Soup for Syria

Everyday we are reading or hearing about the atrocities occurring in Syria. We feel deeply for the innocent people. Families, young and old, forced outside of their homes and living in fear without enough food. Although I have never visited Syria, as a human being every heart rendering story touches my heart. But personally, what can I do to help those suffering so much? I believe everyone has a right to good food, shelter and safety.

The answer came to me while I made one my frequent visits to my local library. One of the new books that caught my eye was, Soup for Syria. The subtitle was “Recipes to Celebrate Our Shared Humanity.” I almost passed the book, but I enjoy soup and the front cover caught my eye. The photograph was of Tomato Basil Soup with bread in a red clay vessel.

Picking up the book, I realized I had a very special book in my hands. (These days I tend not to buy cookbooks because I look for recipes on the internet.)  But this book is different. This cookbook of soups is a  lovely hardback book with large colorful photos and numerous recipes. Many of the recipes use ingredients I am likely to have in my kitchen. However even more special is that profits from the book are donated to fund food relief for Syrian refugees through the The UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency. It should be noted that the recipes and printing costs were donated.

Recipes and large photos fill this 200 plus page book. The recipes are from international chefs including Anthony Bourdain, Mark Bittman, Yotam Ottolenghi, Paula Wolfert, Sally Butcher and Joe Barza.  The recipes were collected and photographed by Barbara Abdeni Massaad.

According to Anthony Bourdain, “Soup is elemental, it always makes sense, even when the world around us fails to.” Alice Waters wrote, “Whether we are in times of crisis or times of peace, gathering family and friends together around the table and sharing food is one of the most powerful and life-affirming acts we can do. And there is nothing more comforting and nourishing than a bowl of warm soup.”

Soup for Syria

The table of contents includes many vegetable recipes. Many are common everyday veggies like avocado, cauliflower, carrot, corn and zucchini. Other recipes  call for meat, chicken, and yogurt.

Five stock recipes are at the front of the book: beef, chicken, fish, vegetable and corn stocks. Three recipes use white wine as an ingredient: Fish Soup, Onion Soup and Seafood Soup.

One complaint about the book is the grey scale printing. This results in the recipes and index being more difficult to read.

Soup for Syria Website

A website has been created for Soup for Syria. It provides statistics from the Syrian conflict. One statistic notes that nearly 8 million Syrians have been internally displaced and that nearly half of the Syrian refugees are under 18 years old.

The website offers suggestions on how to use Soup for Syria for fundraising events. These ideas include:

• Share on Social media
• Host a soup party (have the books available or take orders)
• Organize a benefit concert or event
• Contact any organization you belong about Soup for Syria

As I sit in my comfortable home with good food to eat, I find it difficult to understand this needless inhumanity to people.  After I return my book to the library, I plan on buying my own copy of Soup for Syria. I also plan to buy several copies to give as gifts.

Many people are in desperate circumstances around the world due to violence. Soup for Syria is a creative way to help the hungry and homeless people in Syria. Do you have ideas for inspiring people to help those in need?

Cheers,
Kathy