Soo-ooop.

When you’re speaking to someone, you don’t usually notice how your mouth moves. The inside of the cheeks touch the gums touch the tongue and all these little pops result. But the world gets in the way: traffic and the A/C covers up the sound, and the person you’re speaking to has your attention. When you’re recording your voice, though, and it’s the only thing in your ears (via a good pair of headphones), it’s tough not to notice where the clicks happen. More water helps, but you end up getting really familiar with your nearest porcelain throne. Soup is so helpful, and a great way to increase your water intake. It’s simple to make (as one big blondie once bemoaned, you boil everything) and depending on your ingredients, it’s very inexpensive. It’s a way to prepare protein, starch, and vegetables in one pot and serve it in one bowl. On that note, therein lies the bonus - you end up with fewer dishes in the sink.

Granted, this recipe is probably more closely associated with completely the wrong hemisphere from where I started, but it's not far removed from childhood dinners.

Water 2.5 quart Beef soup bones 3.5 pound Potato 3 large Cabbage 1/2 head, about 7 in. diameter Onion 1 large Salt 1 tablespoon Oil 2 tablespoons Remove the stem from the cabbage, and peel the potatoes (depending on the variety) Cut the potato, onion, and cabbage into 1-in. cubes Season the soup bones with salt Heat the oil in a pot until smoking Sear the bones to give them a bit of color Add the onion, cook until translucent (or browned, to add sweetness from caramelization) Add water to cover, and bring to a boil Lower to simmer, and allow to cook for 1.5 to 2 hours before removing from heat Add the potato about 20 minutes before removing from heat Add the cabbage about 10 minutes before removing from heat Season with additional salt, if desired Yields about 4-6 servings. Recipe Cost: $4.62 Nutritional Values (based on 6 servings): Amount Per Portion Total Calories 337 Calories Added Sugars 1 Calories Saturated Fat 56 Calories Nutrients Amount Per Portion Protein 22 g Carbohydrate 15 g Dietary Fiber 3 g Total Sugars 4 g Added Sugars 0 g Total Fat 21 g Saturated Fat 6 g Monounsaturated Fat 9 g Polyunsaturated Fat 4 g Linoleic Acid 4 g α-Linolenic Acid 0.6 g Omega 3 - EPA 2 mg Omega 3 - DHA 1 mg Cholesterol 59 mg Minerals Amount Per Portion Calcium 63 mg Potassium 573 mg Sodium 379 mg Copper 191 µg Iron 3 mg Magnesium 42 mg Phosphorus 208 mg Selenium 15 µg Zinc 5 mg Vitamins Amount Per Portion Vitamin A 4 µg RAE Vitamin B6 0.4 mg (calculated on https://supertracker.usda.gov/myrecipe.aspx) Change things up with ginger, or black pepper, or bay leaves; or maybe season with base or bouillon, soy or fish sauce (you might not even need the salt); or replace the cabbage with other cruciferous relatives - say, bok choy or brussels sprouts. I tried it with curry powder, and ended up liking the result. What’s your take on this dish? Teas are another good way to get more water into your life. Anything with caffeine is said to be a diuretic, so that includes coffee and varieties of black tea, but there was this singer from (I think it was) New Zealand who recommended herbal teas with manuka honey. There’s your preview for next time…