Getty ImagesLike so many other mothers, I swore off processed and prepared foods when my first child was born. Only the purest for her, I thought smugly to myself. Vows like that are easier to make when you're on maternity leave and the care and feeding of your little bundle consumes your waking (a.k.a. non-sleeping) life. Fast forward a few years: I'm long since back to the full-time work grind, a second child has joined the fold, and the scheduling of school, playdates, and the extras feels like another job in itself. It wasn't long before my resolve weakened and I was lingering in the soup aisle at the supermarket, reading labels. Cans of bean, lentil, and split pea soup went into the cart. I had the idea of bulking them up by serving them with a grain for a fast impromptu meal -- a trick I learned from my husband who'd been a vegetarian in his college days.

It's human nature to put your mark on something, to make it "yours," and as a food professional I couldn't help but tinker with embellishments. By gussying them up with ingredients that are signature to different cuisines, I could take the family on flavor trips around the world. For instance, black bean soup goes to a Mexico with the addition of chipotles or ancho chiles; to Spain with a little Sherry and chorizo. Split pea soup loves bacon but goes to India very quickly with a spiced oil added at the last minute.

Don't confine your creative forces to canned soups, though. Packages of ramen noodles provide another flexible springboard for a quick meal too. Because they are incredibly cheap, I have no guilt about tossing out the MSG-laden flavor pouches. Instead, throw some finely chopped vegetables into the water as it's coming to a boil before adding the noodles, then flavor it with miso. You'll end up with the quickest bowl of comfort I know. It's so easy my younger daughter makes it regularly for a late-afternoon snack.

RECIPES


• Dilled Lentil Soup with Mushrooms and Tomatoes
• Quick Minestrone with Parmesan Toasts
• Black Bean Posole
• Chipotle Black Bean and Sweet Potato Soup
• Chicken Udon with Spinach and Mushrooms
• Quick Miso Ramen Soup with Broccoli and Carrot
• Indian Split Pea Soup with Tofu and Cilantro
• Lentil Soup with Kielbasa and Kale
• Sherried Black Bean with Chorizo and Yellow Rice
• Split Pea and Bacon Soup with Cheddar Toasts