Fully Loaded Savoury Scones

It feels like a very long time since I've blogged in my little corner of the internet.  We had a brilliant summer with my Mum visiting for 5 weeks from NZ, and celebrating GCSE exams being over for 16yo.  Everything else was set aside so we could just enjoy the school holidays and spend as much time as possible together as an extended family.

We're now back into the rhythm of normality.  Schools are back, our youngest has just started Reception so I now have more time each day to work and get back into blogging.  I'm easing myself back into things gently, despite having quite a large backlog of recipes that I really want to share.  

I baked these Savoury Scones for packed lunches this week.  They are delicious with a hot flask of soup, or with crudites, and freeze well too.  This recipe makes 6 - 8 large scones, I doubled the recipe so I had enough to stash in the freezer for later.

You could use finely diced ham instead of bacon or chorizo, diced pepper instead of sweetcorn, or make a vegetarian version.  These scones are easily adapted for different tastes or to use up what you have in your fridge or cupboards.

Fully Loaded Savoury Scones

150g bacon or chorizo, finely diced and cooked until crispy

3 spring onions, finely sliced

2 cups self raising flour

50g butter

75g grated cheese, plus 75g more for topping

200g sweetcorn, tinned or frozen (defrosted)

a pinch of dried mixed herbs

1/2 cup (125ml) milk

1/2 cup (125ml) water

Preheat your oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas Mark/400F/Gas Mark 6.  Line an oven tray with foil or baking paper.

Put the flour and butter in to a large bowl and rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.  Mix in the bacon, spring onion, grated cheese, sweetcorn, and herbs.  Add the liquids and mix until a soft dough forms.  Divide the dough into 8 and place on the prepared baking tray.  Top with grated cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven for around 20 minutes until golden and cooked through.  These are best eaten within 24 hours, otherwise freeze and defrost when required.

7 comments Basics, Bread, Lunches, Snack, Snacks

5 Simple Salad Dressings

With the weather finally warming up again this week I thought it was about time I blogged our favourite simple salad dressings. I don't usually buy pre-made dressings, other than mayonnaise, as they're pricey and I like to customise our salad dressings to our tastes.

All you need is some measuring spoons and a jam jar, no special equipment.  Once made the dressings will keep in the fridge for a couple of days in the jam jar, just give them a good shake before you use them.

Lemon Dressing

90ml/6 Tblsp oil
30ml/2 Tblsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Honey/Maple and Mustard Dressing

90ml/6 Tblsp oil
45ml/3 Tblsp white vinegar
1 Tblsp Dijon mustard
1 Tblsp honey or maple syrup
salt and pepper to taste


Balsamic Dressing

90ml/6 Tblsp oil
2 Tblsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste


French Dressing

1/2 clove garlic, minced or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Dijon mustard
30ml/2 Tblsp white vinegar or lemon juice
60ml/6 Tblsp oil
salt and pepper to taste

Yoghurt Dressing

5 Tblsp/75ml or 1/3 cup natural yoghurt (can use dairy free)
2 Tblsp/30ml white vinegar or lemon juice
15ml/1 Tblsp oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 or 2 Tblsp fresh herbs, finely chopped (optional)
1 clove garlic or 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)

To make any/all of the dressings above simply put all the ingredients into a jam jar, screw on the lid, and shake until completely combined.  Use immediately or store in the fridge, remembering to shake the jar again before using the dressing.

1 comment Basics, Dinners, Lunches, Make it yourself, Salad, Sauces, Vegan, Vegetarian

Carrot Hummus

Hopefully the weather will start warming up and we can think about weekend picnics, and packed lunches for outings.  I've been experimenting with different dips and spread recipes recently to change up our usual picnic fare.  Carrots were very cheap recently, 1kg bags were 30p, and I had some miso that needed using up, so I thought why not add some to my usual hummus recipe for a delicious savoury flavour hit.

The dip is really tasty, and great for spreading thinly on flatbreads when making salad wraps.  I've even mixed some leftover dip with vegetable stock to make a quick cup of soup.  It's also rather tasty spread on a fresh white bread roll filled with lettuce and fish fingers.

