Beautiful Soup

A virus has inhabited our house.

First, my daughter, who can blow her nose with the velocity of an elephant.

Then, my husband, the stoic, who was up all night with a stomach bug and suffered in silence while I slept.

It is my turn. There is one poem I turn to when the world (or, at least, our family) has gone viral: Lewis Carroll's "Beautiful Soup."

The Mock Turtle sings "Beautiful Soup."

'Oh, a song, please, if the Mock Turtle would be so kind,' Alice replied, so eagerly that the Gryphon said, in a rather offended tone, 'Hm! No accounting for tastes! Sing her "Turtle Soup," will you, old fellow?'

The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and began, in a voice sometimes choked with sobs, to sing this: -

'Beautiful Soup, so rich and green,
Waiting in a hot tureen!
Who for such dainties would not stoop?
Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!
Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!

Beau - ootiful Soo - oop!
Beau - ootiful Soo - oop!
Soo - oop of the e - e - evening,
Beautiful, beautiful Soup!

'Beautiful Soup! Who cares for fish,
Game, or any other dish?
Who would not give all else for two
pennyworth only of beautiful Soup?
Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup?

Beau - ootiful Soo - oop!
Beau - ootiful Soo - oop!
Soo - oop of the e - e - evening,
Beautiful, beauti - ful soup!'

'Chorus again!' cried the Gryphon, and the Mock Turtle had just begun to repeat it, when a cry of 'The trial's beginning!' was heard in the distance.

And, to make it even yummier, here is Gene Wilder to sing it for you.



I always feel a little sorry for myself, standing over a pot with a whole chicken and vegetables to make stock when I'm sick. But yesterday, I did not indulge in self-pity. The thought of home-made chicken soup sustained me!

Here is one of our favorite chicken soup recipes, courtesy of Emeril. Note: we use brown rice or no rice at all.

FYI -- My children (teenagers) absolutely  hate when I sing anything, but especially this song. Though, sometimes, my daughter will get caught up in the moment and join in a few verses. 

UPDATE: Writing this post brought up memories from childhood. 

My mother would make a bed on the couch for whoever was sick, so we could watch TV. Her favorite comfort food for sickies wasn't chicken soup, but what we called Jello Juice. I guess, in the days before Gatorade and Pediacare, hot liquid Jello in a mug seemed like a good idea.

And I'm not the only one! Check out this blogger's ode to hot Jello on sick days. 

When you were growing up, what was your favorite sick-day comfort food?

Poetry Friday Recipe for "Beautiful Soup"

It's Friday. And that means my daughter has missed an entire week of school. (My son made it in on Monday and Tuesday.) The flu has hit central Maryland schools hard. So this Friday, I'm thinking about poetry and soup! Here is Lewis Carroll's poem, "Beautiful Soup," from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I think the Mock Turtle was just hungry, not sick, but my vegetable and lentil soup would have filled him up. Scroll down for my Flu Fighter Soup recipe. It has a secret ingredient that gives it a golden color and loosens congestion in the chest. Definitely a beautiful and delicious soup. Beautiful Soup Lewis Carroll BEAUTIFUL Soup, so rich and green, Waiting in a hot tureen! Who for such dainties would not stoop? Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, Beautiful, beautiful Soup! Beautiful Soup! Who cares for fish, Game, or any other dish? Who would not give all else for two Pennyworth only of Beautiful Soup? Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup? Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, Beautiful, beauti--FUL SOUP!

You can listen to the poem here, but my kids are tired of hearing me sing about Beautiful Soup.

Laura's Flu Fighter Soup 1 medium onion, chopped 1 cup dry lentils, rinsed 2-3 tsp. olive oil 6+ cups chicken stock 2-3 large handful spinach leaves, chopped to bite size 3 large carrots, chopped 4 ribs celery, chopped 2 cloves garlic, pressed 2 cups pressed or crushed tomato 2 pinches red pepper flakes 1/2 tsp. ground pepper (or to taste) 1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste) 1/2 tsp. tumeric (*super secret ingredient) 1. Sautee onion and lentils in olive oil until translucent. 2. Add two cups stock. Heat on medium. 3. Add spinach, carrots, celery, and garlic. 4. Add tomato. 5. Add remaining stock and boil. Then simmer until lentils are soft. 6. Add spices while simmering. 7. Eat and feel better! I hope you've avoided the flu and you're well enough to enjoy Poetry Friday. Anastasia Suen is hosting at Picture Book of the Day.