Harvest Soup for the Soul

Simple Meals Can Be the Most Meaningful

A rustic harvest soup filled with fall vegetables served with fresh cornbread

On the first cool day of fall, something in us longs for warmth. Sweaters come out, leaves crunch underfoot, and the kitchen practically calls for a simmering pot of soup.

Soup is simple — one pot, many ingredients, all coming together to nourish and comfort. In a way, it mirrors the Christian life: God takes the ordinary parts of our days, stirs them together, and makes something beautiful.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

Autumn harvest soup ingredients on a wooden chopping board.

Sharing a warm, homemade meal is more than filling stomachs — it’s filling hearts.

A simple pot of soup can gather family around the table, invite conversation, and remind us of God’s faithful provision. Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life, but He also cared for physical hunger. He fed crowds with loaves and fish, and He broke bread with His disciples. Meals matter to Him — and every bite can remind us of His care.

Meals don’t need to be complicated to be meaningful:

A pot of soup, a loaf of bread, and the company of loved ones can create the perfect setting for gratitude and joy.

Harvest Soup

Ingredients (Serves 6–8)

• 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced into half-moons

• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 medium carrots, chopped

• 2 celery stalks, chopped

• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced (about 2 cups)

• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree

• 6 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)

• 1 tsp dried thyme

• 1 tsp smoked paprika (adds depth!)

• Salt & black pepper, to taste

  Instructions

  1. In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.

  2. Add smoked sausage slices; cook until browned. Remove and set aside.

  3. In the same pot, sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until softened (5–6 minutes).

  4. Stir in sweet potato, pumpkin puree, broth, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper.

  5. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer 20–25 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender.

  6. Return the sausage to the pot. Simmer another 5 minutes.

  7. Taste and adjust seasoning.

  Serve with skillet cornbread, rolls, or a salad.

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