• Work
  • Watercolor Sketches
    • Christmas
    • Patterns
    • Everything Else!
    • Character Design
  • Books
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Bio
    • FAQs
    • Interviews and Articles
    • Links
    • Visits
    • Free Downloads
    • Crafts
    • Cooking
    • Activity Book and Teaching Guide
  • Store
Menu

Melissa Iwai

  • Work
  • Watercolor Sketches
  • Surface Design
    • Christmas
    • Patterns
    • Everything Else!
    • Character Design
  • Books
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • about
    • Bio
    • FAQs
    • Interviews and Articles
    • Links
    • Visits
  • Fun
    • Free Downloads
    • Crafts
    • Cooking
    • Activity Book and Teaching Guide
  • Store
Soup Day by Melissa Iwai

January is National Soup Month

January 12, 2016

Did you know January is National Soup Month? It's also Happy Organizing Month and Brainteaser Month. I learned this from the Library Sparks' activity calendar. It's a great resource for keeping track of holidays, celebrations, and literary goings on for kids, parents, and teachers. Download a copy for free here.

Soup Day was inspired by my son, Jamie. I created Snowy Day Soup (the recipe of which is at the end of the story) to get him to eat his veggies when he was a toddler. He'd help me choose the vegetables at the market, and I’d let him cut the soft ones like the mushrooms, with a plastic knife (with my help). 

Here is an old video of us making it together! I can't believe it's been 5 and a half years since this was filmed! 

I found this video I didn't know existed on YouTube of Soup Day being read on Story Castle this past summer.

 

Another favorite soup of my son's is Zucchini Soup, and we have it regularly. It is so easy to make, even he can do it by himself! I illustrated a version of it which I submitted to They Draw and Cook. Here’s the art and the recipe:

Zucchini Soup Melissa Iwai 2016

Zucchini Soup

1 lb. zucchini sliced

1 cup chicken broth or other broth

salt and pepper to taste

  1. Slice zucchini into rounds. Steam. You can either steam on the stove or in the microwave, covered with saran for 8 minutes.
  2. Careful transfer the cooked zucchini and juices into a blender. Add chicken broth and seasonings. Pulse several times on low, and then blend at high until completely smooth.
  3. Heat and serve.

Happy Slurping! :)

In children's illustration, Art, books, Recipe Tags soup, soupday, book, recipe, They Draw and Cook, national soup day
← Let's Go to the Hardware Store!Happy 2016! →
Ran into FOuR friends from high school randomly yesterday, ending with my friends Cathy and Greg Borgard  their dog at my Alma mater! We got a private tour of the amazing aquarium housed there!! It was built long after we graduated, but the lunch courtyard looked exactly the same as it did in the 80s. Haha 
#cabrillohighschool #cabrilloaquarium
Ran into FOuR friends from high school randomly yesterday, ending with my friends Cathy and Greg Borgard their dog at my Alma mater! We got a private tour of the amazing aquarium housed there!! It was built long after we graduated, but the lunch courtyard looked exactly the same as it did in the 80s. Haha #cabrillohighschool #cabrilloaquarium
Happy Valentine's Day! 
#dogs #art #painting #famouscouples #dogart #dogillustration
Happy Valentine's Day! #dogs #art #painting #famouscouples #dogart #dogillustration
Hey folks! In Lompoc, my home town, now! We'll be at The Bookstore on North H tomorrow from 1-4……! #bookevent #bookillustration #kidlit #middlegrade #childrensbooks #middlegradefiction #picturebooks
Hey folks! In Lompoc, my home town, now! We'll be at The Bookstore on North H tomorrow from 1-4……! #bookevent #bookillustration #kidlit #middlegrade #childrensbooks #middlegradefiction #picturebooks
Got to meet @caseykrimmel of the @arthivecollective at Powell's during our book event there on Monday! And look, another Hive nember @terrikasuba 's @blue_q tea towel! 
#teatowels #illustration #powellsbooks
Got to meet @caseykrimmel of the @arthivecollective at Powell's during our book event there on Monday! And look, another Hive nember @terrikasuba 's @blue_q tea towel! #teatowels #illustration #powellsbooks
Saw this pupper waiting outside for their owner. Did anyone know what breed? Our Nikki would love to play. I thought maybe it was a Labradoodle... So fluffy like a teddy bear. 😍

#dailypaint #dailydog #indiaink ##painting
Saw this pupper waiting outside for their owner. Did anyone know what breed? Our Nikki would love to play. I thought maybe it was a Labradoodle... So fluffy like a teddy bear. 😍 #dailypaint #dailydog #indiaink ##painting
Poor pupper has to wear the come of shame because she has an irritation in her hind paw and keeps licking it. #sadpuppy #shibapuppy #coneofshamesucks #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #watercolorsketch #watercolordog
Poor pupper has to wear the come of shame because she has an irritation in her hind paw and keeps licking it. #sadpuppy #shibapuppy #coneofshamesucks #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #watercolorsketch #watercolordog
Nikki napping and letting mom work today. 😍😍😍 #fetalpig 
#shibalove #shibes #watercolorsketch #ink #naptime #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #dailyart
Nikki napping and letting mom work today. 😍😍😍 #fetalpig #shibalove #shibes #watercolorsketch #ink #naptime #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #dailyart
Sad Nikki. There's no snow outside, but the booties are required because of the caustic salt sprinkled everywhere! 
#winterwoes #shibapuppy #watercolor #pawzboots #ink #sadpuppy
Sad Nikki. There's no snow outside, but the booties are required because of the caustic salt sprinkled everywhere! #winterwoes #shibapuppy #watercolor #pawzboots #ink #sadpuppy
Sketching at #dekalbmarkethall in downtown Brooklyn yesterday with @mcswiss ! Great foodie place. 😊 So fun to sketch and chat and eat good food with friends. ♥️ #brooklynpeople #watercolor #sketching #drawing #sketchbook
Sketching at #dekalbmarkethall in downtown Brooklyn yesterday with @mcswiss ! Great foodie place. 😊 So fun to sketch and chat and eat good food with friends. ♥️ #brooklynpeople #watercolor #sketching #drawing #sketchbook
I always love seeing owners and dogs who match. 🐶🐾
#dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #watercolorart #dailysketch #dailyart
I always love seeing owners and dogs who match. 🐶🐾 #dailypaint #dogsofbrooklyn #watercolorart #dailysketch #dailyart
Subscribe to Blog - Melissa Iwai by Email

The Hungry Artist

A blog about healthy eating and cooking with kids.


Visit my cooking blog, inspired by my book, Soup Day. :)