Saturday, January 3, 2026

Run Out Soup


Every so often I’m reminded that this blog began when my newlywed daughters were in the habit of calling for recipes … almost 17 years ago!

The reminders come when I manage to make something that I want to remember, as I did last night. Don was recovering from a routine colonoscopy, so I wanted to make something easy on his stomach using homemade rotisserie chicken broth …













I was of a mind to make Brunswick Stew, but belatedly realized I was out of potatoes. So I thought I’d pivot to tortilla soup, but I was also out of poblano peppers and cilantro (oh the joys of restocking after going out of town).

Then it came to me that I had just bought fresh corn and coconut milk (which is not usual for me, but for some reason I had picked it up at the store). Combined with onions, celery, grape tomatoes, a sweet potato, chipotle powder, salt and pepper, I had just what I needed to create a chicken soup riff on Rundown Chowder. Which turned out pretty darn well …



All that was left to decide was what to call it … Don, wag that he is, suggested Run Out Soup. And so it is. I do think I’ll add some poblanos and thyme for the next go round, but otherwise the “recipe” (sorry, no amounts) should be good to go in the future, whether I’ve “run out” of ingredients or not.

P.S. Fortunately, we did have some tortilla chips in the pantry that added the requisite crunch that I always crave with soups … and salads, and sandwiches. Ha!

10 comments:

  1. When I make soup in a situation similar to yours, we call it "refrigerator soup"... Whatever's in the fridge (or freezer or shelf) goes in the pot!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of my all-time favorite pasta dishes was cobbled together the night before we moved from Virginia to Texas … truly a “refrigerator” combo

      Delete
  2. When my mother would make a grab bag salad at the end of a grocery rhythm, she called it Garbage Salad. This soup is way too elevated for that! Looks delicious. Dee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dee - To be fair, it was the beginning of the shopping cycle. I do sometimes think I should make a shopping list on the day we leave on vacation so that I know what to buy when we get back. Haven't done it yet, but if I had, there wouldn't be a new recipe for the blog. So there's that.

      Delete
  3. Liz~ Aw, what a creative cook you are and a kind caretaker for Don too. 🤞 for good test results. I love seeing what recipes you come up with. ~Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks ... I do hate waiting for biopsy results ... as you well know

      Delete
  4. I can't wait to try this soup! I haven't been here at our blog for a long time. It is enlightening in ways I aspire to :-) I am getting back to finishing Braiding Sweetgrass... I'm telling you because this blog is a akin to an honor-the-earth and human body ethos that I need to be reminded of. Through art and words. Be well! xo Maggie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maggie - I have to laugh … there hasn’t been much blog here for a long time! It’s good to be back and to have you here, too.

      Braiding Sweetgrass is such a good read, one that I keep by my bedside to return to again and again … it is an honor to have my humble words invoked in the same sentence. I will try my best to live up to it!

      Delete
  5. Hi Liz and Happy New Year! It's been a minute since I checked in, and this soup recipe looks yummy. My husband is very ill with so many ailments since getting his second round of Covid shots. The list is so long and debilitating for him, and has been in and out of the hospital the last several months. As has my ex-husband whom I'm still really good friends with. Been balancing them both along with my babysitting which is my saving Grace. Easton turned 2 in October and is talking up a storm. So much to catch up on, I wonder if I will ever blog again. I hope so. My nights are filled with making and creating before bed. It really relaxes me. Happy New Year to you and Don and your beautiful family. xoxoxox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deb - I’m so sorry to hear that your guys continue to have such serious medical challenges … and goodness, how is Easton already two?! It seems like yesterday that you joined the grandparent club.

      I’m glad that your making and creating continue on … and wonder if you are doing so while wrapped in your temperature blanket (which sounds odd, but you know what I mean) … I’m sure you have a better name for it

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Blogger likes to default to Anonymous, so please consider adding your name to the end of your message or switch to one of the other options.