Salt Photography
Food photography and styling: Julie Van Rosendaal
Snowflakes on Published in Canada by Appetite by Random House, a division of Random House of Canada Limited, a Penguin Random House company www.randomhouse.ca v3.1 I ts been two years since the publication of our first cookbook. I am profoundly grateful to youour thousands of Canadian supporters and volunteersand to Random House for helping make it a best-seller! The proceeds from sales have helped us to keep the soup flowing. The Soup Sisters Cookbook was such a success, Im thrilled were launching The Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers Cookbook, packed with 114 of our favorite new soup recipes donated by volunteers, chefs and food celebrities from across Canada.

As in our first book, here youll find soups for fall, winter, spring and summer so that, whatever the season, theres a soup to suit. If youre a newbie soup maker, youll want to check out the tips and techniques up front. Most of the recipes serve between four and eight people, depending, of course, on the size of your appetite. Soup leftovers are perfect for freezing and weve included instructions for how to do that, too. The Soup Sisters organization has been on an incredible journey of growth and evolution since our first book was published. In more than 20 cities across Canada, women (Soup Sisters) and men (Broth Brothers) are now cooking up about 10,000 servings of soup each month for women, children and youth in crisis.

Soup Sisters has a twofold mandate: to nurture and nourish women and children whose lives have been affected by domestic abuse and family violence, and to provide soup for youth aged 16 to 24 who are transitioning from street culture into mainstream society. Anonymity is critically important in the shelters that help women and children who are escaping domestic violence, so we have little direct contact with those recipients. But we know from shelter managers and support staff that the soup is warming not only the stomachs but also the hearts of those often facing the worst crisis in their lives. The youth we support write us beautiful and heartwarming letters. They even request their favorite soups. Its so satisfying to know that our gesture of support and message of care have earned their trust.

The soup we make is not a form of charity. Its offered as a sign of respect that recognizes the determination, strength and integrity of young people who are moving from survival on the streets to independence in mainstream society. Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers believe in the potential of all young people. We send them this message with every bowl of soup we deliver. We hope this form of nurturing helps them on their journey to build a better life for themselves. We strive to debunk the myths surrounding young people on the streets and are honored to have the opportunity to let them know they matter.

One of the agencies we support is The Doorway in Calgary, an organization dedicated to helping young people leave street life. According to the agencys executive director, Marilyn Dyck, the soups we deliver each month have provided warmth and nourishment, welcomed youth in stormy and calm weather, generated conversations between participants and volunteers, and been taken home by young people to comfort them when a paycheck is just barely enough to pay the rent. As Marilyn told me: Soup from Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers provides healthy, warm meals and is a token of your commitment to young people. It also gives The Doorway a valued opportunity to meet with Calgarians who share a passion for young people. That our intention is received and understood as we intend is the greatest gift Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers could ever get. When I launched Soup Sisters in 2009, I had no idea that such a simple idea would put me at the helm of a thriving national organization.

I no longer have time to make soup at home! I never imagined that providing a hug in a bowl would extend so far beyond the care and comfort contained in each delicious serving. Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers have provided a familiar and friendly environmentthe kitchenfor conversation and awareness on domestic violence, bringing this issue to the attention of thousands of people in the communities in which we operate. In the process, Ive learned a lot, too. Ive learned that busy people are still hungry for a hands-on way to contribute if theyre offered a manageable time frame. When they see the results of just one evenings teamworkall those pots of hearty soupthey know theyve made a tangible difference in peoples lives and had fun doing it. The experience leaves a lasting impression that often entices their friends and family to join us for an evening or two.

Ive learned that men and women are equally innately nurturing. Our Broth Brothers have become an integral and valuable part of our soup-making events across the country. Men tend to the soup with great commitment and concern, and Im gratified that they find our events inclusive and welcoming. In this way, weve become a safe place for men to take a public stand on ending violence against women and families. Finally, Ive learned that our volunteers have a deeper commitment than even I realized. They never leave our ranks without finding someone to step into their shoes.

Imagine a world where people cherished their importance as a part of something bigger, so that leaving was only an option when they knew someone would take care of things as well as they did. Every month our volunteers guarantee that fresh soup will be delivered to provide nourishing comfort to someone in crisis. These dedicated men and women have become more than volunteers to me. I consider them true friends of the highest order, and I thank them for their dedication and friendship. In this book our volunteers have shared their rich perspectives on the making, sharing and giving of soup (,). I think that, at some point, the soup maker and the soup recipient become one.

We all need nurturing and we all need to nurture others. At Soup Sisters we believe that wherever there is a shelter for women, children or youth in crisis, there should be a Soup Sisters chapter. Sadly, shelters exist everywhere, in cities large and small. But fortunately, caring men and women are there, too, looking to make a tangible difference to individual lives and to the larger issues of tackling violence against women and children, and giving youth at risk a chance. If you would like to start a local chapter, please contact us at . Yours in soup,