301006 Wed Oct 26 15:15:59 -0700 2005 73 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1676517 I have never really enjoyed canned soup but, maybe it is because I have always chosen the worste of the bunch Please tell me which one is Your FAv! Wed Oct 26 15:15:59 -0700 2005 0 Earl 1 1676519 I too disdain most of the canned ones, but my sole exception is Goya's black bean soup. Delicious with a grating of cheddar and maybe a sprinkle of raw minced onions. Wed Oct 26 15:26:58 -0700 2005 1676517 0 neighbor 2 1676523 The only canned soup I like is Campbells Scoth Broth. It's delicious Wed Oct 26 15:45:51 -0700 2005 1676519 0 southshoresuzy 3 1676646 This had always been one of my favorites especially when not feeling well. After either not finding it or just not buying it for a while I finally bought and heated it up but it seemed to taste watery and not as flavorful as in the past-and I am going back many decades! Thu Oct 27 14:55:47 -0700 2005 1676523 0 sandramr 4 1676652 I think both the Scotch Broth and the Pepper Pot have been put on starvation rations. The PP used to have nice big chunks of tripe, and the SB was very richly muttony - now there are just tiny slivers of tripe, and I'm not sure the SB is even made with mutton anymore. The wateriness of the broths I was blaming on the fact that my taste buds are about 55 years older than they were when I was eating this stuff regularly, but now I'm not at all sure that's the only explanation. Thu Oct 27 16:08:57 -0700 2005 1676646 0 Will Owen 5 1676670 I'm so glad you mentioned this, these were my mother's favorite soups and all of a sudden I wanted to get them, but maybe not now. I'll just put extra pepper and barley in my homemade soups instead. I'm totally sure that the recipes have changd since the 60s/70s. Thu Oct 27 18:39:59 -0700 2005 1676652 0 coll 2 1676526 Campbell's Tomato. Any other kind of canned soup sort of "passes" as soup - but to me, there's absolutely nothing like plain old canned tomato soup. Wed Oct 26 15:55:59 -0700 2005 1676519 0 ShanAgain 3 1676530 Campbell's tomato it is- but only if accompanied by a grilled chesse. And the soup has to be made with milk, not water- with lots of pepper, and croutons on top!. Wed Oct 26 16:13:47 -0700 2005 1676526 0 macca 4 1676533 My thoughts exactly. Wed Oct 26 16:23:07 -0700 2005 1676530 0 wild child 4 1676534 Hmmmmm. My own preferences run towards half milk/half water, and tuna sandwiches. No croutons, but salt and pepper are a must. Its one of life's great mysteries, that tuna sandwiches go so well with tomato soup. Wed Oct 26 16:25:28 -0700 2005 1676530 0 ShanAgain 5 1676578 I love tuna sandwiches at the beach. That's what my momm always packed when we were kids- along with chips, pickles and lots of sea n ski Wed Oct 26 20:12:10 -0700 2005 1676534 0 macca 5 1676604 Here it is milk, but always with grilled cheese! Now tuna sandwiches always have to have chips and a dill pickle! Thu Oct 27 02:48:46 -0700 2005 1676534 0 DT 5 1676611 My father taught me to make tomato soup with half milk and half water, and also precooked wide noodles had to be added. It was his signature recipe. Another great one was Progresso Hearty (or Zesty?) Lentil, I think maybe it was "with garlic", it was almost as good as homemade. I think it was a line of hearty soups that was discontinued, though I can't imagine why. Otherwise you can jazz up cream of mushroom soup by adding a little porcini or shitake, and maybe a splash of sherry. Thu Oct 27 06:57:06 -0700 2005 1676534 0 coll 4 1676554 I use half-and-half Wed Oct 26 18:00:44 -0700 2005 1676530 0 Candy 4 1676697 And then you dunk the grilled cheese in the soup, and all is right with the world for a second. :-) Fri Oct 28 11:01:18 -0700 2005 1676530 0 AnnieG 5 1676700 You are so right. As a matter of fact, I did not bring my lunch to work today, and I wish I could order this from the local sandeich shop. Cold and dreary here today. Fri Oct 28 11:12:23 -0700 2005 1676697 0 