Carrot Hummus 

500g carrots, thinly sliced (I don’t bother peeling them, just give them a good wash)
3 Tblsp oil
2 cloves garlic
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp ground ginger
2 Tblsp water
1 tsp salt
400g tin chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 Tblsp miso paste or 1 Tblsp Marmite/Vegemite
1 Tblsp lemon juice
2 Tblsp water
dash of sesame oil

Put the carrots, oil, garlic, cumin, ginger, water and salt into a saucepan over a low/medium heat. Cook until the carrots are very soft, it usually takes around 20 - 30 minutes. Alternatively steam the carrots, etc in the microwave until very soft.  Once the carrots are soft, add the chickpeas and stir to combine, cook for another few minutes. in the chickpeas and heat through. 

Add the rest of the ingredients then either use a stick blender or pour the mixture into a food processor to blend the dip until smooth, adding a little more water if necessary to get the consistency that you prefer.  Serve with crackers and crudites.

2 comments Basics, Dairy free, Gluten-free, Live Below the Line., Lunches, Party, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 13/01/19 - £66

Our back to routine week last week didn't exactly go to plan.  Our 12yo was poorly all week, with what turned out to be flu, and I've got yet another cold.  Aside from more soups than planned, and some homemade Lemon, Honey and Ginger Drink we stuck to our Meal Plan fairly well.

Hopefully this week will be back to proper normal, and everyone will be well again.  We've a play date on Tuesday, as well as the usual evening/after school events so I've factored them all in to our Meal Plan for the week.

We're getting low on spices and stock cubes so I've added them to the list this week.  We've still got some plain and self raising flour in the cupboard so I'm not getting any this week.  I've added extra rice and some popping corn kernels so I can make rice pudding pots and popcorn for snacks.

Breakfasts will be cereal and hot milk or porridge, both with homemade fruit compote or sliced banana. Weekend breakfasts will be toast and pancakes.

Packed lunches will be 5 Ingredient Eggy Quinoa Cups twice, and Wholemeal Savoury Scone Swirls three times.  Packed lunches will include some Vegetable Crisps, a piece or two of fruit and a baked treat for afters.  Weekend Lunches will be soups from the freezer with homemade wholemeal bread rolls.  

Slow Cooker Bean Chilli

2 onions, peeled and finely diced
500g sweet potato, peeled and cut into roughly 2cm/¾in chunks
2 peppers, deseeded and finely diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 Tblsp sugar
200ml hot vegetable stock (made with 1 vegetable stock cube)
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2 x 390g tins red kidney beans in chilli sauce
400g tin mixed beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp mixed dried herbs

Put all the ingredients into a slow cooker. Stir well then cover with the lid and cook on high for 3–4 hours or low for 8–10 hours until the sauce has thickened and the sweet potato is tender.

Mixed Vegetable and Egg Fried Rice

Simple Chicken Casserole

2 Tblsp plain flour
1kg chicken thighs, bone in and skin on
2 Tblsp oil
2 onions, finely sliced
4 - 6 carrots, sliced into thick batons
2 tsp dried mixed herbs
500ml chicken stock

Preheat your oven to 160C/Gas Mark 3.  Season the flour with a little salt and pepper then coat the chicken thighs in the seasoned flour.  Heat the oil in a large, heavy based casserole dish over a high heat then brown the chicken thighs on all sides.  Add the vegetables, herbs, and enough stock to just cover everything.

Bring to a simmer, cover with a lid and then put in the oven for one and a half to two hours until the chicken and vegetables are tender and soft.  We'll be serving ours with mashed potato and steamed greens.


Slow Cooker Vegetable Stew with Dumplings

500g sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks
2 onions, thinly sliced
4 carrots, cut into chunks
3 parsnips, cut into chunks
2 Tblsp plain flour
400g tin chopped tomatoes
2 Tblsp tomato paste
350ml hot vegetable stock (made with 1 stock cube)

Dumplings:
200g self-raising flour
75g vegetarian suet (I used Trex)
125ml cold water

Put the prepared vegetables into the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the flour and stir to coat the vegetables. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and stock. Stir well then cook on high for 4 hours.

Make the dumplings. Put the flour in a large mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the suet and rub into the flour until combined. Stir in enough cold water to bring the mixture together as a soft, dough. Divide into 12 equally sized pieces and roll each into a ball.

Remove the lid from the slow-cooker then arrange the dumplings gently on top. Replace the lid and continue to cook on high for a further 25-30 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through. We’ll be serving ours with steamed greens.

