How to Make Soup from Scratch: A Simple (and Satisfying!) Guide

If you’ve ever stared into your fridge wondering what on earth to make for dinner, let me introduce you to one of my favorite solutions: soup.

Not only is it cozy and comforting—it’s also incredibly forgiving. You don’t need a fancy recipe. You just need a rhythm. Let me walk you through my go-to method for building a delicious soup from scratch, no measuring cups required.

This guide will help you take whatever is in your fridge and turn it into a soup masterpiece!

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1. Start with Your Base: Aromatics

This is where the magic begins. Think of aromatics as the flavor foundation of your soup. A classic mirepoix—that’s just a fancy French word for diced onion, carrot, and celery—is a great place to start. Sauté them in a little olive oil or butter until soft and fragrant.

Feeling bold? Toss in some garlic, shallots, or leeks too. Your soup, your rules.

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2. Add Herbs & Spices

This is where the personality of your soup shines. Go Italian with oregano and basil. Get cozy with thyme and bay leaves. Add warmth with cumin or paprika. A pinch of red pepper flakes? Yes, please.

Pro tip: Toast your spices for a minute before adding liquid to unlock their flavor.

If you want some inspiration, I created a full Spice Guide that will help you pair herbs and spices with the ingredients in your soup.

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3. Build the Body

Time to bulk it up. This is where you add veggies, beans, or meats—whatever you have on hand.

• Chopped potatoes, zucchini, kale stems, or mushrooms? Toss them in.

• Leftover rotisserie chicken? Even better.

• A can of white beans? Always a win.

It’s all fair game here.

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4. Soup It Up!

Now pour in your broth or stock—chicken, beef, veggie, bone broth, whatever fits the vibe. Enough to cover all your ingredients with a little extra room to simmer.

Let it all cook together until your veggies are tender and the flavors have had time to mingle. (This is where your house starts to smell amazing.)

The longer it simmers the more the flavor comes alive.

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5. Finish Strong

Now’s the time to stir in the quick-cooking ingredients like:

• Leafy greens (spinach, kale, parsley)

• Cream or coconut milk if you want it velvety

• A squeeze of lemon or lime to brighten everything up.

Taste and adjust your salt and spice—this step makes all the difference.

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6. Garnish Game

A good garnish takes your soup from “meh” to wow.

Try:

• A swirl of cream

• Fresh herbs

• Grated cheese

• Croutons or crusty bread

• A drizzle of olive oil

• Herbed Pistou (similar to Pesto)

Whatever you add, make it pretty and delicious.

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Soup is the ultimate clean-out-the-fridge meal—and once you’ve got the basic steps down, you’ll be whipping up your own creations in no time.

Have a favorite combo or go-to soup? Drop it in the comments or tag me on Instagram @491westmainst so I can see your cozy bowls!

From Scratch Series: How to Make Beeswax Wraps at Home

As part of my journey toward building a more sustainable, low-waste household, I’ve discovered some game-changing products that are both practical and planet-friendly. One of my absolute favorites? Beeswax wraps.

I’ll be honest—I was skeptical at first. Could these really replace plastic wrap? But after trying out a variety pack from Goldilocks Wraps I was hooked. They sealed tightly, were easy to wash, and felt like a small but powerful shift away from single-use waste.

A Better Alternative to Plastic Wrap

Let’s talk about plastic wrap for a second. Has anyone else noticed how it just... doesn’t cling anymore? I swear, every time I use it, I feel like I’m starring in a low-budget infomercial—fighting to get it to stick to anything.

Beeswax wraps, on the other hand, actually do their job. They cling. They seal. And they can be used again and again. Once I realized I could make them myself, my inner DIY-er kicked into high gear. The best part? They're surprisingly easy to make at home.

If you’ve been curious about how to create your own reusable food wraps, this guide is for you.

