Macro photography contest | Pebble soup

I loved this tale as a child because even in my tender years a narrative was found to convince me of the ugliness of human stinginess, the inherent narrow-mindedness of cowards, and the unattractive behavior of all those willing to refuse a favor only to insure their own... (let's say headquarters). Today I already know that Pebble Soup is a French folk tale that teaches virtues and builds values in a person. that's why I will share it with you, dear users of kulinarno.bg. For those who know it, let it serve as a return to faith in a better world. For those who encounter history for the first time, let the narrative be a teacher of humanity.

The year is 1918, and the French soldiers who survived the battle for the defeated Entente were returning from the battlefield to their places of birth. These were mostly young boys who had recovered from the torturous military actions, experienced fears and hardships. And mostly hunger. Because for more than a year they didn't taste the mother's feasts that they grew up with, they couldn't enjoy the simmering beans in the home hearth.

But people were also wild. They lost their men from home for four summers - the strong labor force that cultivated the land was at the front, and in the villages there were women and children who suffered from muteness.

A young soldier arrived in a small village, where a morsel was precious to everyone, and asked for food. But everyone refused him, looked down at the ground and continued with their work. Then the boy asked a grandmother for a large cauldron. The old woman gave it to him, and the little soldier sat down in the village square, lit a fire, poured a lot of water into the cauldron and waited. Soon people gathered around him to see what the young man was preparing with only water. He reached into his bag and pulled out two stones. He dropped them into the still unboiled water and began to explain to the crowd.

• These are magic stones. They're nothing like ordinary riverboats, and I've enjoyed their magic many times. When one puts them in water to boil well, a broth so delicious is obtained that it would delight the senses of even a nobleman. This is how soup is made from stones - you will all see - the hero hesitated for about a minute, then added - if there was also a little cabbage, a soup worthy of kings would be made.

A grandmother remembered that she had some cabbages left in her garden, hobbled over and brought two of them to turn with the magic stones. And the guy mumbled under his breath, but so that the observers of the strange recipe could hear him.

• Bray, now, if there was a little veal... The soup would not have been a soup for kings, but a soup for gods.

Not long after, a young widow brought in large beef bones with some meat on them.

• Here - anyway, I don't have a pot big enough to boil them at home. My husband once wanted to give them to the dogs.
  

Gone are the bones in the soup. The village baker rolled up his sleeves to knead bread - the magic soup would feed the whole village according to the soldier's words. A few potatoes, some corn, carrots were also found - they had already dried up, but they also got into the stones. Their grandfather brought onions, and the village healer donated aromatic herbs for the common meal.

Just two hours later, everyone was sitting in the square blissfully eating the pebble soup, which was really delicious, especially with a piece of warm, freshly baked bread for accompaniment. The villagers agreed that these two stones were indeed magical and could fill everyone's throats. The young man gave them as a gift, because of the kindness shown, and ordered them to escort:

• There, now you have real magic. You put water, boil the stones and the soup is ready. All you have to do is bring what you have to make it taste divine. In every garden you will find some onions, cabbage, carrots, corn. There will always be a little space in some house, and the baker - if he is alive and well, he can always knead bread. That way you'll all be happy.

The photos were taken with Xiaomi Note 9 Pro

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