Since Susan mentioned chicken soup, I thought I'd mention a Chicken Soup secret passed onto me from some friend of my mom's husband who was a rat bastard but a cook cook. He brought over some chicken soup once when I was sick and I remarked how good it was and he said "it's the turnip". I had no idea what he meant since no turnip was evident.

Eventually I asked his wife and she said that he had always told her to make extra mashed turnips at Thanksgiving or whenever they had them and freeze some in an ice-cube tray. Then, take them out, and put in a freezer bag. When he'd make his chicken soup, he'd plop at least 6 cubes of the finely mashed frozen turnip into the stock right at the end before adding back the de-boned chicken. it would instantly thaw, he'd swish it around and it sweetened the soup ever so slightly.

I've done that myself from time to time and really does add something to the soup.

P.S. Susan - I have my own version of "Snowball" hanging about my house right now who I'm attempting to lure into the cottage.   Guess what I'm calling him?