A bowl of caldo will satisfy the soul

As the autumn season begins to make its first appearance, I’m reminded of caldos, Mexican soups, and how they mean something special to so many of us.

The mornings are a little cooler. The breeze feels a bit more sentimental. The evenings are turning cozier, and caldos are on my mind. Caldo could be translated to the word soup, but really it is so much more. A good caldo is a warm family moment, a room filled with laughter, or an evening at a quiet table of two.

Caldos can be made up of vegetables and potatoes. Albondigas is a caldo that is meatball based. Caldo de res, is a hearty, meaty beef soup. We all know of posole and menudo — traditional holiday and Sunday morning favorites. And of all caldos that come to mind, my favorite is caldo de queso.

I remember growing up having many bowls of this humble meal. It only has a few ingredients, potatoes, cheese, green chile, tomatoes, and onion. It’s easy to make and can feed a large family at a small price. It’s perfect for a poor and hungry Mexican family.

Caldo de queso was served at home many times. When I visited tios and tias, there was caldo. At nana’s home, caldo was a staple. The…