ENGLISH MUM: never knowingly undercatered

Jun

C’s vegetable soup

Filed under: Diary, Main meals - veggies, Recipes, Starters, soups and nibbles — English Mum @ 2:15 pm

So I often get emails asking after Little C and Lou. D battles cheerfully on, holding down a full time job as well as combining Mum/Dad duties at home. It’s now, unbelievably, nearly two months since their Mum died and with the added childcare pressures of the summer holidays, it’s a wonder he doesn’t spontaneously combust.

Happily, Little C and Lou are cheerful, muck-in with everybody kind of chaps, so it’s no hardship to have an extra couple of smalls about during the hols. There are obviously stumbling blocks (I for one feel very weird if I ever have to tell them off), but D also has a lot of support from his wonderful family, so nobody ever feels overwhelmed. One problem I do have is with food. Little C, like #2, is not a big eater, and finding something that everyone will eat can sometimes be a struggle. I’d never be one to force kiddies to eat stuff they don’t like, but I’m not going to let them eat Nutella sandwiches, either. Happily, with her usual forward planning and attention to detail, C left behind a folder of recipes; everything from how to make mashed potato to how to roast a joint is explained perfectly and, sitting in D’s kitchen the other day flicking through them, I noticed this little beauty. And do you know what? It was hoovered up by everyone - even the veg-phobic Little C.

1 tbsp olive oil

2 litres stock

1 onion

1 celery stalk

2 carrots

1/2 swede

1 parsnip

Handful frozen peas

Couple of handfuls red lentils

So heat your olive oil in a large heavy based pan, and chuck in your chopped onion and celery, sprinkle with salt, then fry gently until translucent. Then add your stock (either defrosted chicken stock, or made with cubes - whatever), and finally chuck in all your chopped vegetables and the lentils. Bring to the boil and let it bubble away for a good half hour or more until all the veggies are soft.

Whizz in the blender until completely smooth and serve with plenty of warm cheese bread.

Good ol’ C, eh?

10 Comments »

Two months? I can’t quite believe that.

I’m going to make that soup tomorrow for my family and remember how much C loves her family - and still looks after them.

Thanks Missus. X

Comment by Jennynib — June 24, 2008 @ 6:08 pm
Ah, that sounds so good!!! When I get home, I’m going to make some of that.

Good to know that the littles are doing OK, and so is D. I’m sure your help is invaluable there.

Comment by Jay — June 25, 2008 @ 4:35 am
Jen: I know. How time flies, eh? x

Jay: ‘Twas yummy, although the colour is a bit orangey - they didn’t seem to mind. Aw thanks. D’s Sis, A, does a great deal too, he’s very lucky to have her.

Comment by englishmuminireland — June 25, 2008 @ 8:52 am
I need a blender so I can make this. Sounds simple enough and red lentils are delish. Haven’t had them in awhile. Thanks for posting the recipe x

Comment by Tara — June 25, 2008 @ 10:13 am
Tara: If you don’t have children that you need to deviously fool into eating veg, you could leave it chunky. It might not look so weirdly yellow then, either! x

Comment by englishmuminireland — June 25, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Sounds yummy, EM.
I’ve been awfully lazy in the kitchen recently.

Comment by Medbh — June 25, 2008 @ 4:39 pm
I’m with the “sounds yummy” lot but, pardon my Yankee ignorance, but what is a “swede”? I adore jennynib’s comment - “loves her family and still takes care of them” - all in the PRESENT tense!

Comment by SUSAN B — June 25, 2008 @ 8:29 pm
How lovely to find the recipes and feel that connection. Agree with Jennynib about how C is still looking after the wee ones.

Kids get so funny about food. My nephew declared war on potatoes the other day. I mean, potatoes?

Comment by wee jen — June 25, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
Sounds yum.

Noted.

Comment by nuttycow — June 26, 2008 @ 11:57 am
Medbh: Me too. It’s been sarnies and frozen pizzas all round - lost all enthusiasm, so that made me feel slightly better!

Susan: rutabaga?? yellow turnip?? Not sure what you guys call it there:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutabaga

I love the present tense thing too. Funnily enough, her children always refer to her in the present tense: ‘my Mum likes that’ or ‘my Mum thinks this’.

Wee One: Too right. Little C has a thing about foods touching each other. He’ll eat them separately but if they mix he won’t eat them!!

Nutty: ‘Twas yum. I think I’d maybe miss out the parsnip next time though - the flavour maybe overpowers it a bit too much.

Comment by englishmuminireland — June 26, 2008 @ 12:20 pm