I had a bit of a frantic afternoon yesterday.
The phone rang a little after 5pm and it was the admission’s lady from the local hospital. They were offering me a cancellation slot for a bit of surgery I need - nothing serious I might add, before you reach for the phone to send flowers and fruit…
It’s my wisdom fangs you see, irritating extras so they are and this morning I’ll be donning one of those attractive little gowns that leave the spots on your bottom on show to the world and his wife and I’ll be off to have them whipped out.
Thankfully, yesterday was veg box delivery day and I have a selection of delicious yummies that will be either honey roasted or just plain chopped, cooked and blitzed into soups, because my poorly chops won’t feel up to much for a few days.
Thankfully, my husband isn’t afraid of the oven but soups aren’t really his thing. It’s normally my department and I love transforming a few leftovers into delicious soups that warm the very soles of your feet - ideal for a chilly August.
Recipes are inspirational but it’s not essential you follow them word for word. Lots of people are put off of adapting them if they haven’t got the full set of ingredients, because they don’t have the confidence to just give it a go.
With around a third of the food we buy in the UK still being thrown away unused - which tot’s up to about £420.00 pa for the average family according to the Love Food Hate Waste Campaign - learning how to knock up some simple soups will make your budget stretch further, reduce the size of your bin and make you feel great about being so inventive!
I say, throw the rulebook out of the window, sling a few things in a pot and see what happens! It’s pretty hard to go wrong with a soup and you’ll open a whole new world of flavour if you can master the art of making a drop of stock from your stripped meat and fish bones too.
I’ve got stacks of cookery books, but imagine with the kids still on holiday and me out of action, Ray will want to do quick and easy food, so I’ve had a quick look around on the Internet for some simple recipes and I found hundreds of them!
The Vegetarian Society Selection
Many of them will turn raw and cooked food into an ideal treat for a fat-cheeked hamster.
Have a look yourself, give one a try and let me know how you get on!
Back soon,
TSx
I’m like you when it comes to soup - throw it in and hope for the best, but I do have a couple of really easy ones that your man might like to prepare for you:
Veg and lentil soup
In a saucepan place:
1 chopped onion
2 chopped carrots
3 sticks chopped celery
1 chopped leek
4 oz rede split lentils
1 clove smashed and chopped garlic
1 tbsp tomato puree
1 tsp mixed herbs
1 tsp paprika
2 pints stock or water
Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 30 mins and then puree if you prefer a thicker soup.
——————–
My other favourite soup is so quick to do! Tuscan chickpea soup
Puree 1 tin chickpeas in their juice and 1 tin tomatoes with their juice. Stir in 1 1/4 pints vegetable stock
Gently fry 1 clove of chopped garlic in a little olive oil for a couple of minutes until brown (not too hot for this or it will burn!)
Add the pureed chickpeas and tomatoes, 1/4 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tbsp tomato puree and salt and pepper to taste
Bring to the boil and then simmer for 5 minutes
Add 2 oz small pasta shapes and simmer for another 10 minutes
Voila!
Best of luck Tracey, hope all goes well for you xxx
Ahh the famous soup! I was lucky to have been taught how to make an excellent soup by Tracey. I still remember the day I had a lesson in my kitchen. It was amazing and a skill that I use each week. I now add pasta to it and it’s true that anything goes once you’ve got your stock sorted, I use Kallo organic lo salt veg cubes, they are really good. I know they are more expensive than most but no msg and they make a cheap nutritious meal. You can always blend a bit of your soup and then add it all together for a thicker but chunky soup too.
Hi Trace - oh no, you poor thing, one of my worst nightmares. I’m with you hun all the way. I girl after my own heart too, with the old sling it in approach. That’s the way I like it and the one I recommend to all ..vegetables…chop…stir…herbs…spices…blend…serve! Perhaps I should add another one for one of my off days……pray. Like the sound of Mrs G’s recipe though and lucky Debbie having had a personal lesson ;-D
Anyway hope you’ll be on the mend soon honey and if you’re in need of a straw, I know you’ll find one that’s reusable. xx
Me again… I’ve got something else to help cheer you up… your very first award. When you feel better, please pop over and have a look.
x
Mrs Green! Thank you my friend for that lovely recipe - we had it tonight - burplicious!
Debbie! Great to see you on here and I remember that day well too - you’ve taken such great strides forward into the green yonder and are an inspiration yourself, particularly to the lovely Emily. (Debbie is a great friend and a brilliant case study in the book)… Lovely to speak to you tonight and I look forward to seeing you all soon, xxx.
Almost Mrs Average! I am speechless (that makes a change I know…) - thank you so much for this - I’m working on naming my favourites now….what a quandry!
Happy reading all,
TSx