Serving Soup

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Serving Soup

• Serving soup may be correctly served in several different ways, the method to adopt usually depending on the kind of soup. Thin, clear soups are generally served in bouillon cups which may be placed on the table immediately before the family assembles or passed after the members are seated.

Heavier soups may be served at the table from a soup tureen, or each person's portion may be served before the family comes to the table. For soups of this kind, the flat soup plate is found preferable. The spoon to be served with soup also depends on the kind of soup, but a larger spoon than a teaspoon is always necessary.
When soup is served in a soup plate, a dessert spoon is used. A bouillon spoon is the best kind to use with any thin soup served in bouillon cups. Such a spoon, is about the length of a teaspoon, but has a round bowl.
• To increase the attractiveness of soup and at the same time make it more appetizing and nutritious, various accompaniments and relishes are served with it.

When the accompaniment is in the form of crackers, croutons, or bread sticks, they may be passed after the soup is served, or a few of them may be placed on the bread-and-butter plate at each person's place. The relishes should be passed while the soup is being eaten. Plain whipped cream or whipped cream into which a little mashed pimiento has been stirred adds much to the flavor and appearance of soup when served on the top of any hot or cold variety. Then, too, many soups, especially vegetable soups, are improved in flavor by the addition of a spoonful of grated cheese, which should be sprinkled into the dish at the time of serving. For this purpose, a hard, dry cheese, such as Parmesan, which can often be purchased already grated in bottles, is the most satisfactory.

• In summer, clear soups are sometimes served cold, as cold soups are found more desirable for warm weather than hot ones. However, when a soup is intended to be hot, it should be hot when it is ready to be eaten, and every effort should be made to have it in this condition if an appetizing soup is desired. This can be accomplished if the soup is thoroughly heated before it is removed from the stove and the dishes in which it is to be served are warmed before the soup is put into them.