peddling goodwill

So, I finally got the bright idea to check the web and see what popped up when I typed in www.soupcycle.com ... you should too. Its a reletively quirky group of people in Portland peddling soup by bike. WOW! What a great idea!!! The only difference is that ours is free and targeted to people in need. Oh, and they use words like soupetarian and souplandistan. Not that there is anything wrong with inventing an entirely new language surrounding one food group.

Even before stumbling upon these other soup cyclers, I thought we might do February's soup cycle in Portland - perhaps even give these guys a call and see if they would be interested in joining forces and giving some of their soup away for free too. What do you think?

Regardless, its about that time to begin planning for the first Seattle soup cycle of 2009.

The date will be Sunday, January 25th. Its right after the opening of the Coffee exhibit at the Burke (which you should all come to, by the way) so I will be living free and easy. I'm not sure where we will cook the soup just yet, probably Heron's house or at CWB again.

We haven't done a noodle soup yet, so below is the recipe I am thinking of. If you have an idea of how to make it better, let me know. AND, in honor of it being alphabet soup, I would love to read some soup cycle inspired haiku.

Here's one to get you going:

by unicycle
i juggle and hand out soup
in a leotard

Alphabet Soup

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 16   Preparation Time :0:30
Categories    : Soups

Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1/4  cup           olive oil
2      medium        boiling potatoes -- peeled and diced
1      cup           carrots -- peeled and diced
  3/4  cup           minced onions
5 1/2  quarts        chicken stock
2      tablespoons   fresh basil -- minced
1      teaspoon      fresh oregano -- minced
3      cups          diced zucchini
3      cups          peeled, seeded, and diced tomatoes
2      cups          fresh peas
1      pound         alphabet pasta

In a large pot over moderate heat, warm olive oil. Add potatoes, carrot,
and onion and saute 5 minutes. Add chicken stock, basil, and
oregano. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to maintain a simmer, and simmer 15 minutes.
Add zucchini and 1 cup of the tomatoes. Simmer 10 minutes. Add pasta, peas, and
remaining 2 cups tomatoes; simmer until pasta is cooked through.
Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately and pass a bowl of Parmesan.
Makes about 16 cups.