Regular readers will remember the gorgeous blue skies we had here at the weekend. Today, after a dry start, the rain clouds set in for the evening. When the weather is like this, and an autumnal chill can be felt in the early mornings, thoughts turn to soup.
Making soup is an enjoyable task – and eating it too if we are to be honest. A steaming bowl of goodness, full of flavour always goes down well. I love lentil soup, enjoy a minestrone, and seeing a tin of tomato soup takes me straight back to childhood and being served a bowl with mini toast squares to float in it whenever I was feeling poorly. I can just imagine the taste as I sit typing.
While hesitating to call today’s soup Scotch broth, for it wasn’t made with a lamb stock (or scrag end of lamb for that matter), and it contains a couple of vegetables (celery, cavolo nero) that would not have graced the tables of ‘guid Scots’ back in the day, I can say that it is that eponymous soup’s close cousin. Kale probably yes, and certainly swede, the latter of which I always forget to pick up.
Anyway, I put the broth mix (a standard mix of barley, split peas and lentils you can buy in the supermarket here and in the UK) to soak before going out this morning. To be honest, I don’t think this brand actually needed it, but I went through the process anyway. I used half a leek I had in the fridge, one small stick of leftover celery, a carrot and a parsnip to form the base of the soup, turning them golden brown before adding the stock (bought – don’t judge me) and broth mix. Bay leaves were tossed in, and the whole thing left to cook until the barley was done. 15 or so minutes before serving, I added in the greens.
A soup like this is perfect for grey, wet and unpleasant days. Serve with some bread (we indulged in some cheese, onion and garlic ciabbata from Kapiti Artisan Bakehouse for a change), then settle back, close the curtains and ignore the weather outside.
This well be entered in the What’s on Your Plate blog challenge hosted by bloggers Widow Badass and Retirement Reflections. This goes live on the first Wednesday of each month (it is Wednesday evening here already in New Zealand) and you can join in too with a food related post, just by adding yours to their linkup.
Also sharing for Min’s Wednesday Words and Whimsy #wwwhimsy linkup.
Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden.
You can find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook, and also on Instagram @thistlesandkiwis. If you want to get in touch, email me on thistlesandkiwis@gmail.com or lofgren@thistlesandkiwis.co