macca 3 1676707 I've never had canned tomato soup and I'm excited to try it with milk as some posters suggested. Is Campbell's tomato much better than other brands? Fri Oct 28 12:47:28 -0700 2005 1676526 0 chowmeow 4 1676709 TO be perfectly honest- Campbell's is the only tomato soup I have ever tried. I think to a lot of the posters (myself included), Campbell's tomato brings back great memories of being a kid, and sitting at the kithcen table with a nice hot bowl of soup, and a oozy grilled chesse sandwich with not another care in the world. I know I was at that kitchen table with my brothers, and my mom was at the stove making the soup and sandwhichs- akways a happy memory. I think one on my nieces put it perfectly- My neice loves Lipton Chicken noodle. She was at my house one day at lunchtime, and I aksed her if she wanted some noodle soup. She said to me " DO you make the soup just like my mom does?" I assured her i did. Then she said" Good, cuz my mom makes the best Lipton noodle soup." And I am sure my soup could never taste as good as her moms, because food is a lot more than taste. Fri Oct 28 12:59:09 -0700 2005 1676707 0 macca 5 1676738 That was a cool story. When I was in the 5th grade, I came home and ate Campbells tomato soup for lunch every day. I probably still could. And with a grilled chees samich, look out... These people with their lentils and barley and organic mushrooms have no idea what canned soup is all about. Fri Oct 28 15:28:45 -0700 2005 1676709 0 Wishbugger again 5 1676739 That was a cool story. When I was in the 5th grade, I came home and ate Campbells tomato soup for lunch every day. I probably still could. And with a grilled chees samich, look out... These people with their lentils and barley and organic mushrooms have no idea what canned soup is all about. Fri Oct 28 15:31:06 -0700 2005 1676709 0 Wishbugger again 6 1676740 It's funny how something as simple as soup can bring ourt so many strong opinions. I will say, however, that when I was a kid CAmpbell's Liptons and Progresso were the mainstays- exepct for Snows Clam Chowder. Homemade is best, for sure, and now if I eat soup, i usually go that route- but I will say the soup aisle has a lot of choices now ( even in a "regular" supermarket.) Fri Oct 28 15:49:02 -0700 2005 1676739 0 macca 4 1676765 Back in my youthful days, Heinz competed actively with Campbell for the canned-soup market, which was percentagewise a much bigger segment than it is now. We tried many examples of both brands, and while a few Heinz soups were at least the equal of Campbell's, the mushroom was not up to par and the tomato was hardly in the game. Fri Oct 28 18:03:36 -0700 2005 1676707 0 Will Owen 5 1676773 Most people seemed to feel the same way as you do, and as a result, Heinz left the market for canned soup sold in supermarkets. Later, they came to dominate the restaurant trade with their Chef Francisco soups that many restaurants pass off as home-made. Now, in addition to the Chef Francisco soups for the commercial trade, Heinz makes the Wolfgang Puck soups. Fri Oct 28 18:45:02 -0700 2005 1676765 0 JB 4 1676806 I've never found a substitute for Campbell's tomato soup. I don't think it can be replicated, it has a certain taste that you'll never get from scratch. I'd be curious if anyone had a recipe that they think equals Campbells? Not that I'd make it, just asking. I always have a couple of cans of tomato and cream of mush, they could be a few years old but whatever, they're there! Sat Oct 29 06:57:27 -0700 2005 1676707 0 coll 4 1676856 I seem to recall reading that Campbell's had developed a particular tomato that had the balance of flavors they wanted for their soup, and patented it. I don't know if this is true, but I could pick out Campbell's from any other in any blindfold test, I'm sure, whether it was made with milk or water. Mon Oct 31 13:39:16 -0800 2005 1676707 0 Will Owen 2 1676538 I love the Chefs Cupboard chunky soups that Aldis