Homemade Fish and Chips

Homemade Pizzas

Toad in the Hole

Shopping List

47 items: £66.04

Packets and Cereals

2x       ASDA Smartprice Wheat Bisks (24x18g)          £1.48

2x       ASDA Wholemeal Bread Flour (1.5Kg)          £1.38

1x       Silver Spoon Granulated Sugar (500g)          54p

2x       ASDA Smartprice Long Grain Rice (1Kg)          90p

1x       ASDA Quinoa (300g)          £1.14

1x       ASDA Great to Bake Golden Syrup (750g)          £1.34

1x       Tropical Sun Popcorn (500g)          79p

1x       ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)          89p

Frozen

2x       ASDA Frozen for Freshness Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)          £1.90

1x       Ibco Pangasius Fillets (800g)          £3.50

1x       ASDA Frozen for Freshness Berry Medley (1Kg)          £2.75

Tins, Jars and Cooking

2x       ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g)          56p

1x       Rajah Haldi Ground Turmeric (100g)          67p

1x       Rajah Paprika (100g)          67p

1x       Rajah Jeera Ground Cumin (100g)          67p

1x       ASDA Smartprice Strawberry Jam (454g)          28p

1x       ASDA Double Concentrated Tomato Puree (200g)          37p

1x       East End Ground Coriander (100g)          £1.15

1x       ASDA Stock Cubes - Chicken (12x10g)          43p

1x       ASDA Stock Cubes - Vegetable (12x10g)          39p

1x       TRS Cinnamon Powder (100g)          65p

1x       TRS Garam Masala (100g)          65p

1x       Rajah Ground Ginger (100g)          75p

2x       ASDA Chilli Beans in Chilli Sauce (390g)          £1.30

1x       ASDA Mexican Style Bean Mix in Water (400g)          65p

Dairy and Eggs

2x       ASDA Semi Skimmed Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)          £2.96

1x       ASDA British Whole Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)          £1.48

1x       ASDA Free Range Mixed Weight Eggs (15)          £2.00

1x       ASDA Butter - Unsalted (250g)          £1.49

1x       Trex Vegetable Fat (250g)          85p

1x       ASDA Mature Cheddar Cheese - Light (750g)          £3.65

Fruit and Vegetables

25      ASDA Grower's Selection Bananas by Weight (200g)          £3.00

2x       ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)          £1.30

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Beetroot Bunched (500g)          £1.60

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Sweet Potatoes (1Kg)          £1.00

5x       ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)          £2.95

6x       ASDA Farm Stores Apples (500g)          £3.54

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection British Parsnips (500g)          54p

1x       ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)          75p

1x       ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)          £1.25

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Cooking Peppers (700g)          £1.45

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Sweetclems (1.2Kg)          £1.80

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Black Seedless Grapes (400g)          £1.00

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Seedless Red Grapes (400g)          £1.00

1x       ASDA Farm Stores White Mushrooms (250g)          54p

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x       ASDA Butcher's Selection Chicken Thighs (1.1Kg)          £2.09

2x       ASDA Extra Special Pork Sausages (6 per pack - 400g)          £4.00

We purchased our groceries online from Asda, via My Supermarket on 12/01/2019 and out items cost £66.04. Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£76.59 from Tesco

£80.50 from Sainsbury's

£101.16 from Ocado

£102.58 from Waitrose

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other. She also has a book out which you can order here. 

And Katykicker has a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.

8 comments Bread, Chicken, Dairy free, Dinners, Fish, Gluten-free, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 07/01/19 - £65

The week we're all properly back in routine, work and school as usual for everyone.  It makes Meal Planning easier, and there will be no children raiding the fridge and cupboards for random snacks throughout the day.

Breakfasts will be porridge or toast with fruit depending on the morning.  Weekend breakfasts will be pancakes and homemade crumpets or toasted teacakes.

Packed lunches will be Root Vegetable and Red Lentil Dhal and Butternut Squash and Lentil Curry alternated each day, served in flasks with homemade wholemeal bread rolls, a piece of fruit, and a baked treat for afters.

Weekend Lunches will be Twice Baked Potatoes, using already baked potatoes from the freezer, and Vegetable and Pearl Barley Soup with homemade bread rolls.

