Customers stock up on homemade soup
MOUNT CHESTNUT — Nothing yields comfort like grandma's soup. But instead of serving the soup in bowls, some grandmas use quart- or pint-sized jars.
With occasional soup sales that began last year, women at the Mount Chestnut Senior Center offer a homey takeout treat while earning funds for the center.
"We ran out last year," said center manager Pam Malachin, referring to a previous sale in which 32 quarts of chicken noodle were made. In last week's sale of vegetable soup, all 50-plus quarts were also claimed.
The sales also have featured potato soup, bean soup and chili, selling for $3 a quart and $1.50 a pint.
The funds are used to pay for special activities and to purchase coffee and other supplies for the center, which is housed in the Mount Chestnut Presbyterian Church.
As well as boosting the center's coffers, the cooking days also allow the women to socialize.
Even though each has a unique method for cooking soup at home, the 10 participants addressed their differences playfully on Wednesday as they cut small pieces of a chuck roast to add to the fragrant broth.
"I would do it differently at home," said 90-year-old Margaret Fassinger of Connoquenessing Township when asked if too many cooks actually do spoil the soup.
"I don't allow anybody to help me when I'm making soup at home — does that answer your question?" agreed Dolly Kastelan of Butler Township.
"You have to have teamwork," Kastelan went on. "You have to learn how to work in teams, and I think that makes the flavor much better."
Malachin, who serves as head cook on soup days, said there is no official recipe used to make the soups. On Wednesday, the cooks combined potatoes, cabbage and other chopped vegetables in a broth that contained tomato and beef stock. The spices, to be added later, would be measured according to taste.
Like most of the women who frequent the center, Fassinger said becoming a widow has reduced the need to make soup from scratch at home.
"Sure, it's fun (cooking) with all your friends," she added of the kitchen work.
"The seniors all like soup," said Malachin. "It's really not that hard to do. It's a good fellowship for us all to be together and doing something fun."
The soup sales are advertised mostly by word of mouth, with church members buying much of the product.
Senior center attendees — including the cooks — also purchase the soup, said Malachin. "They'll buy," she said. "This is just volunteer work."
