Talking Of Making Soup......

[Tilly2]

On Thursday, I made some Carrot and Coriander soup. I overdid it with the ground coriander as there was a lot of it after I had finished grinding the seeds.

It made my eyeballs sweat!

[Tilly2]

.......and I thought my head was going to explode!

[ladybirder]

That's one of my favourite soups so it is. Well, not made by you, obviously!

[Obiter]

The only soup I ever got as a kid, apart from that which came out of a Heinz tin, was at Xmas wehn the turkey carcass was boiled up and fed us for a week.

[Tilly2]

It was lovely LB. But rather spicy!

Obiter, get the saucepan out and have a go.

[jourdain2]

One of my regular soups every Winter - but I've done the same with the coriander! Leek and potato is so easy Obiter - give it a go. I usually boil up the chicken carcass when we've had the roast meat off it and that makes a really good soup, too.

[Tilly2]

Give us your Leek and Potato recipe please, jourdain. I'm a bit of a novice and need some really easy things to make.

[Obiter]

Jourdain, I think that is called 'Jewish penicillin', a cure for everything.

[Tilly2]

I have a book, bought for me as a present, called 'Chicken Soup for the Soul'

[jourdain2]

I'll do my best Tilly, I just do it - serves about 4 and I freeze any unused helpings.
Cut heavy green bits and roots off leeks (2 large or 3 small), remove outer layer, wash any grit out, cut lengthways, turn onto cut surface and cut lengthways again, then chop across into slices about half an inch wide. Peel spuds and cut into smallish pieces - about 12 oz., but it's not precise. Chop 1 small onion fairly finely. Use a couple of vegetable stock cubes (I use 1 veg. & 1 chicken) to make 1 and a half pints of stock.
Over a low heat melt a mix of butter (about 2oz) in a pan with some oil to prevent the butter burning. Add chopped leeks and onion and let the mix slowly soften and become translucent, stir occasionally. I find this can take longer that you would think, possibly 15/20 mins. ,which is why I make a lot and freeze it. Don't let them go brown. When ready, tip the spuds in, add the stock and bring to the boil until potatoes are very tender (I stick a fork in and if the potato breaks away it is fine). Season to taste (or as your doctor has ordered if you are on low salt).
At this point I use a hand blender to mush everything up a bit, whilst retaining chunky texture, and Robert is your father's brother! If you like 'cream of' soup then this is the point at which to add some milk or single cream, but a warning is that once cream/milk is added it does not freeze well.
Seriously, just relax and enjoy soup-making. I used to follow recipes slavishly, but you can make soup from almost anything. Left-over roast veg. make a tasty soup.
Hope this helps, have fun!

[Tilly2]

Thank you very much for your detailed answer, jourdain. I shall try that.

[jourdain2]

I think you are right Obiter! I'm not Jewish, but the chicken soup is good. You can add a couple of chopped up mushrooms and cream and there you are - cure for everything!

[boxtops]

The most lovely soup was a Covent Garden Soups recipe my late BIL made, from turnips.

[EcclesCake]

Are you sure you picked up the right jar of spice Tilly?

I don't know anyone who would describe ground coriander as spicy!?!?

Fresh coriander goes well in carrot soup too.

[pastafreak]

Same as Eccles said...coriander isn't spicey. Sure you had the right spice?
As for potato and leek soup...I've used cream,and had no trouble with freezing it....its fine when defrosted.

[Tilly2]

I used coriander seeds and bashed them in my pestle and mortar and then I put fresh coriander in about ten minutes before we ate it. Maybe spicy was the wrong word but it did make us sweat, profusely.

[guilliebrougues]

I hate broad beans but found a way to eat them. I made bacon, broad beans and potato soup. Liquidised it, sprinkled on grated cheese and it tasted delicious.

[boxtops]

guillie, that sounds delicious!

[guilliebrougues]

Hi boxtops it is, and it is a good way of using up the beans.

[jourdain2]

guillie I hate broad beans but OH loves them and insists on growing them. I've found that if you cook them, slit the outer casing and pop out the inner halves they make a very good omelette (with requisite eggs, of course). It takes a bit of time, but it keeps him happy, they taste OK and I'm sure they're good for me.
I'll give your soup idea a try, thanks.