Thursday, 3 October 2024

The Recipes - How to make an easy Chinese Soup (Vegan friendly)

When i tried this Chinese soup, for the first couple of mouthfuls i wasn't sure, a few more and i was hooked! It's an acquired taste if you haven't had much experience of Chinese food. I always do this in a big pan and use all the red pepper etc so that there is no waste. Always shake up your Soy sauce before you use it as it settles. Always again use the freshest beansprouts spring onion etc as possible as this soup can last a few days. We have used it from the fridge up to four days. Always cool down your soup and then get it in the fridge before 90 minutes have passed for good hygiene rules, and store it in good quality sealable containers. My daughter loves to drink the juice last, and everyone that has tried it loves it by the end of the bowl. Though it could be because of the salt content in the Soy sauce. (joking). It's lazy cooking as well because it lasts a few days, and it was even good on day four! Don't leave it longer than that though....The Chinese leaf is usually obtained from Morrisons, I can never find it in the other supermarkets  Oh well, crusty roll time again.

Here is the recipe



The Recipes - How to make Minestrone Soup (Vegan friendly)

Minestrone soup should always contain some sort of pasta. Here we used spaghetti cut into short strands. Then you can add anything that is left in the fridge. Courgettes whatever, just an even mix of vegetables. Then use parsley as the herb here. Always use the garlic, onion, potato and tomatoes as the base for the  minestrone though. Crusty rolls at the ready!

Here is the recipe


  

Tuesday, 1 October 2024

The Recipes - How to make Garlic Mushrooms with or without Mozzarella.

Who doesn't like garlic mushrooms? If you haven't made this yet its quite easy and tasty. Make sure that the garlic cloves are a good size in here. This is as good with or without the Mozzarella. Use the closed cup or button mushrooms, and same again, only fresh and white ones. Use the curly parsley in here too, not the flat leaf, as the curly parsley has a far superior taste! I like this with the Lurpak or Kerrygold, but again use your favourite butter. We usually have this with maybe a fresh salad, and garlic bread can be good here too, to mop up the juices,,,,

Here is the recipe



The Recipes - How to make a Creamy Mushroom Soup

This recipe again started out in a book. I doubled up the mushroom quantity, reduced slightly the stock quantity using Oxo vegetable stock, and added some cornflour. This is my daughter's favourite soup so we have to have it at least once a week! It also makes a good Christmas meal soup. Always make sure the celery stick goes limp before you take it out though, and always use the freshest ,white mushrooms. Button or closed cup will do. Semi skimmed is the best milk for this so that it is not too rich. Out come the crusty rolls....

Here is the recipe



The Recipes - How to make spicy carrot soup, with cumin and coriander.

This recipe again started out as a basic one in a book. By using more stock, and using the Oxo vegetable stock, taking away the milk, and using Chantenay carrots, this soup took on a really nice taste. You can use any carrots, but always make sure they are fresh, crisp and bright orange for this recipe. Carrots also are one of the cheapest vegetables that you can buy, so this soup is an all rounder for budget cooking and taste! Crusty roll anyone?

Here is the recipe




Thursday, 26 September 2024

The Recipes - How to make Vegetarian Quorn Spaghetti Bolognese.

A friend suggested this recipe to me, and I tried it. Then I changed the mushrooms, removed the salt, topped up the garlic, and Voila! It was the first time that I had made Spaghetti Bolognese at home. It's tasty and you can feed a crowd with it. A one pot meal. Sometimes I grate a little vegetarian hard cheese, (parmesan style) over it, if I make it for guests, and this has been a staple in our house for years. This Spaghetti Bolognese works well with the Quorn because it has a mince style texture. It doesn't work half as well with the other commercial minces I don't think. Further on in the blog you will see how you can use this Bolognese sauce in other meals too, but for now

Here is the recipe



Wednesday, 25 September 2024

The Recipes - How to make Cauliflower and Broccoli Soup (Vegan friendly)

This recipe started out in a book again, shallots were used and a small carrot, so i changed it to a brown onion, a larger carrot, and Oxo Vegetable stock and got a really nice taste! You need to use the freshest broccoli and cauliflower though. I find it easier using in a ready made twin pack but always check the quality. The carrots here again provide the sweet taste to it. We sometimes have this one at Christmas too as it was my late brother's favourite, and he also insisted on it being served in a mug not a dish. There is always one! Grab the crusty bread rolls.

Here is the recipe