Dinners

Slow Cooker Black Eyed Bean Chilli

Pepper, Sausage and Gnocchi Traybake

4 peppers, any colour, deseeded and cut into chunks

2 onions, peeled and cut into eighths

300g cherry tomatoes

2 x 500g packs of gnocchi

2 Tblsp oil

12 pork sausages

Preheat your oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas Mark 6.

Toss together the peppers, onion, tomatoes, gnocchi and olive oil and spread out on to a large foil lined baking tray.

Put the sausages on top of the vegetables then put the tray into the preheated oven. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the sausages are cooked through, the gnocchi are golden, and the vegetables are tender. Serve with steamed greens or mixed vegetables.

Macaroni Cheese

Bacon and Egg Pie

One Pot Chicken Casserole

Slow Cooker Beef Keema

Keema Naan with Speedy Vegetable Curry

Shopping List

37 items: £65.12

Frozen

3x       ASDA Frozen for Freshness Mixed Vegetables (1Kg)          £2.85

1x       ASDA Frozen for Freshness Berry Medley (1Kg)          £2.75

Tins, Jars and Cooking

5x       ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g)          £1.40

1x       ASDA Curry Paste - Balti (200g)          £1.19

2x       Napolina Lentils in Water (400g)          £1.70

Dairy and Eggs

2x       ASDA Semi Skimmed Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)          £2.96

1x       ASDA British Whole Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)          £1.48

1x       ASDA Free Range Mixed Weight Eggs (15)          £2.00

1x       ASDA Mature Cheddar Cheese - Light (750g)          £3.65

Packets and Cereals

2x       ASDA Wholemeal Bread Flour (1.5Kg)          £1.38

1x       ASDA Smartprice Long Grain Rice (1Kg)          45p

1x       ASDA Easy Bake Yeast (6 per pack - 42g)          52p

1x       ASDA Wholewheat Penne (500g)          45p

2x       Il Pastaio Potato Gnocchi (500g)          £1.30

1x       Cypressa Red Split Lentils (500g)          £1.15

1x       ASDA Good and Balanced Pearl Barley (500g)          55p

1x       ASDA Quinoa (300g)          £1.14

2x       ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)          £1.78

1x       ASDA Four Seed Mix (150g)          90p

1x       ASDA Ready to Roll Puff Pastry (500g)          £1.00

Fruit and Vegetables

20      ASDA Grower's Selection Bananas by Weight (200g)          £3.00

2x       ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)          £1.30

2        ASDA Grower's Selection Butternut Squash by Weight (1.3Kg)          £1.95

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Celery          52p

2x       ASDA Grower's Selection Sweet Potatoes (1Kg)          £2.00

4x       ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)          £2.36

4x       ASDA Farm Stores Apples (500g)          £2.36

3x       ASDA Chosen by Kids Easy Peasy Peelers (500g)          £2.37

2x       ASDA Grower's Selection Swede          £1.00

2x       ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)          £1.50

1x       ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)          £1.25

1x       ASDA Grower's Selection Cherry Tomatoes (325g)          75p

2x       ASDA Grower's Selection Cooking Peppers (700g)          £2.90

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x       ASDA Butcher's Selection Chicken Thighs (1.1Kg)          £2.09

2x       ASDA Extra Special Pork Sausages (6 per pack - 400g)          £4.00

1x       ASDA Butcher's Selection Beef Mince - 12% Fat (1Kg)          £4.50

1x       ASDA Farm Stores Cooking Bacon (600g)          67p

We purchased our groceries online from Asda, via My Supermarket on 05/01/2019 and out items cost £65.12.  Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£71.10 from Tesco

£82.59 from Sainsbury's

£88.30 from Ocado

£90.87 from Waitrose

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other. She also has a book out which you can order here. 

And Katykicker has a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.

5 comments Beef, Chicken, Dairy free, Dinners, Gluten-free, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Pasta, Slow Cooker, Vegan, Vegetarian

OUR FAMILY MEAL PLAN FOR WEEK OF 31/12/18 - £62

I took an unintentional blogging break.  Eldest was poorly, then GCSE mocks happened for 15yo, we had a plumbing issue, house inspection, our younger two were poorly, 15yo was tripped up and badly hurt her knee, and I'm into week 7 of my cold, then Christmas happened.

