Parsnip and Apple Soup
There are so many lovely soups, but have you tried parsnip and apple?
cook 40 minutes
serves 4
Ingredients
25g margarine
1 medium onion
2 medium parsnips
1 medium-sized cooking apple
600ml (1pt) vegetable stock
2 tbsp parsley, chopped
½ tsp dried mixed herbs
1 pint milk
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Chop all the vegetables.
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Peel, core and chop the apple.
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Melt the margarine in a large pan and sauté the vegetables and apple, stirring frequently, until the onion is transparent.
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Add the stock and herbs and bring to the boil, Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 30 mins.
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Now add the milk and either blend in a liquidiser or use a handheld blender. Reheat to serving temperature and adjust seasoning to taste.
Moroccan Harira
This is more of a stew than a soup. It’s a brilliant vegetarian one-pot meal for 4 people.
cook 50 minutes
serves 4
Ingredients
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2 tbsp oil
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2 large onions, diced
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2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
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1 celery stalk, finely diced
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1 tsp ground turmeric
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½ tsp ground ginger
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½ tsp ground cinnamon
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black pepper to taste
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100g red lentils
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400g can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
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few strands of saffron, toasted and crushed (optional)
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500ml carton of passata
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good handful of parsley, roughly chopped
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large bunch of coriander, roughly chopped
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300g squash or pumpkin
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1.2 litres of vegetable stock
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1 bay leaf
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50g orzo or other small pasta
Directions
Heat the oil in a large saucepan; add the onions and sauté until just starting to turn golden.
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Turn the heat down and add the garlic, celery and all the spices. Sauté for a couple of minutes.
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Now add the lentils, chickpeas, saffron, passata, parsley and half the coriander. Cook over a low heat for 15 mins.
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Meanwhile, peel and de-seed the squash or pumpkin and cut into large cubes.
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Add to the pan with the stock and bay leaf. Cover and simmer gently for about 30 mins.
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Add the pasta and simmer until it is cooked. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Scatter the remaining coriander over the dish and serve.
Fusilli or Macaroni with Sausage Meat and Carrots
This is a great, easy pasta dish the kids will love!
cook 2 hours
serves 8
Ingredients
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400g/450g good quality pork sausages
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1 tbsp vegetable oil +15g butter
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1 onion, finely chopped
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3–4 medium-sized carrots, grated
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1 carton passata
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140ml (¼ pt) chicken or veg stock
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2 bay leaves
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Generous tsp dried oregano
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350–400g fusilli (depending on people’s appetites)
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Grated parmesan or cheddar to serve
Directions
Make a slit down the side of each sausage to remove the meat.
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Heat the oil and butter in a saucepan and cook the onion until it is translucent.
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Add the grated carrots and stir for a few minutes.
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Add the passata, stock, bay leaves and oregano and cook, covered, over a low heat for 30 minutes.
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Taste and check for seasoning. If you used spicy sausages, you may not need any further seasoning.
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Cook the pasta al dente and drain. Pour into a warm serving dish and mix with the sauce. Serve the grated cheese separately.
Spiced apple cake
​This is SO good. It can be eaten as a cake or served with cream or ice cream as a dessert. Serves 6–8.
cook 1 hours
serves 6-8
Ingredients
125g butter or margarine
225g soft dark brown/muscovado sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
225g plain flower
2 tsp baking powder
2tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
300g cooking apples, peeled, cored and diced
2 tbsp clear honey
2tbsp demerara sugar
Directions
Line a 20cm springform cake tin with baking parchment.
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Heat the oven to 160ËšC/ or 140ËšC fan/Gas mark 3.
Cream the butter and sugar together, then mix in the eggs.
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Sift over the flour, baking powder and spices and fold them in gently.
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Stir in the apple and then spread the mixture into the tin, smoothing it out evenly.
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Bake for an hour until risen, lightly browned and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
While the cake is cooking, combine the honey and demerara sugar. Once the cake is cooked, allow it to cool for a few minutes but spread the honey mixture over the cake while it is still warm.
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This cake will keep well wrapped in foil for 3 or 4 days but my guess is it will be eaten pretty quickly!