Broth to get the soup started

Make soup quickly with flavorful broths that can be kept in the pantry. Be creative -- add fresh chopped vegetables such as spinach, nappa cabbage, bok choy or green onions; fresh herbs; cubed tofu; cooked shrimp; or crab meat. Stir in a beaten egg for an egg drop-style soup. Add a final punch by stirring in sesame oil or dried red pepper flakes.

Annie Chun’s Japanese soup broth in shiitake mushroom, traditional miso, and Chinese ginger chicken flavors, 32-ounce carton, $2.39, from Trader Joe’s stores.