sell. Unfortunately, I now live in California...and there isnt an aldis here. Wed Oct 26 16:45:43 -0700 2005 1676519 0 Tari 2 1676643 I love Amy's organic soups, especially the cream of tomato, the chunky tomato bisque, and the lentil-vegetable. They taste like real food. The lentil takes good enough to be a restaurant soup. (I haven't tried the butternut squash or black bean soups, but I bet they're good, too.) Anne Thu Oct 27 14:19:19 -0700 2005 1676519 0 AnneInMpls 2 1676666 Progresso lentil (make sure it's the one that's vegetarian) is by far the best canned soup I've ever tasted. Thu Oct 27 18:15:03 -0700 2005 1676519 0 katya 3 1676708 I love Progresso's Lentil Soup as well. Somehow my Taiwanese mother came up with the idea of floating pierogies in it for a very tasty, hearty meal. Fri Oct 28 12:51:53 -0700 2005 1676666 0 chowmeow 1 1676543 Campbell's Bean with Bacon helped get me through college. Bob Wed Oct 26 17:03:06 -0700 2005 1676517 0 Sony Bob 2 1676545 Yep... this is what I always ate with my Grandma growing up... definitely has fond memories and still tastes good! Wed Oct 26 17:06:07 -0700 2005 1676543 0 Katie Nell 2 1676553 Oh, Campbell's Pepper Pot is a favorite too. That is made in Canada and is hard to find. I usually buy several cans to have on hand when we make a run over to Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati. Wed Oct 26 17:59:24 -0700 2005 1676543 0 Candy 2 1676590 Around Saybrook, Campbell's Bean Soup seems to have lamentably disappeared from the shelves. Instead we get fancy displays of "kids soups". Wed Oct 26 21:50:23 -0700 2005 1676543 0 Don Shirer 1 1676544 Not exactly canned but I love Trader Joe's tomato roasted red pepper...excellent with some garlicy croutons, grating of cheese... Wed Oct 26 17:04:49 -0700 2005 1676517 0 4chowpups 2 1676605 Whenever I find something at TJ's I really like, they drop it from their repertoire. So, I'm always surprised to see their wonderful tomato bell pepper soup still there. Thu Oct 27 03:30:32 -0700 2005 1676544 0 Sharuf 1 1676546 Wolfgang Puck's soups are good. I buy them when they are on special which is quite often. Wed Oct 26 17:16:09 -0700 2005 1676517 0 Scagnetti 2 1676548 I'll second the vote for Wolfgang's. Among the best mass-market canned soups I've found. I like the tomato basil. Wed Oct 26 17:19:00 -0700 2005 1676546 0 AdamL 2 1676645 The Tomato and Basil is particularly good Thu Oct 27 14:33:20 -0700 2005 1676546 0 sally from LA 2 1676758 Here's another vote for the Wolfgang Puck soups. Although some of them are a bit high in fat content, they are definitely better than most canned soups. The sodium content is equal to the very high levels of the other brands. As was said, you should wait for Wolfgang Puck soups to be on sale. Incidentally, in case you were not aware of it, this is Heinz's re-entry into the supermarket canned soup field. They already dominate the "restaurant supposedly home-made soup" market with their Chef Francisco brand. Fri Oct 28 17:34:38 -0700 2005 1676546 0 JB 1 1676552 Habitant pea soup imported from Canada. It is very rich and has a wonderful pork flavor from the lard they use in making it. I also have always loved Snow's chowders and it is something we stock up on , along with the Habitant pea soup when visiting family in northern New York state. Wed Oct 26 17:57:24 -0700 2005 1676517 0 Candy 1 1676560 I like Progresso Potato with Broccoli and Cheese, and also their Southwestern Chicken. I agree that Campbell's Tomato qualifies as comfort food. Wed Oct 26 18:37:07 -0700 2005 1676517 0 DumpCake 1 1676562 Campbell's Bean w/Bacon, Pepper Pot, Scotch Broth, AND (nobody gag, please - I'm a Midwestern boy) Cream of Mushroom. Oh, yeah, Tomato. Andersen's Split Pea, NOT the lo-fat. Progresso Lentil and Minestrone. Snow's Clam Chowder. Just about anybody's canned menudo! Wed Oct 26 18:59:57 -0700 2005 1676517 0 Will Owen 2 1676570 I confess - I'm with you on Campbell's Cream of Mushroom if I'm in the mood