You're goin' need a good pot

I just realized that I haven't talked about a good pot and without a great pot you aren't going to have good soup. Probably obvious to most, but let's break down the whole pot conception for those of us who have had the best of intentions in creating a soup, only to end up with a burnt broth, yuck.

When I get "seriously soupy," I use a 20-qt stainless steel pot from Macy's, (not a plug just a matter of fact) that came in a 10-piece cooking set (small pots, large pots, pans--you get the gist). So, quite simply I use this pot because I have it in my house. For those of you who have a similar pot or one that you love very dearly, this pot really isn't for you (but please read it anyway for the S & G's). For those of us who are new to the soupy revolution, you are going to need a great pot to create the soups of your dreams.

There is a lot involved in purchasing a pot. Should I buy an expensive one? Is the one with the celebrity name attached to it any better than the lesser known brand? Why stainless steel? And on and on...And if you please know the answers to these questions, do share. I searched for pots that were nice on the wallet, as well as those that could stand up to any soupy creation you embarked upon.

Let's review some pots to see how they measure up:

1. Martha Stewart Collection Cooking Elements Stock Pot, 20-qt- A hefty pot that retails for $ 99.00. A pricey pot indeed, but is oven safe up to 500 degrees, dishwasher safe, and has a aluminum encapsulated base, so your soups will cook quickly and evenly. Also, only available at Macy's, which is currently on sale for $59.99. (http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=318192&CategoryID=7642)

2. Simply Calphalon Stainless by Calphalon, 8-qt - A smaller sized pot, yet equally able to handle your soupy creations. This pot comes as a set and includes a stock pot, stainless pasta insert, stainless steamer insert and a glass lid, not too shabby for a retail price of $80 bucks or $63 if you purchase it on (http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=198029). This pot is also dishwasher safe and has a 10-year warranty--that will surely make quiet a lot of soups.

3. Stockpots by Oneida, 16-qt- A nice sized-pot that comes in a variety of sizes and colors. This particular model is stainless steel with a glass lid and has encapsulated aluminum base so your soups will be cooked evenly. Along with a 10-year warranty and dishwasher safe functions, this pot is a medium-price point that is a gorgeous addition to any kitchen.

4. Prime Pacific Trading Stainless Steel 12 and 16-qt Stockpot Set with Glass Lids - First off what an amazing price point ($28.99) and for 2 pots no less! Sold directly on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Pacific-Trading-Stainless-Stockpot/dp/B000YA7R84/ref=pd_sbs_k_2) this stainless steel stock pot set is great for any soupy beginner. With features such as reinforced bottoms, riveted handles, and a glass lid, you can easily test out more than one soup a week.

You should also check out (www.reluctantgourmet.com/soup_pot.htm). This site really breaks down how to pick a great pot and discusses more size options and varieties of pots to choose from. Since I like to kept it simple and I am happy what works for me, knowing the different types of pots isn't really important to me, but that is not to say that you won't find the information relevant.

Seriously Soupy Serena