When I'm feeling blue (Campbell's Mushroom Soup)

Member Name: bondgirlk8

Product:	Campbell's Mushroom Soup
Date:	12/01/09 (430 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The best mushroom soup in the world

Disadvantages: None for me

Remember when you were little and you were feeling poorly, your Mum always knew what to give you to eat to make you feel better. My number one poorly food, without question, was Campbell's Mushroom Soup. Even now, a melancholic day, or a headache that will not budge will always have me reaching for a tin. I know, beyond all doubt that it will make me feel better. It always does.

It is important to recognise that I refer specifically to Campbell's, not just any mushroom soup. To my mind there is the world of difference. I am a lover of all things mushroom I can state with 100% certainty that of all the mushroom soups, Campbell's is the finest - by a long way. This is especially true when you are just not feeling quite like yourself.


PACKAGING

The iconic red and white tin, immortalised by Andy Warhol in the 1960's has been used by the Campbell's soup company since 1898 and is a familiar sight to most of us.

Campbell's tins are smaller than most tins of soup produced by rival brands, the reason for this being that Campbell's soup is condensed. Being a hater of over-packaging, this gets a big thumbs-up from me - the smaller tin not only means that less metal is used to produce it, it also means more can be transported at once, meaning less vehicles are used and ultimately less petrol. The can itself is also 100% recyclable - yippee!

Other than being instantly recognisable, and smaller, the tin itself is very appealing. The fact it hasn't changed much in such a long time, means that we all remember it and there is something comfortingly familiar in it. The bright colours make it stand out from the rest.

Another packaging delight is the fact that each tin carries a little recipe that you can use the soup as a base to make. These are usually very easy and cheap to make, use basic store-cupboard type ingredients, and sound tasty, warm and homely. Again, comfort food appeal. Today's tin recommends that I could use it to make Tuna Pasta Bake. It would take me 5 minutes to prepare, 20 minutes to cook and would serve 4 people. I own, in my cupboard, all the required ingredients with the exception of tuna. This is because I am vegetarian and if I were to make this I would replace this ingredient anyway. This could easily be done.


CONDENSED SOUP

Condensed soup is different to regular soup because it is a lot thicker, and will require water to be added to it at the heating stage. This also makes the product more versatile as it can be used in its condensed state as an excellent base for meals, such as the pasta bake described above.


PRICE

A tin of Campbell's Condensed Mushroom Soup costs (as per today: 12th January 2009) 53p. This is great value for what, in my opinion, is a delicious meal. It can be directly compared to a tin of Baxters or Heinz, both of which would set you back somewhere in the region of 80p and is, in my opinion, a nicer soup (for mushroom at least, I have my favourite brands for each of my flavours of choice).


PREPARATION

In order to make this soup, you will need a large saucepan and a tin opener, as a ring-pull is not attached to the top of the can.

The can of soup is opened and the contents placed into a pan. The soup will be extremely thick and 'gloopy' due to its condensed nature and will likely plop into your pan in one piece accompanied by a really satisfying sound.

You will then need to fill the empty can with water and add this also to the pan, which will then be placed on the hob on a low heat.

I like to use a small whisk at this point to gently stir the soup and the water together as it heats to help it better combine. The soup is gradually warmed, on a very low heat, until it is almost, but not quite, at boiling point. It should never be allowed to actually boil, but getting it close will leave you with lovely hot warming soup made to perfection.

The soup can be heated using a microwave instead, though I very much doubt the results would be as good. I have never tried and so cannot say for certain, but I wouldn't like to forgo my whisking, and the temperature and boiling point are not as easy to control. Hence, I would recommend this product be made in a pan on the hob. It may take slightly longer and result in a pan to wash, but it will, I promise, be very much worth it.

To make it into the ulitmate meal, cut some thick white (preferably homemade, or otherwise fresh) bread to accompany your meal. If you like to spice it up a little, I can highly recommend black pepper or paprika or both!


TASTE

I mentioned previously that I love mushrooms, and no other make of mushroom soup comes close to this one, I shall try to explain why:

- It tastes very 'mushroomy'. Now, that might sound a little silly, but it tastes like mushroom should taste. It is not trying to hard. It has not added to much onion, or garlic, or stock or herbage of some sort. It is what it is, and it is what it is meant to be. I like that.

- The 'bits' in it are really good. The 'bits' are not tiny strands or flecks of mushroom or that awful grim rehydrated type stuff. They are proper chucks of mushroom, cubes of mushroom that if you so wish (as sometimes I do) you can chew. And what do they taste of? You got it, mushroom! Again, a rare novelty in a mushroom soup.

- It is really, really creamy. It is thick, tasty and creamy. There is no way you could describe it as watery or lacking in flavour. I am a black pepper addict, and cover every item of food I eat in the stuff an obscene extent. However, with this soup, I don't want to put much in. Just one twist or two of the mill is all I need. The simple-ness of the flavour is one of the reasons I think it works so well as 'poorly tea'.


Overall, I love this soup so much and there is nothing like it to pick me up when I am down. I recommend it to any fan of mushrooms, and any lover of soup. I know you'll love it.


Thanks for reading

© Bondgirlk8 - January 2009

Summary: Makes me feel better when nothing else can