The Christmas holidays were such a relief!  All our children were absolutely exhausted and in need of a good break from routine.  The last week or so of term was a real slog.  It's been a much needed restful time, with several PJ days, and intermittent hibernation.

It's back to routine this week, from midweek onwards, so that means packed lunches and dinners to fit around after school and evening events.

Breakfasts will be cereal and milk or porridge with fruit compote, depending on the morning, and I'll make wholemeal no knead fruit bread at the weekend for toast and probably a batch of pancakes.

Lunches before work and school start midweek will be Broccoli and Potato Soup, and Spiced Carrot and Parsnip Soup both from the freezer.  Packed lunches will be Quick Vegetable Tagine, using mixed beans instead of chickpeas, served warm in flasks accompanied by Caramelised Onion and Cheddar Swirls instead of couscous, with a baked treat and piece of fruit for afters.  Weekend lunches will be Slow Cooker French Onion Soup and Mixed Vegetable Soup with homemade wholemeal bread rolls.

Snacks will be popcorn, vegetable peeling crisps, fresh fruit and homemade yoghurt.

Dinners

Chana Masala

Slow Cooker Hoppin' John

Roast Chicken with Roast Vegetables and steamed greens

Chicken Noodle Bowls

Roast Vegetable Frittata

Homemade Pizzas

Hot Dogs with Sweet Potato Wedges

Shopping List

42 items: £62.28

Packets and Cereals

1x   ASDA Smartprice Wheat Bisks (24x18g)                                             74p

1x   ASDA Strong White Bread Flour (1.5Kg)                                              69p

2x   ASDA Wholemeal Bread Flour (1.5Kg)                                                 £1.38

1x   ASDA Smartprice Self Raising Flour (1.5Kg)                                        45p

1x   Silver Spoon Granulated Sugar (500g)                                                 54p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Sultanas (500g)                                                       £1.00

1x   ASDA Easy Cook Long Grain Brown Rice (1Kg)                                  £1.09

1x   ASDA Egg Noodles Medium (250g)                                                     59p

1x   TRS Black Eye Beans (500g)                                                              £1.19

1x   Tropical Sun Popcorn (500g)                                                               69p

1x   ASDA Scottish Porridge Oats (1Kg)                                                    89p

Tins, Jars and Cooking

5x   ASDA Smartprice Chopped Tomatoes in Tomato Juice (400g)              £1.40

2x   ASDA Chick Peas in Water (400g)                                                      66p

1x   ASDA Double Concentrated Tomato Puree (200g)                                37p

2x   ASDA Mexican Style Bean Mix in Water (400g)                                   £1.30

Dairy and Eggs

2x   ASDA Semi Skimmed Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)                                           £2.96

1x   ASDA British Whole Milk 6 Pints (3.41L)                                              £1.48

1x   ASDA Free Range Mixed Weight Eggs (15)                                         £2.00

1x   ASDA Mature Cheddar Cheese - Light (750g)                                      £3.65

Fruit and Vegetables

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection British Spring Greens (500g)                        £1.24

20   ASDA Grower's Selection Bananas by Weight (200g)                           £3.00

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Carrots (1Kg)                                              £1.30

1     ASDA Grower's Selection Butternut Squash by Weight (1.3Kg)            97.3p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Courgettes (3)                                             £2.40

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Garlic (3)                                                     50p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Sweet Potatoes (1Kg)                                  £2.00

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection Ginger (125g)                                              45p

4x   ASDA Farm Stores Pears (500g)                                                         £2.36

4x   ASDA Farm Stores Apples (500g)                                                       £2.36

1x   ASDA Grower's Selection British Parsnips (500g)                                54p

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Plums (750g)                                               £3.30

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Kiwis (6)                                                               £1.80

2x   ASDA Farm Stores Brown Onions (1Kg)                                              £1.50

1x   ASDA Farm Stores White Potatoes (2.5Kg)                                         £1.25

3x   ASDA Farm Stores Mixed Peppers (3)                                                 £2.97

2x   ASDA Grower's Selection Sweetclems (800g)                                      £2.00

Frozen

1x   ASDA Smartprice Broccoli (1Kg)                                                         90p

1x   ASDA Smartprice Peas (1Kg)                                                              72p

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Sweetcorn (1Kg)                                      95p

1x   ASDA Frozen for Freshness Berry Medley (1Kg)                                  £2.75

Meat, Fish and Poultry

1x   ASDA Butcher's Selection Whole Chicken (1.6Kg)                               £3.28

1x   ASDA Farm Stores Cooking Bacon (600g)                                           67p

Prices and special offers reflect those of the online grocery website, My Supermarket, and are correct as of 30th December 2018. Prices may vary in different in-store locations. 

