A meal that's as easy as ABC
Offer your children bowls of vegetable soup, and they'll probably push them away with a resounding, "No." Throw in some tiny alphabet-shaped pasta, and the most finicky eaters will be singing a different tune. Whether it's the joy of the hunt for the elusive letters that spell their names or the feel of the slippery little bites of pasta on the tongue, kids go crazy for alphabet soup. And you don't need to reach for the can opener.
Alphabet soup is actually a quick and easy meal, ready in less than 30 minutes, and when homemade, more nutritious than any can will offer. The key is to dice the vegetables small enough so they cook quickly (and appeal to kids). Sweat them slowly in butter first -- this is the method for cooking the raw diced vegetables over very low heat. It may take a couple of minutes longer than a quick saute, but the slow cooking ensures that the vegetables are cooked evenly, inside and out.
This soup is broth-based, but it also has plenty of body, courtesy of the starch released by both the potatoes and pasta, which are cooked directly in the soup. Ready-made tomato sauce won't overpower the flavors, but rather add a nice acidity and the familiar red color that kids and adults seem to love. Serve the soup with buttery crackers and you'll have a meal everyone in the family will go for. -- KERI FISHER 