Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Wordy Nerdy

Home
Family, Parenting and Religion
The Connections Around Tomato Soup

The Connections Around Tomato Soup

Last updated on: June 5, 2012 at 8:24 am by Kathy Tuan-MacLean

The Connections Around Tomato Soup 2012-06-05T08:24:00-04:00 Kathy Tuan-MacLean

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In the midst of reflecting on the reunion/college tours of last week (click here and here to read), my friend Marya asked me for my tomato soup recipe.

And it made me think about connections.

Marya and I met my freshman year of college through InterVarsity when she and her husband Kevin were lofty seniors. That meant that when we re-met 25 years later, I remembered them clearly and they vaguely maybe remembered me. Freshman year I dropped by InterVarsity occasionally, just enough to disrupt their winter retreat (where I became the center of attention as 100 students tried to heal me–a story for another time) makes me all the more unmemorable.

But we reconnected 25 years later when Kevin came to Boston to be a professor and I wanted to start a faculty fellowship. It’s so nice when God gives you the chance to befriend folks the 2nd time round.

At the Boston Faculty Fellowship, I cater all meals, hence the tomato soup connection.

The tomato soup recipe came from my grad school friend Margaret, who threw various parties where she cooked delicious gourmet food so far beyond what I ever conceived. She took me a step beyond both spiritually and culinarily.

At a brunch on a cold blowy day, she served tomato soup.

I felt nervous about it. My mother has an aversion to tomato soup–going to college as a Chinese immigrant, she couldn’t stomach either the tomato soup/grilled cheese sandwich nights, or the tuna casserole nights.

But I took a sip, and voila! An aversion was destroyed and a new love began.

While I was sipping Margaret’s tomato soup in her apartment, Kevin and Marya were several miles away, working/going to law school/getting married. We enjoyed mutual friends and we were all in the same place, but unconnected.

Tomato soup connects these dear friends, 25 years later. It feels like a wonderful circle of friendship and food. All homey, warm and nourishing.

Kind of like tomato soup.

Chunky Tomato Gazpacho

(Margaret Evans)

Makes 6 ½ cup servings

10 ¾ oz. can Campbell’s Tomato soup

2/3 cup milk

¼ cup finely chopped green onions

14 ½ oz can tomatoes, undrained and slightly chopped

1 tsp. oregano

4 slices bacon, well drained, crisply cooked, crumbled

Combine and heat thoroughly, simmer until the soup looks red rather than pink (30 minutes). Can be served hot or cold

KTM notes: I don’t put the bacon in during cooking, just sprinkle on top afterwards so it’s still crunchy.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 1, 2012

Driving with my Daughter for the 1st time

Next Post

June 6, 2012 Why I Write

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2015 November 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 October 2010 May 2010 April 2010 February 2010 January 2010 October 2009 September 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is Christian stewardship?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hiding talents Caring for God's gifts Taking from the poor Ignoring others