News From The Kitchen.

Well I hope you've noticed that I've been missing in action. Not been feeling all that fab for a while and last Saturday I had a heart attack. I've been fixed now and I'm back home and resting by order of the PS and Drs and I can tell you I'm getting pretty bored now.

Think I'm going to make a start on my Christmas cards, I've got all the stuff to make them, not sure if I'm allowed to use the heavy sizzix machine yet as its quite a lot of pressure to push down (not allowed to carry shopping or push the hoover for a good few weeks more)

Anyway I don't have a recipe for you today, will sort one out and get my act together again soon, they will have to be good for your heart type recipes of course so you're all going to be super fit if you make any of them with me.

Cheerio for now and take care.

Kate x

Willy Warmers And Winter Warmers.

Sitting outside a coffee shop this afternoon supping tea from a paper cup and soaking up the glorious sunshine of an early November day it struck me what a funny old thing this winter weather is. Time was when November was chilly, damp and grey but today was a glorious litter of autumnal reds, oranges and browns, bright sunshine dancing off the silver cafe tables blinding me every time I took a swig of the luke warm grey liquid.

Oh yes, sorry, dinner and knitting wool. A friend of mine took on some battery hens recently and I don't know if you've ever met any but they are all rather bald and sorry looking and get very cold in the winter without their usual covering of feathers so the Willies need some jumpers. (No I don't know why she called all her new hens Willy, can't be anything to do with our last lot all being called Dave I'm sure) Anyway I've been to the charity shops and brought up all the spare oddments of wool to knit Warm woolies for her Willies until they grow their new feathers in a couple of months. So thats the wool and so to dinner.

I bumped into a cart selling lush organic fruit and veges in the pub carpark round the corner, ( I didn't actually bump into it, and no I hadn't been in the pub.) So armed with my newly purchased organic swede, onions, carrots and leeks I decided soup sounded good with hunks of bloomer and a good strong mature cheddar, the type that bites you back. It was delicious but you'll have to make your own if you want to taste it cause its all gone. As usual here it is.

Winter Veg Soup

1 Med swede (organic or otherwise)
2 Med onions (likewise)
4 Good sized carrots (as above)
1 large leek (whatever)
2 Chicken, beef or veg stock cubes
1 Tin chopped tomatos
1tbsp Olive oil
1 Bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste.

1. Chop the onions and leeks and fry until golden in the olive oil.
2. Chop all the rest of the veg, I don't bother peeling the carrots, just wash them and add to the onions along with the rest of the ingredients.
3. Top up with water and bring to the boil. Simmer for an hour, sometimes I just leave it on low all morning. You may need to add more water as it evaporates.
   
4. When the veges are all soft remove the bay leaf and liquidise half the mixture and pour it back in. The soup should be wonderfully thick with lumps of veges in it.
   
5. Season to taste with the salt and pepper.

This is gorgeous and keeps well in the fridge for a few days or freeze portions in bags to pop in the microwave when you come home tired, wet and grey. Recently I've been using my stick blender in it and just blending it enough to get the right amount of thickness and lumpy veges. Make it how you like, it's wonderful and you can add any veg you like to it.