Hodge-Podge (soup)

Hodge-Podge is a soup made of a mixture of various ingredients. According to the 1903 "The Steward's Handbook and Guide to Party Catering" [Jessup Whitehead, "The Steward's Handbook and Guide to Party Catering The Steward's Handbook and Guide to Party Catering', p. 342] , it is "common English for Hotch-Potch, a mixture; mutton soup thick with pieces of meat and all sorts of vegetables, also Hot-Pot."

Often this soup is a token of poverty, when a food is prepared from whatever ingredients are available. [ [http://www.ncccusa.org/poverty/Stories-Advocating-3-Smithtown.htm "A Bread for the World 'Covenant Church' in Smithtown, New York "] ]

In Nova Scotia, it is a particular stew prepared in August consisting of new baby vegetables (potatoes, carrots, and beans notably). The vegetables are boiled in enough water to cover them and when the baby potatoes are soft; heavy cream, butter and salt/pepper are added. Locally, the addition of meat or older vegetables would be considered blasphemy to the tradition.

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