Last Soup Of The Winter

One afternoon, Bellia walked by the balcony and noticed her mother was not in her usual mood. She was dazed off, and her fur was slightly scrunched.

Usually, Heidi was bustling about in countrywife fashion.

“What’s the matter, Mom?” Bellia investigated.

“I’m just worried about how to prepare a good last soup of the winter for you all. It’s been a while since you and Grace had one, and it’ll be the first one for the Chiffon Dog children.”

Bellia understood how important the last soup of the winter was to everyone in the countryside. Any self respecting country critter respected this tradition. Before spring came and soup recipes would be stored away for the hot climate, country housewives would be bustling the entire last day of winter to prepare as much home cooked soup as their household could eat. On top of that, as the day would set, a new soup would be unveiled. Everyone looked forward to the innovative soup that would be unveiled each last soup of the winter. If it was well liked, many implemented the new recipe to their next winter’s soup recipe list. Last year, Heidi had had a genius idea to add tea powder into her legendary carrot soup. It was well received by all.

“Hm…, I think I can help! When I was at town for that foreign exchange program, I saw a fancy fondue.”

“What’s fondue?” asked Heidi, for she had never been to any fancy restaurants or glass windowed stores.

“You melt chocolate in a pot and thicken it with something. Then, you dip sweet desserts into it.”

“Hmm…, it’s worth a shot. Tell me more,” Heidi inquired. Bellia told her all her knowledge of chocolate fondue down to the dot.

The following Monday, Heidi handed a huge shopping list to her husband.

(Mondays were always when Harlin went to town to make toy deliveries, receive his salary, and stock up on goods).

“Whoa!” he commented as he went down the list that included pots of flour, extra carrots, and premium chocolate.

“Now, now, the last soup of the winter only happens once a year!” argued Heidi.

With that, Harlin made off in the Family Seven Seater and bought all the ingredients Heidi had instructed him to do so.

When the time came for the last day of winter, Heidi Hopscotch woke up as early as she could on a stale weathered day. She headed to a very cramped kitchen full of bowls she borrowed from her sister and neighbor, and started to get to work. Quickly, carrots were chopped as soup was stirred. She worked for at least two hours chopping and stirring away.

The sun started to bring a bit of warmth as her children started storming down the stairs. They all knew what today was, and they could smell the soupy goodness already!

Heidi set the table and served her hungry kids.

“Your carrot soup is always so good!” Bell praised as she enjoyed the boiled flour staple that was ladled with her mother’s carrot soup.

Heidi, ladling more flour and soup for her son Skip, chuckled, “Haha, in just a few days you’ll be begging me for cold carrot tea! This is the last soup of the winter.”

Karen, having walked by, overheard and asked, “What’s the last soup of the winter?”

“Only one of the most important winter days there is!” Skip explained in between mouthfuls. “Today is the last soup of the winter, which means your last chance to get some soup before spring and summer come. And then, when the sun sets, Mom will unveil her latest soup creation. It’s always delicious.”

“I’ll be whipping up pots and pots of soup dishes all day. You just let me know if you want any. I won’t be making any more soup for months to come, And when the sun sets, I’ll have a brand new soup recipe to show everyone.” Heidi added.

“I can’t wait for all the springtime activities afterwards,” Bell exclaimed. “Frolicking in the meadows, outdoor snacks, and Mother’s famous carrot bit biscuits!”

“Oh, I see. Well, what are carrot bit biscuits?” Karen inquired.

“Only the best ever!” Skip started. “Warm pockets of biscuit dough stuffed with chopped bits of carrots. You can taste the rustic flavor combination with each little bite!”

Just thinking about them, the Hopscotch Rabbit children began to mouthwater.

“Well, then. I must get myself some delicious soup and boiled flour,” Karen announced, as she took the place of a very stuffed Skip Hopscotch Rabbit.

“Spring will be coming soon,” Heidi deduced as she stared at the greening fields outside the kitchen window while stirring a pot of tea carrot soup. For the past few weeks, the weather had already started warming up. The fireplace was never used anymore, and it rained less and less frequently. But now was not the time to be enjoying the greener pastures. Now, she started working on her magnificent fondue to be unveiled.

Getting the most premium chocolate Harlin had bought from town, she melted it in a pan she borrowed from Natalie.

Slowly and gently, she used the ladle to swish it around before thickening it with flour in a pot. A tiny dash of white sugar was mixed in, as the fondue bubbled. Just like Bellia had said, Heidi chopped a fresh loaf of pound cake up into bite size pieces to be dipped.

As a little extra dashing touch, she placed the little bits into her oven for a quick toast.

“Well, I’ll say. I’ve never heard of someone dipping food into soup.” she told herself. Heidi was not sure what to make of the recipe, but if it was surely a thing that existed then it had to have tasted good.

The day passed with critters rotating in and out of the dining table. Everyone enjoyed their favorite soups. For Skip and Bell, it was simple carrot soup. For Karen, a light squash broth was perfect. David enjoyed peppered soup all day long. Every critter had their favorites, and the last soup of the winter had it all.

The sun started to set, meaning winter’s end was coming very soon. Harlin came home from work, very ecstatic for the great unveiling of Heidi’s newest soup recipe. As always, Bell made him a cup of special coffee before he enjoyed his valued program on the television.

Heidi, meanwhile, was busy trying to come up with the best display she could. The pound cake was laid out in a beautiful tart tray, as the fondue was placed in the most beautiful bowl Heidi could find: a glass bowl of many sides. Natalite Tuxedo Cat, a very fancy critter, had lent it to Heidi in preparation for her big unveiling. Heidi carried the bowl of bubbling chocolate as carefully as she could.

“Mmm,” Honey let out, as she had a very strong nose for chocolate. Karen, having noticed, wondered what the big soup unveiling would be. She didn’t have to wait long, because then Heidi called out, “Ready!” Everyone scrambled to get a first look. As they got closer and closer, the delicious smell of chocolate and toasted pound cake filled their air.

“Tada! It’s called fondue. You dip the pound cake into the chocolate.” Heidi explained to the curious critters. Everyone dug in, having fun with this new experience, as praise filled Heidi’s ears.

“This is so good,” Skip yelled as he dove for another piece.

“Mmmm,” Hopper said as he was licking the chocolate off his face.

“You did great, Mom,” Bellia passed to her.

“You’ve absolutely outdone yourself, dear,” Harlin Hopscotch Rabbit offered, very satisfied with this sweet creation.

“You’ll definitely have to add this in next year,” Bell cheekily mentioned.

Everyone agreed. That night, Heidi cleaned up all the supplies slathered with sticky chocolate and pound cake crumbs. She smiled to herself. What a nice last soup of the winter it had been!