Healthy, low-cost dishes to make you smile
Everyone has ‘their’ soup. The one which makes them feel like they are supping a great big cuddle, to lift their spirits when they are ill, which makes a quick lunch that more poignant. For me it’s a classic Cream of Tomato Soup. It was […]
I live with such a soup lover and since making more of my own I’ve really gotten into it myself. It’s such a brilliant way of getting a big veggie fix quickly and easily as if you make a vat of soup and keep it […]
I am lucky enough to have a friend who embraces veggies and throws together meals with them so well I want to recreate their fantastic flavours as soon as I return home. And this Italian Kale Stew came about as a direct result of a wonderful afternoon at her house. And finding some fresh full-stem kale at the local farm shop which I just had to have.
While I have called this a stew, it could also be termed a very full broth, although I think the chew factor always changes something from soup to stew! It’s just perfect for the winter as it is hearty but certainly not stodgy or unhealthy. In fact the high vegetable content, especially the kale which is packed with filling fibre but zero calories and is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and a number of minerals many of us are deficient in, is perfect for keeping you feeling in tip-top condition this winter and balancing the approaching Christmas excess. The beans add protein and make it a satisfying meal. And it’s such a cheap dish to make it’s perfect for both saving money and losing the extra Christmas pounds in the New Year.
I like to serve this with fresh bread, to mop up the juices, or a homemade quiche but it’s just as yummy on its own.
There is nothing better than free food! And this soup practically was. Even though winter is approaching nature is still providing some fabulous freebies. On a recent walk I found myself walking on a carpet of chestnut cases – many of which still filled with […]
I had one of ‘those’ shopping trips this week – without checking what was in the fridge I hit the shops and was more than a little surprised that we already had 1kg of carrots in the chiller drawer when I slipped the second kilo […]
A friend and I were talking recently and she was saying how she would like to see more soups on this blog because she a) loves them b) looks at recipes and they seem to be long and overwhelming. To be a soup is a quick fix when I don’t have time to make something or I have veggies which need using up. They are perfect if you want to turn your kitchen zero waste and this Spicy Sweet Potato Soup really packs a flavour punch too.
At this time of the year particularly sweet potatoes are your friend as they are full of bug-busting vitamin C and iron. The coconut has antimicrobial fatty acids to kill off a range of ills. And with the chilli edge if you do have a cold this should clear your tubes and nourish your soul.
I often roast up a big bag of sweet potatoes to use across a number of dishes. If you are using already cooked potatoes that then this soup is ready in 5minutes. I have given a guide to making it with raw potatoes. This soup also freezes really well so make a massive pan of it and you are set for a few weeks. You can also add more water to the finished blended soup if you don’t like your soups mega thick.
Being a pescatarian I don’t have the legendary chicken soup recipe to get me through all ills, heartbreak and a cold winter. But I do have this – Leek and Potato Soup which is so hearty, tasty and nourishing it gives me just the hug […]