Tuesday 28 October 2014

Soup what's good for you

Hello my little bloggerettes, have you had a souper day? Thank you for your recipes, lots of ideas coming into the comments section. Here is my second contribution to the soup recipe list. I have had this packet of soup and broth mix hanging around in my cupboard for a long time. I didn't buy it, someone gave it to me, because they thought they would never get round to using it. It's been in my cupboard for over a year, and it was out of date when it was given to me. It's about time I used it, after all it's only two years out of date, ha ha. Yep, November 2012. To buy it now it would cost £1.15
I followed the instructions on the packet, soak overnight, drain and rinse. Add it to a pan of boiling water, I used half the packet, and boil for 10 minutes, then simmer for 35 minutes. While all this was going on I prepared two large potatoes and one onion, and added them to the pan. Also one teaspoon of curry powder and a teaspoon of turmeric, and a shake of black pepper. The smell of curry filled the kitchen.
Here it is nicely stewed, I could have eaten it like this. I then turned the gas off and let it cool down. I went out for the afternoon, and when I came back I transferred it to not a none stick pan, and zapped it with the stick blender. There was a lot of it, I had to use a big pan.

I decanted some into a bowl and microwaved it for my dinner. I wasn't too impressed with the bland taste, it was missing something, so I added some grated cheese and garlic powder. Stirred it in and microwaved again. That was much better. Very tasty. After I had eaten it I then added some garlic powder to what was left in the pan, also two teaspoons of veg gravy granules. I gave it a stir and refilled the bowl for tomorrows lunch, and filled three margarine tubs for the freezer. So, five large portions of soup for less than £1.
 
This afternoon I went to help Helen at the rental house. She had described the state of it to me, and I saw the photo's, but the full extent of the horror of it became apparent when she took the carpets up. It looked like the tenants had been walking around the house in filthy dirty work boots, but worse was the smell of cat pee. They had had four cats in there and let them pee wherever they liked, don't think they have heard of litter boxes. The smell was horrendous, there was rat and mice droppings, it looks like they had kept birds as well, bird seed and droppings in the garage and shed. How can people live like that. Oh the joys of being a landlord. The tenants were evicted because it stated clearly in the agreement that no pets were allowed. The gardens are not too bad, I did the front one this afternoon. Will go back next week and tidy the back one. 
On the way home I called in at the smaller Asda in town. We have a big one out of town but I never go there, it's too far out. I'm glad I stopped to have a look. Two 500grm bags of brussel sprouts 33p each. A bag of parsnips 22p. Tub of potato salad 18p. And I bought a small carton of milk, mainly for the cats but I might use a drop myself. £1.55 spent.  
I think I have an idea for tomorrows soup, erm....Sprout and parsnip, ha ha.
That's me done for tonight. I have got a lovely clean bedroom with clean bedding to get into, heaven. I love my bed. Sleep tight.
Toodle pip.

16 comments:

  1. Hi Ilona. Sorry that Helen has such a mess with her rental house. Like you, I don't know how people can live that way.

    I've got a question for you. Where do you buy your spices? Of course I am in the U.S. so we don't have the same stores but I was just wondering. Spices here are very expensive. I am not much of a meat eater but I do love curried chicken. I have not explored ethnic grocery stores here for spices but that is where I will try next.

    Have a good day.

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    Replies
    1. Barbara, I am in the US and I buy virtually all of my spices in bulk. I live in the NW and buy most of my spices in the Fred Meyer natural foods section or at Winco. Check any natural foods store or co-op. The spices are dirt-cheap. Alternatively, the ethnic foods aisles in most western supermarkets sell spices used in those cuisines in little cellophane envelopes. They are usually hanging near the Mexican foods. You will be surprised by the variety of spices available this way, and again...they are cheap.

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  2. Lovely cheap soup.... you can't beat it :-)

    It's tenants like those that make it so hard to get a rented property when you have pets.

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  3. Sorry to hear about Helen's house. Sounds awful! At least she managed to get the tenants out.

