Stone Soup

Stone Soup
Several smallish stones, preferably something like quartz that won't break apart and doesn't have a lot of nooks and crannies for dirt to hide.

4 medium potatoes, diced

2 carrots, diced
1 stalk celery, diced

1 small can whole tomatoes, chopped

1/2 head cabbage, chopped

Other vegetables can be included

5 tsp bouillon granules
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil
2 tsp dried onion flakes
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 bay leaf
1 tsp salt, more or less to taste
pepper, to taste

First, prepare the stones by washing them, then putting them into a pot of water and bringing to a boil. Repeat 3-4 times, or until no more grit or 'dirt' taste makes its way into the water. Let stones cool.

Combine all seasonings in a bowl.

Each guest gets one or more vegetables, and one guest gets the bowl of spices.

Explain to the guests that you are going to make a pot of delicious stone soup.

Put stones in pot with 6 cups of fresh water, and bring to a boil. Taste the soup, and pretend it's delicious...but...it really could use a little seasoning - ask the guest with the bowl of seasonings if he or she will share.

Repeat this process with each guest, starting with whatever will take the longest to cook (the potatoes in this case), and finishing with whatever will get done quickest (the cabbage).

Taste, add more salt if desired, and serve.

Serve with a stone in each bowl, but of course remove the stones before attempting to eat the soup.

Since apparently our next president is going to be a socialist, we decided to begin indoctrinating the children in as soon as possible, and this lesson in sharing...I mean 'redistributing the wealth' seemed perfect.

Ok, not really, this was the plan all along. The soup turned out surprisingly good, and the kids had a lot of fun, even if the 'lesson' didn't quite sink in: "Daddy took all my potatoes!"



Kid Ratings:

Christopher Robin
Collin
Isaac	X "A hundred"
Annette	X "Ten"