11-year-old Natalia loved to cook with her mom. It was her mom’s soup that helped keep her warm when chemotherapy treatments left her feeling cold, and what ultimately became the inspiration for her wish. 

Natalia had a compassion for others that was contagious. When asked to choose her one true wish, Natalia said she wanted to help other people. She understood at a young age that a wish is powerful and why she was willing to share hers with the Cincinnati community. 

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana paired Natalia with a chef to create a soup that would help keep others warm. On the day her wish came true, Natalia served her soup and passed out blankets to more than 150 homeless people at one of Cincinnati’s largest shelters.  

Her wish is a shining example of the power of a wish for children, their families and entire communities. 

Below you’ll find the recipe for Natalia’s special soup.   

Ingredients (serves 10-12) 

Directions

1) In salty boiling water, cook asparagus, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach. Cool off and chop in small pieces. Set aside and keep the blanching water. 

2) Cut into a small dice and keep trimmings:

• Carrot, turnip, parsnip, leek, celery, butternut squash, onion and garlic. Set aside with trimmings.
• Bell peppers and scallions. Set aside

3) Cut potatoes and cook with the trimmings (from vegetables in A and B) in the blanching water until soft. Then pureé in blender. 

4) In a large pot, sauteé vegetables from A with butter and xtra virgin olive oil, add thyme and bay leaves. Cover with chicken stock, vegetable stock, or water (chicken will give a stronger flavor; water will provide more of the true vegetables’ taste). Simmer until vegetables cook, add remaining vegetables and the vegetable pureé, add bowtie pasta and cooked white beans. 

5) Season with salt, pepper. Add cayenne pepper for a little kick.

6) Simmer and then remove bay leaves and thyme. Ready to serve!