    You really are a super shopper Ilona! When's the best time to go yellow sticker shopping?

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  4. I think you were lucky with the soup mix. Not that it could have turned poisonous! Just sometimes when pulse , and there are some in your mix , I think , is too old , you can boil them for ever and they don't soften. It happened to me a couple of times .

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  5. I'll look forward to reading all about the sprout soup- I love sprouts!! I have to say ive never been a fan of soup myself but last week I made harvest soup with the children and then we made bread and I really enjoyed that. It was swede, carrot, squash, potato, onions and a bit of garlic. Very nice it was too!! I'll certainly be trying soup out again and I like your approach. And your artwork is beginning to look fab-can't wait it to see it finished. Hugs,xxxx

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  6. I managed to get 2 packs of broth mix reduced to 39p each in the Co Op a few months ago. It makes lovely soup with a few veggies thrown in. I was given one of those jug style soupmakers for my birthday this year and I use it at least twice a week. Not sure I would have paid the £50 to buy it for myself but I love it now I have it. I know I could do the same with a saucepan and stick blender, but it's so much easier to chuck everything in, cook it and blend it all in the same container. One of my fave soups is sweet potato, carrot and lentil with onion and garlic and a little chilli thrown in for heat. I sometimes make it with butternut squash too when the squash are on offer (69p in Aldi at the moment). Sorry to hear about Helen's tenants. The rented house next door but one to us was used as a cannabis growing factory and they even removed a ceiling so the plants could grow all the way into the loft. What a mess to clear up.

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  7. A couple of those parsnips will really add a lovely flavour to your soup. They add that little bit of sweetness like carrots only better in my opinion.

    Jan x

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  8. A rental property near us was used as a cannabis farm. They lined the walls with tin foil and put strong strip lights in it to help the plants - until the police came along and broke the door down.

    I love parsnip and apple soup at this time of year.

    Elaine, Oldham

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  9. Soup "whats" good for you. If you check the definition of "what" you'll find you have used it out of context. The title should read "Soup that is good for you"

    Are there any senior citizens English classes near you?

    I do hope this comment doesn't spur you on to write another of your silly mis-spelt posts which you write in retaliation to a comment about your misuse of the English language, so childish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I deliberately used the wrong word, to wind you up, and it worked. Bit bored are you tonight, troll, not a lot to do. Maybe you could come and take the senior citizens English classes, as you know so much about it.

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    2. Hey, troll--want me to correct your spelling and grammar errors? You could definitely use a proofreader.

      Delete
  10. Like you Ilona I use broth /soup mix pulses formy soups, a few cheap veggies thats in season some worcester sauce and a little veggiemite (similar to marmite only veggie) often some fresh or dried herbs and I often do mine in the crock pot overnight and next day some crust bread makes a lovely meal. to thicken soups I often use some pasta twirls, this also helps bulk out the soup. Sorry the house let to people has been left dirty, the letting agents should be made to pay to have it cleaned and made good again, they should nhave been doing the odd spot check on the tenants.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Anon. My friend found the tenants herself, but got a reference from the letting agent of their previous address. The reference turned out to be a load of lies and the employee has since left. My friend did do spot checks but always made an appointment, so they were able to hide the animals before she arrived. She was alerted to the situation by a neighbour who had seen the cats.

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  11. You inspired me to make soup this week. Last night was a mixture of onions, potatoes, carrots, celery, and chicken with broth. It tasted fantastic and, as you have said, so reasonably priced. I have a ham baking for tonight with cauliflower. Tomorrow will be ham bone and bits of ham with lima beans. Not everyone likes lima beans but we love them. There will be plenty of leftover ham for split pea soup this weekend. Thank you for the inspi9ration. Patty Mc

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  12. Today we walked and found lots of chestnuts, came home with pockets bulging! They will make a great, free and healthy addition to our soup tomorrow.
    PS How pathetically childish is 'Anonymous' above? Why can't they see how silly they sound? It would be amusing if it weren't sad that they have nothing better to do with their time.

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