Margaret Barnes is not sorry to see fall arrive, or even the snow. Without Autumn, she says, we wouldn’t have soup season. “It’s one of the things that comes with fall,” Margaret remarked. “It represents comfort and hospitality at my house. I can always add more broth, so come on in!”

Quick to laugh, and an engaging conversationalist, Margaret is a retired teacher who spent more than 20 years teaching the younger grades at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic School. Some of her favorite recipes have made their way into her kitchen courtesy of co-workers and friends.

“When I make food, it reminds me of the friends who have shared a meal with me, or shared the recipe,” she said. “These are tried and true.”

Those favorites are now eliciting different memories from her four children and ten grandchildren. When daughter Char spent a number of weeks at the Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee with a sick child at Children’s Hospital, Margaret would make a batch of “comfort” and bring single serve containers to her daughter.  At the time, Margaret says it gave Char a taste of home; now that same soup brings happy memories of a difficult time that was overcome.

One of the unique things about her recipes, is that they contain an interesting ingredient.
 
“There are pears in the red pepper soup and pickles in the italian tomato soup,” Margaret said. “I like to think people are full of surprises, and their recipes should have a surprise, too.”

As she prepares to host the entire crew of twenty for Thanksgiving and Christmas, Margaret Barnes will likely turn to some of the old favorites, and create new memories. 

Margaret was kind enough to share soup recipes, which were shared with her, that have won raves over the years. Enjoy.