Cauliflower and Bacon Soup

2 tbsp butter
1 small onion – chopped
1/2 cup rindless bacon – finely diced
1 large cauliflower – florets
100ml dry white wine
1.5 litres chicken stock (or beef)

In a large saucepan, melt butter. Add onions and bacon and fry gently until the onions are soft.
Add the cauliflower and wine, stir and let it bubble a bit.
Add the stock and a cup of water and bring to the boil.
Simmer until the cauliflower is soft.
Munch with a stick blender.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.

This recipes is based on one that was in the Cuisine magazine recently.
It is delicious!

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>It’s soup weather.

>Grey, wet and WINDY! – our first cold day.
I love Thai flavours and I love pumpkin soup – this soup is the perfect mix of both.

Thai Style Pumpkin Soup

2 tbsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic – peeled and chopped
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp curry powder
4 spring onions – chopped
1 red chilli – de-seeded and chopped
1/4 cup pinenuts
400ml coconut milk
200ml water or stock
750g pumpkin – peeled, seeded and chopped
salt and pepper – to taste
coriander, basil or mint for garnish – roughly chopped (I put the coriander stalks into the soup)

Heat the oil in a large saucepan and saute garlic, turmeric, paprika, curry powder, spring onions, chilli and pinenuts for 2 – 3 minutes.
Add coconut milk and water/stock to the saucepan.
Bring to the boil, add pumpkin and simmer, stirring gently from time to time until the pumpkin is tender.
Whizz
Taste for seasoning, thin with water or stock if necessary.
Serve garnished with chopped herbs

Thick, Hot, Spicy

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>It’s all Pip’s fault.

>I worked with Pip.
She shared a flat with this guy.
She invited me to the movies with them. She set us up. We’ve been married nearly 25 years. It is all Pip’s fault.

PIP’S PUMPKIN SOUP

1 kg pumpkin – peeled and chopped
2 cups chicken stock
2 tsp sugar
2 onions – chopped
2 cloves garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Cook together until vegetables are soft.
Whizz.
Re-heat with 1/4 tsp nutmeg and thin with 2 – 3 cups of milk

You can make so many variations of pumpkin soup, but this is great for when you just want something simple.

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