Home-made parsnip soup

Sam’s gran bought a soup maker recently. I’ve never come across one before and I’ve always made my soup using a stove and blender. I have to say, it was pretty damn good! Sam’s gran has a Morphy Richards one.

You simply put in 700g of vegetables, water and put it on for 21 minutes. It heats up and blends all in one.

Well I never!

It also stays incredibly hot for a long time due to the insulation. Pretty ideal if you’re pushed for time or want to shower whilst its on without fear of it bubbling over! And the finished article was pretty damn tasty.

So I thought I’d share with you my favourite parsnip soup recipe. You will need:

40g butter

1 onion, chopped

225g potatoes, peeled and chopped

400g parsnips, peeled and chopped

4tsp paprika

1 litre of vegetable stock

450ml of milk

4 tbsp of double cream

salt and pepper to season

parsnip crisps and freshly grated Parmesan to serve

  1. First you need to make the parsnip crisps. To do that simply put shavings of parsnips in a warm oven (about 180 degrees) for about 20 minutes.
  2. Next, the soup. Melt the butter in a pan on a low heat. Add the onion and gently cook for 5 minutes. Then add the potatoes, parsnips and paprika. Mix well and stir occasionally for 15 minutes.
  3. Add the stock, milk, cream and then the salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and then reduce it to a simmer for about 25 minutes.
  4. Let the soup cool a little and then whiz it in batches until it is of a consistency you like – I often find blending 2/3 is good.
  5. To serve, reheat the soup and ladle into warm bowls. Top with the parsnip crisps and add a little Parmesan.

Let me know what you think 🙂

Deli-licious day out

We had a lovely day yesterday visiting Sam’s grandparents down on the South coast. We had a mosey around a little garden centre (& enjoyed a fish finger sandwich, which I’m a sucker for).

This garden centre had a deli area, which promotes small-family run businesses who provide fresh, home-made produce. The cakes were to die for, and I must confess I bought six butterfly cupcakes and a beautiful glazed fruit loaf – I would have bought the large size but I have to learn my eyes are bigger than my belly!

IMG_0018
A selection of their chutneys, jams, juice and crispbreads ❤

We live in the countryside and have always tried to shop in the small, independent stores around the area. When we were planning our wedding in 2015-16 we applied the same principle to our suppliers (& our reception was held in an eco-centre). Its lovely to see such different ideas being applied to a traditional, much-loved item.

IMG_0021

Take jam for example. You often can’t beat the standard strawberry flavour in my view, but to come across loganberry, and apricot and peach is delightful.

 

On our way out I happened across a small bowl-shaped log and a white cracked-ceramic vase which I knew would look lovely in our home so I simply had to buy them. And then we came to the indoor flowers and how radiant they were on that blustery grey wintery day!

IMG_0027

 

IMG_0028

From there we went for a wander around the local area, driving along the winding back roads and having to peer around the high-walled hedgerows to check no-one else was coming the other way. We stopped by the local church where there were the most amazing pink blossom trees in bloom. Blossom is not a particularly common tree in our neck of the woods(!) but I think it is one of my favourite. Its so gentle, delicate and pretty.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES
Stunning

We rounded off our day with some home-made parsnip soup and, yep, you’ve got it – more cake!