DIY Beeswax Wraps

A Step-by-Step Tutorial

MATERIALS

• Cotton Fabric – Any print you like; 100% cotton works best

• Pinking Shears – Helps prevent fraying

• Beeswax – Pellets or bars work (about ½ cup needed)

• Pine Resin – Adds stickiness

• Carrier Oil – I use jojoba, but coconut, avocado, or olive oil work too

• Parchment Paper

• Iron

• Paintbrush – One you don’t mind sacrificing

• Mason Jar – For melting the mixture

• Pot – For boiling water

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut Your Fabric. Use pinking shears to cut your cotton fabric into your desired sizes. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Small: ~7” x 8”

• Medium: ~10” x 11”

• Large: ~13” x 14”

2. Mix Your Ingredients. In a mason jar, combine:

• ½ cup beeswax

• 2 tablespoons pine resin

• 1 tablespoon carrier oil

Note: I used cubes with these ingredients already mixed. Here they are in Amazon.

3. Melt the Mixture. Fill a pot halfway with water and bring it to a boil. Carefully place the mason jar into the pot to create a double boiler. Stir the mixture occasionally using your paintbrush until fully melted.

🔔 Heads up: The brush will be nearly impossible to clean afterward, so dedicate one just for this purpose.

4. Apply to Fabric. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a flat surface. Lay your fabric on top. Starting from the center, lightly brush the melted mixture onto the fabric.

5. Even it Out with Heat. Once coated, place another piece of parchment paper over the top. Iron over the parchment, allowing the heat to melt and spread the mixture evenly through the fabric.

6. Cool and Set. Carefully peel the fabric off the parchment paper and hang or lay flat to cool. Within minutes, your beeswax wrap will be ready to use!

Why You'll Love Them

• 🧼 Washable – Just rinse with cool water and mild soap

• 🔁 Reusable – Lasts up to a year with regular use

• 🌱 Compostable – Zero-waste at the end of their life

Share Your DIY!

Tried this project? I’d love to see what you create! Tag me on Instagram and share your favorite patterns, wrap sizes, or pro tips.

From-Scratch Series: Ditch the Bottle — 3 Homemade Salad Dressings You’ll Actually Crave

Let’s be honest: most store-bought salad dressings are either too sweet, too gloopy, or filled with a laundry list of ingredients you can’t pronounce. That’s why today, in our From-Scratch series, we’re tossing the bottle and whisking up three easy, flavor-packed salad dressings that you can make right at home.

Not only are they fresher and more customizable, but you probably already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen.

And yes—there’s a video coming! Check out my Instagram Reel where I make all three.

🥗 Why Make Your Own Dressing?

• Better flavor: Fresh herbs, real garlic, and citrus beat preservatives every time.

• Control the ingredients: Ditch the added sugars, fillers, and mystery oils.

• Saves money: One bottle of good dressing costs what it takes to make several batches at home.

• Zero waste: Use up fresh herbs and pantry staples before they go bad.

1. Homemade Ranch

This is the creamy classic done right—cool, herby, and perfect for dipping or drizzling.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• ½ cup sour cream

• ½ cup milk or buttermilk

• 2 tsp fresh dill

• ½ tsp dried parsley

• ½ tsp dried chives

• ¼ tsp onion powder

• ¼ tsp garlic powder

• ¼ tsp salt

• ¼–½ tsp freshly cracked pepper

• Juice of ½ lemon (about 2 tsp)

Tip: Let it chill for at least 30 minutes—flavors deepen beautifully.

2. Balsamic Vinaigrette

A go-to for salads, grain bowls, or even roasted veggies. Tangy, balanced, and endlessly versatile.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup olive oil

• 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1 Tbsp honey

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• ¼ tsp salt

• Freshly cracked pepper to taste

Tip: Shake it in a mason jar for the easiest, no-mess dressing ever.

3. Green Goddess

Vibrant, herb-packed, and naturally dairy-free. This one doubles as a dip or marinade.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup olive oil

• 2 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar

• Juice + zest of 1 lemon

• 1–3 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 tsp Dijon mustard

• ¼ cup green onions

• ¼ cup fresh basil

• ¼ cup fresh parsley

• 1 Tbsp honey

• Salt & pepper to taste

Tip: Blend it smooth in a food processor for that signature creamy texture.

Make It Your Own

Use these recipes as a base and tweak them to match your mood or what’s in your fridge. Swap herbs, play with vinegars, or adjust sweetness—homemade dressings are all about flexibility.

✨ Coming to life on Instagram! Watch how I whip up all three dressings in a quick, satisfying reel. Follow @491westmainst and tag me when you make them—I love seeing your from-scratch creations.