for it. When I was a kid I used to love the Campbell's Gumbo - I thought it was exotic. ::snort:: Wed Oct 26 19:30:43 -0700 2005 1676562 0 ShanAgain 2 1676616 I really like Campbell's Pepper Pot, when I can find it. It was my dad's favorite. As a kid, I LOVED Campbell's Cream of Chicken, which my mom used to make with 1/2 and 1/2. Thu Oct 27 10:14:11 -0700 2005 1676562 0 sudiepav 2 1676622 Is Campbell's cream of mush a midwestern thing? I'm from there and I like it but never knew. Campbell's cream of mushroom and tomato bespeak comfort to me... Thu Oct 27 11:15:02 -0700 2005 1676562 0 Dizzied 3 1676651 Garrison Keillor did a skit on Prairie Home Companion where he played the sole proprietor of a Lutheran mission in Venice, and he sat there every day trying to give away informative literature and bowls of Cream of Mushroom soup (yah, the humor's Midwestern, too!). Thu Oct 27 16:01:17 -0700 2005 1676622 0 Will Owen 3 1676676 I like it too. in Oklahoma. It is also a very useful adhesive in church cookbook casseroles. Thu Oct 27 21:25:49 -0700 2005 1676622 0 Betty 4 1676764 Can't make a proper tuna-noodle casserole without it. There are those who say Cream of Chicken, but they are Infidels. Fri Oct 28 17:57:03 -0700 2005 1676676 0 Will Owen 1 1676564 Progresso Tomato Garlic. I haven't seen it in a while. I used to like the Health Valley soups alot but just got a bit bored. No matter, I like to add a dollop of salsa to nearly all canned soups--except the cream ones. Wed Oct 26 19:06:55 -0700 2005 1676517 0 eve 1 1676566 Campbells Bean w Bacon but make with flat tonic water, the kind you use in vodka tonic, seems to bring out the flavor, if not flat watch the pan, it will foam and overflow if you are not watching the heat. Snows clam chowder. Wed Oct 26 19:10:23 -0700 2005 1676517 0 malibumike 1 1676572 i like white house bean. i don't know who makes it, but it apparantly a ooold actual white house recipe. stick to your ribs:) Wed Oct 26 19:42:30 -0700 2005 1676517 0 bryanj 2 1676592 Isn't that Senate Bean Soup? I tried the canned variety recently (I don't recall the maker either), and it was okay, but not exactly the way I remembered it the last time I visited the Senate dining room. Wed Oct 26 21:59:21 -0700 2005 1676572 0 Don Shirer 3 1676609 Some years ago, we had bean soup in the Senate building. Darned if it didn't taste a lot like Campbells. Thu Oct 27 05:00:04 -0700 2005 1676592 0 Spudlover 1 1676577 There is a brand named Riviera that has a really good thick Minestrone. I see it occasionaly on the west coast. Wed Oct 26 20:00:21 -0700 2005 1676517 0 Lanyboy 1 1676581 Chickarina. Has been hard to find, but may be making a comeback. Wed Oct 26 20:20:48 -0700 2005 1676517 0 Steve 2 1676603 I like this too! Actually I add some small pasta to thicken it up a bit. Thu Oct 27 02:29:23 -0700 2005 1676581 0 DT 1 1676593 I find myself eating more soups for lunch lately, so I tasted six or seven brands to find the a better (Boston style) clam chowder. None equalled the CT shoreline restaurants, but a fairly good one was Campbell's Chunky Clam Chowder. (Be sure you don't take the Select version on the shelf below, that was one of the poorer ones.) Previous posters liked Snow's, but it wasn't in our local store. I'll have to keep looking. Wed Oct 26 22:09:13 -0700 2005 1676517 0 Don Shirer 2 1677135 I've noticed that they changed the formula of the Campbell's Chunky Clam Chownder a couple of years ago. More cornstarch or something - Makes the soup gloppy. I have to correct it with stock (and I add good paprika). Thu Nov 03 12:47:08 -0800 2005 1676593 0 rudeboy 1 1676606 Knorr's dehydrated packaged oxtail soup makes me think I'm back in Germany. Give it a shot of sherry or brandy and folks will be impressed. Thu Oct 27 03:38:55 -0700 2005 1676517 0 Sharuf 2 1676633 Alas, it is no longer... I used it as pot roast base and now can't find it anywhere. Thu Oct 27 12:31:18 -0700 2005 1676606 0 Sarah 3 1676683 It's now packaged