I started collecting these cute soup bowls when we were living in our first apartment. I found my first two {onion and mushroom} together in a charity shop, and ever since then, I’ve been finding the odd mug all over the country. I picked up my sixth mug yesterday and I now have a nice little collection. I’m particularly intrigued with the mulligatawny recipe which includes mutton, curry, parsnip, and other interesting combinations …
Onion and mushroom soup – €2 each at Gorta, scotch broth – €1 Mrs. Quin’s Shop, oxtail and tomato soup – €1 each again at Gorta, mulligatawny – €1 from Vincents.
Interesting to see that you have a set of these mugs too, though I have a Chicken Soup one in place of your Mulligatawny (so I'm envious!) Mine were given us in 1985 as an engagement present and I have managed to collect a few more from charity shops since – they are a really useful size. I will definitely be hunting for a Mulligatawny one now. Wonder if they were only available in Ireland but not here in the UK. Seven types seems an odd number too so I wonder too if there are any more!
hopeeternal
'Meanderings through my Cookbook'
Thanks for your comment, hopeeternal. And here I thought I was the only one interested in these soup mugs. I've always wondered what decade they originated from! They're so cute and kitsch. I think I need to display mine in a better way. They're kind of shoved into my kitchen press at the moment. Not very lovingly.
I'm not sure I want to try the mulligatawny soup. Curry, mutton and parsnip? Together?
I actually managed to find them online here! – http://www.hnguoan.cn/product/288060864-209467828/14_OZ_soup_cup.html
I have 4 of these bowls and my mom has 5. I love them so much. There are 2 different designs, one has a thicker rim than the other. I am from Canada and this is where my collection waits for me to return :(. I am currently in the UK and cant seem to find any in the charity shops. But going to have to keep looking. Could you tell me what the brand is on the bottom? i cant remember thanks 🙂
I checked the bottom of all my bowls, and I'm afraid the ones I have are mostly blank 🙁 Two of them just say 'Made in China'. Sorry I couldn't have been of more help. I wonder what yours in Canada say on the bottom then? Hmm.
That's unusual, since I found all of mine in charity shops here in Ireland. Only two of them are similar size and shape, and the rest have different and mismatched handles, bowls, and shades of ceramic.
Best of luck in your hunt 😉
I have four of these mugs (found in Florida/US)- mine are tomato, onion, mushroom, and chicken. My mugs are a different shape though, they're sort of squared off and not "pot-like" at all. I'm always on the lookout for more and have never found them anywhere!! Oh, mine also have no writing on the bottom.
Could you tell me what the recipe on your Scotch Broth cup says?
Thanks and love your collection!
No problem Bag Lady, here's what's on the mug –
1 lb neck of lamb
1 teaspoon salt
1 quart cold water
1.5 oz pearl barley
2 carrots
2 leeks
1 small turnip
1 stick celery
pepper
1 dessert spoon parsley
Doesn't say anything about method, but maybe you can go by an existing recipe? Enjoy, and let me know how it turns out 🙂
I am too collects these recipes soup mugs, I’ve search for Recipe Soup Mugs and there are only 6 recipes came up so, I'm assuming there's only 6 different ones and I'm missing a Mushroom Soup Mug to complete my collection.
I love pieces of history, Happy collecting Y'all 🙂
I think there's more than 6, since there's a Chicken Soup mug. I haven't spotted any more mugs in aaaages though. I guess I need to look harder.
They're super cute, best of luck collecting 🙂
This is wild!! I have collected these for years (in Australia) and have over 40! I have some "rare" ones with variations in forms. I love the "1 cup half and half" as the final ingredient for Mushroom soup. They are indeed the perfect size. Great to see there are other collectors – they ARE in every charity shop aren't they! Can't believe it's the same all over the world!
Wait, hold the phone – over 40! Are they all different?! That is ridiculous. I can't get over how many people have these. Here I was thinking it was an Irish thing, haha. If you have a picture of all your mugs, I'd love to see! And I meant that to sound in no way creepy.
I was googling soup mugs because I recently found 2 of these (I'm in the states – Indiana!). Crazy that people all over the world have these. I want to find more!! I have the "Mushroom" and "Onion" ones. 🙂
Keep your eyes peeled Katherine 🙂 I've found, the moment you stop actively looking for them, is when I always find them. They're sneeky buggers.
My husband received a boxed set of 4 of these bowls (in Oklahoma) and we love them. I found your site when I googled the recipes to see if anyone had attempted to make them. I prefer to have instructions when I cook, but it looks like I'll have to go it on my own! We have the Tomato, Chicken Noodle, Mushroom, and Onion. On the tomato one, the heading on the recipe says "Tomatensoep". It looks like Middle English to me! The other ones are spelled properly. One day I'll venture out and attempt to follow one of these recipes!
I could be very wrong, but 'Tomatensoep' sounds Dutch. Don't quote me on that though.
I'm always amazed when I hear from people who have these mugs, and from all over the place. I would never have thought of them to be such a big hit! Right, I'm going to have to try these recipes and blog them. I'm with you – instructions would be very helpful. Fingers crossed.
I have 4 for sale if anyone wants them UK only old ones i think no markings 20 for all 4
I've herd these contain lead in the paint is this true??