We purchased our shopping online from Asda, via My Supermarket and the cost of our groceries was £62.28. Had we shopped elsewhere our shopping list would've cost:

£76.35 from Tesco

£77.27 from Sainsburys

£88.53 from Waitrose

£92.72 from Ocado

My lovely blogging buddy Ciara from My Fussy Eater has created a fab Meal Planning Facebook Group so we can inspire each other. She also has a book out which you can order here. 

And Katykicker has a Meal Planning Linky full of fabulous Meal Planning posts with lots of tasty ideas.

Leave a Comment Bread, Breakfast, Chicken, Dinners, Lunches, Meal Plan, Meatfree Monday, Slow Cooker, Snacks, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

Broccoli and Potato Soup

Another soup recipe using cheap and free vegetables from our local supermarket. Broccoli was discounted to 20p per head for Christmas, and we were able to get 3 bags of free potatoes from the same supermarket which they were giving away to cut food waste. I've used both the florets and stalks from the broccoli so nothing is wasted.  We also made Vegetable Peelings Crisps from the potato peelings, and the carrot and parsnip peelings from Boxing Day.  I made two delicious batches of this soup, one for lunch today, and the other has been packed up and frozen. 

Broccoli and Potato Soup 

1 Tblsp oil 

1 onion, diced 

3 garlic cloves, minced 

1 tsp dried mixed herbs 

3 large potatoes, peeled and diced 

2 heads of broccoli, florets removed and chopped, stems finely chopped 

1 litre vegetable stock 

salt and pepper to taste 

Heat the oil in a large saucepan then add the onion. Cook until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another couple of minutes. 

Add the dried mixed herbs, potatoes, diced broccoli stems, and stock, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and simmer for about 15 minutes until potatoes and stems are tender. 

Add broccoli florets and cook until broccoli is tender and bright green, about 10 minutes. Puree using a stick/immersion blender then season to taste and serve. 

Leave a Comment Basics, Dairy free, Gluten-free, Live Below the Line., Lunches, Meatfree Monday, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

Spiced Parsnip and Carrot Soup

On Boxing Day we took a walk to get some fresh air. After a wander on the local common I received a text from a friend telling me that a local supermarket was giving away bags of Christmas vegetables. It was about 10 minutes walk away so we checked it out. Sure enough, huge crates and trolleys full of bags of parsnips, carrots, sprouts and potatoes with a use by date of today.

We took home 3 bags of potatoes, 3 bags of carrots, and 2 bags of parsnips. I'm sure hauling the extra weight home helped burn off some Christmas calories I baked one bag of potatoes so that we can have Twice Baked Potatoes for quick lunches or dinners once the holiday are over. The second bag was peeled, chopped and par boiled then roughed up sprayed with a little oil and cooked for 15 minutes. I then let the potatoes cool and packed them up for freezing. We've now got ready frozen roasties for the next couple of weeks. 

I made two batches of this delicious soup with the parsnips and some carrots. One batch of soup for lunch today, and one for the freezer. 

Spiced Parsnip and Carrot Soup 

2 tsp oil 

1 onion, sliced 

2 garlic cloves, sliced 

2cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and thinly sliced 

4 large parsnips, peeled and chopped 

3 large carrots, peeled and chopped

½ tsp cumin seed 

½ tsp coriander seed 

1 Tblsp garam masala 

1.2L vegetable stock 

Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and ginger, cook for a couple of minutes then add the parsnips, carrots, and spices. Cook for a minute or two, stirring, until the spices are fragrant. Pour over the stock and gently simmer for 20 - 30 minutes until the vegetables are very tender. Using a stick/immersion blender, blitz the soup until completely smooth. Serve immediately or chill then pack into containers for freezing. This soup can be frozen for up to 3 months.

1 comment Basics, Dairy free, Dinners, Gluten-free, Live Below the Line., Lunches, Meatfree Monday, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian