The Soup Challenge

Though Anna Thomas may be a worthy competitor (‘My Soup and How It Grew,” March 14), this nutrition-minded-but culinarily impaired single father and 11-year-old son believe we rightfully retain the “Green Soup” appellation with our concoction of broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, celery, potato, onion, oats, skim milk, ham hock, chicken broth, bouillon cubes and water. After simmering ingredients (minus milk) for a while, let cool, add milk and blend until smooth (be sure to remove ham hocks before blending, otherwise it gets ugly). Ingredient measurements and preparation directions are as simple as I’ve noted (this is all the structure we can sustain). We’ve made a vat of this stuff every two weeks for eight years. No two vats have been exactly the same but it’s always tasty and hearty.

As a result, I’m certain, of my son’s three-days-a-week-for-eight-years diet of our Green Soup, he’s taller than Shaquille O’Neal was at the same age. Shoots free-throws better too. Plus, how many kids can spell “cruciferous,” much less count broccoli and cauliflower as staples of their diet?

BILL HOFFINE

San Diego