ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, January 3, 1996             TAG: 9601030037
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 8    EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES FOOD EDITOR 

SOUP'S ON! AN EASY AND HEALTHFUL MEAL THAT TAKES SO LITTLE TIME

Soup is a perfect pick for this time of year, when the winter's temperatures are low and, following the holidays' feastings, many people's weight is a little high.

Soup fills, warms and satisfies us. Yet it can be light on the palate and low in calories and fat, thereby aiding New Year's diet resolutions. An added plus to soup's fine taste and tantalizing aromas is that it takes so little time to stir up a bubbling hot potage.

There are no hard and fast rules for soups. Some of the best are created from combinations of whatever is on hand. Of course, you always want to use the best and freshest ingredients possible. And most times, gently simmer rather than boil the broth.

Serve your soup with thick crusty bread, hearty rolls or tender muffins and salad (butter and salad dressing optional). It won't take long to understand why a couple of rosy-cheeked kids, not so long ago featured in one well-known company's advertising campaign, described soups as, "Mmm, mmm, good!"

Recipes for:

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER AND TOMATO SOUP

AUTUMN PUMPKIN AND BLACK BEAN CHILI

ROASTED VEGETABLE SOUP

CREAMY CHICKEN AND PASTA SOUP

CURRIED SPLIT PEA SOUP

LENGTH: Short :   38 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  Long a favorite of vegeterians, split pea soup makes a 
          tasty and healthful meal. color.