HERO SOUP
I make this soup in batches and freeze in individual portions. I use a vegetable stock pot, but vegan stocks are available.
When my husband – who was diabetic and had heart problems - was alive he had this for his lunch almost every day and he called it his “life-saver” soup. If you’re on a diet it does make a great bowlful with barely a calorie in sight, even if you use potatoes.
The Recipe
Open your fridge and take out whatever vegetables you have.
For me this will usually include some or all of the following -
Onions
Leeks
Carrots
Potatoes
Celery
Courgettes
Butternut Squash
Broccoli or cabbage
Chili – or dried chili flakes if I don’t have a fresh one – to taste
I have herbs growing in my garden, so a good handful of parsley and I do love watercress and if I have half a pack left I’ll throw that in.
I used to make this in a large saucepan on my hob, but since I had my new kitchen installed I have an induction hob and the lovely set of stainless steel saucepans that once belonged to my mother has now been passed on to my daughter.
Rather than buy new saucepans I now use the microwave so I take out the largest of my very old Pyrex bowls and chop the vegetables into smallish pieces. When the bowl is full I add some water – probably around a pint, I’ve never measured but you don’t want it boiling over – add a stock pot, cover and microwave on high for, oh, about 20 minutes.
I use a fork to check that the carrots are cooked since they take the longest and then leave to cool.
When the vegetables are cool, I use my stick blender and reduce the soup to a mush. It will be quite thick at this point – you might need to add a little more water to make the blending easier – and then distribute it into my freezer cartons. When I defrost it I’ll check the thickness and if necessary add a little more water to slacken it. But thick, on a cold winter’s day, with a hunk of some very good bread (obviously not if you’re on a diet!) it is a bowlful of heavenly goodness.
Bon appetit!
Liz Fieding
Liz Fielding met her husband when they were both working in Zambia and were keen members of the Lusaka Theatre Club. He was playing John de Stogumber in St Joan, and she was the pageboy to the Earl of Warwick. He swore it was the purple tights that got him.
Years spent in Africa and the Middle East provided the background to many of Liz's romances. Her first, An Image of You, was set in Kenya, in a place where they had spent many happy weekends on safari. It was plucked from the slush pile because the feisty feminist heroine made her editor laugh. Emotion touched with humour has been the hallmark of her work ever since.
After writing 70 books for Harlequin Mills and Boon, Liz has now turned to crime, signing with Joffe Books for three "Maybridge Mysteries", the first of which, Murder Among the Roses, is published on 18th April.
Liz Fielding on the web:
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Liz Fielding has a new book out:
MEET ABBY FINCH. SHE’S A BUSY MUM OF THREE, AN EXPERT GARDENER AND THE STAR OF YOUR NEW FAVOURITE COZY MURDER MYSTERY.
One part jealousy. Two parts rage. Somewhere in Abby’s sleepy little village, the perfect murder is brewing . . .
Abby enters the Maybridge Flower Show, never dreaming for one moment that she’ll win the gold. Or an invitation to appear on telly, alongside gardening legend Daisy Dashwood!
Some people say Daisy’s a tiresome diva. But starry-eyed Abby can’t wait for the cameras to start rolling. Until . . .
Daisy staggers out on stage. Only to collapse at Abby’s feet.
Her demise might seem like a tragic accident — resulting from a cocktail of booze and hay-fever medicine.
But Abby’s not so sure. She starts digging, to uncover shifty suspects at every turn. From snarky co-stars to a toy-boy lover, they all had reason to want Daisy dead and gone.
And that’s not the only puzzle playing on Abby’s mind . . .
In life, Daisy went nowhere without her trusty caddy of healing teas. Now it’s vanished.
What if someone’s been tampering with Daisy’s favourite cuppa?
Buy on:
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Multiple Giveaway Alert!
Kindle copy of Murder Among the Roses
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Audio codes for Murder Among the Roses & Murder Under the Mistletoe
Let us know in the comments which giveaway would you like to go in for!
Interesting. I've seen soups done on the stovetop, but not in the microwave. Although, I see how this would work.
ReplyDeleteIt's so simple, Liz.
DeleteA wonderful soup Liz.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christine. It's not only very tasty but entirely virtuous! Maybe that's what I should have called it. Virtuous Soup!
DeleteAs a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, I'm always on the lookout for quick and easy. If you don't use potatoes or sweet potatoes (you call them yams?) this soup would be point free. Yum.
ReplyDeleteTotally. No oil and you choose your veg to suit. I just use what I have.
DeleteThe microwave sounds like a convenient way to have this soup on the table in a short amount of time. I do love a good veggie soup and eat those more in the autumn, so I can't wait to try your method.
ReplyDeleteAnd it saves on energy. I keep a stack in the freezer to defrost and heat in the microwave, too.
DeleteI am always looking for a good soup for the crock pot for those winter months. This might just work. Like you, I make a pot full and I freeze it. That way, since I don't cook much, this is great for me to be able to pull some out for dinner
ReplyDeleteThis is a good one, healthy, tasty and good for the waistline!
DeleteGreat blog
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rajani.
DeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rajani.
DeleteHola Liz, una sopa nutritiva y deliciosa. Y muy buen aprovechamiento. Saludos.
ReplyDeleteGracias!
DeleteOttima zuppa, grazie!!!
ReplyDeletePrego!
DeletePrego!
DeleteYour "life-saver" soup sounds both nutritious and comforting. It’s great to hear how you’ve adapted the recipe to suit your needs and equipment. Freezing it in batches is a fantastic idea for having a healthy meal ready at any time!
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Thank you, Melody!
DeleteVery interesting soup and the way it is prepared. I would like to try it, it sounds really good :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Klaudia.
DeleteOoh. Now I'm craving soup.
ReplyDeleteVery nice soup :D
ReplyDeleteVery similar to the soups I make with what ever I have in the garden but I have now moved to using my Ninja 14 which is so quick and easy. Cheers Diane
ReplyDelete