A collection of soups

The dictionary definition of soup is:

 "A liquid food made by boiling or simmering meat, fish or vegetables with various added ingredients".

Soup has long been a mainstay for many cultures. From complicated, aromatic versions such as the Vietnamese Pho or Italian Minestrone, which are basically a meal in a bowl to elegant Japanese Miso or watercress, to whet your appetite before the main event.

I think part of soup's appeal is the ease it can be made with. Just throw everything into a pot and leave it stew merrily on its own.

Another Mexican soup - this one's hot and spicy.

It's always the same, so they say, wait ages for something and then two come along in quick succession. Predictable cliches aside, some flavours seem to resonate and you find that you want to taste them again and again. Chili is addictive. Apparently your body produces lots of endorphins to counteract the capsaicin. In other words, your brain fights the pain with pleasure, therefore, a mild euphoria leads to the desire for another hit. Even though my forehead is sweating, my nose beginning to run and my mouth burning, I still want to nibble another small piece from that chipotle chili. I used a can of chilies in adobo sauce easily found in any supermarket in North America. Yes, the sauce is very hot, but the chilies have a fruitiness to them which is very prominent and doesn't get overwhelmed by the heat as so many do.