under the name Tomato Beef Soup. It's the exact same animal. Fri Oct 28 01:26:54 -0700 2005 1676633 0 bryan 4 1676703 Thanks! Fri Oct 28 11:48:52 -0700 2005 1676683 0 Sarah 1 1676610 Have a neice who loves Lipton Noodle, with a bullion cube, a bit of orzo and a few pieces of spaghetti broken up. She will eat the entire thing- talk about salt! Thu Oct 27 06:35:29 -0700 2005 1676517 0 macca 1 1676635 TRADER JOE'S "BOXED" TOMATO RED BELL PEPPER SOUP is now my favorite...eat it plain, or add some fresh basil and grated cheese and a few drops of Worcestshire sauce...GREAT. Thu Oct 27 12:51:29 -0700 2005 1676517 0 TBB 2 1676674 We like it at the office with a few drops of balsamic, and watered down just a bit cuz it is a tad salty. We were trapped in here today with only that soup for nourishment, and resorted to crushed Dorito chips we found in the back of the cupboard as croutons (not bad in a pinch) Thu Oct 27 20:27:57 -0700 2005 1676635 0 torty 1 1676650 I have been enjoying Italian Wedding soup made by both Progresso and Campbells. Thu Oct 27 15:40:53 -0700 2005 1676517 0 sandramr 2 1676810 I can second the Progresso Italian Wedding soup. It isn't *real* soup, but it is really good canned soup. Sat Oct 29 11:55:43 -0700 2005 1676650 0 evewitch 1 1676684 Not canned, but boxed. I like the Imagine Organic soups a lot. The potato leek is quite good, I chill it in the summer and add a little cream and some snipped chives. Instant vicchysoise. Also the butternut squash soup. I top it w/ a little fresh sage, and it tastes homemade to me. As far as canned soup goes, Progresso makes a vegetarian cream of mushroom that's quite tasty. And in a pinch, Campbells tomato soup made w/cream and a grilled cheese sandwich. Or Mrs. Grass chicken noodle w/ a pb&j. Fri Oct 28 01:43:08 -0700 2005 1676517 0 bryan 1 1676737 Don't let anyone fool you. Campbell's Tomato, or Chicken Noodle will NEVER be outdone when it comes to real down home canned soup. Everything else is just imitation home cooking. Fri Oct 28 15:24:14 -0700 2005 1676517 0 wishbugger 1 1677106 Progresso Vegetarian Lentil (with a chunk of sharp cheddar cheese on the side, or topped with sour cream...mmm, mmm good) Campbell's Bean With Bacon (still love it....reminds me of my childhood and lunches at home with mom on school days) Campbell's Select Italian Sausage is very good too Thu Nov 03 01:52:51 -0800 2005 1676517 0 Great River Road 1 1677176 Fave canned is Progresso Escarole, drizzled with EVOO. Add some canned white beans, grated Locatelli Romano cheese and some crusty semolina bread from my local Italian bakery and I've got an easy, delish meal. Fave dehydrated is Goodmans Noodle Soup, doctored up with carrots, parsnips, turnips, parsley and dill. Fave frozen is, hands down, Tabatchnick split pea. I grab it up when its on sale at my local supermarket. Fri Nov 04 07:15:15 -0800 2005 1676517 0 Erica 1 1677198 #1 progresso new england clam chowder #2 campbell's chicken noodle and last but not least #3 campbells cream of mushroom all w/ lots of crushed up crackers :) Fri Nov 04 12:24:55 -0800 2005 1676517 0 furryabdul 1 1677675 Progresso Chicken Noodle - with added crushed garlic (through a garlic press); canned navy beans; some Cayenne pepper, toasted stale bread and Sirracha (the Vietnamese "rooster") sauce. Drizzle a bit of olive oil on top and some freshly ground pepper. With the Progresso Black Bean or Lentil soups, we usually fry up onions, chorizo and Cayenne, add the soup and simmer 10 minutes. When done, add frozen shrimp and green peas and pour over cooked white rice. [and if really inspired - a runny fried egg on top]. A simple way to have something almost home made after work in about 20 minutes. Mon Nov 14 12:01:28 -0800 2005 1676517 0 Jersey City Mods 2 1677676 Wow, sounds like a great way to soup up your soup. BTW, the one with the rooster is only a brand of this sauce, sriracha itself is the TYPE of sauce. Mon Nov 14 12:20:02 -0800 2005 1677675 0 Two Forks