Day 1 chunky Vegetable soup.

Day 1 chunky Vegetable and bean soup.

The days are getting colder and there is really nothing more comforting than a bowl of soup in cold weather. So for day one of my month long project I made chunky veg and bean soup for lunch.

My eight year old son "Pip" is a vegetarian and I find it hard to get protein that he enjoys into him. So anywhere I can sneak in some beans or lentils I do. Also my daughter "Button" is only one so I need to watch her salt intake. I use low salt stock cubes for flavor when I'm making meals that she will be also eating.

I used a tomato base for this soup. Mostly because I went through my kitchen cupboards and realised I had nine tins of chopped tomatoes......... Food hoarding much? At least I know if there is ever an apocalyptic event I'll be all set for pasta sauce :).

I didn't follow a recipe this time. Sometimes I'm a to the letter of the recipe kinda girl and some times I'm a throw a bit of this and that in it'll be grand kinda girl. Today I was the latter. I did however record the ingredients to share here.

For the soup I used

1 Large onion diced.

2 Medium leeks sliced.

2 Carrots sliced.

1/2 A butternut squash cut into chunks.

2 large handfuls of frozen peas.

1 tin of Cannelloni beans drained.

2 tins of chopped tomatoes.

2 low salt stock cubes.

2 tsp of smoked paprika.

1/2 tsp of cumin.

1/2 tsp of mild chili powder.

1 tsp of oregano.

1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce.

Method

Brown the onions in a large saucepan in a little rapeseed oil. ( of course you can use whatever oil you like but rapeseed is my preferred oil.)

Add the leeks and continue to cook for five minutes.

When your onions are browned and your leeks are soft add the herbs and spices and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Pour the tomatoes in, using of of the tins as a measure add two tins of water.

Add the beans, and Worcestershire sauce and finally the stock cubes dissolved in a little water.

Bring to the boil and simmer for 25-30 mins or until all the veg is tender and the stock is reduced slightly.

Serve and enjoy :)

On day one we also had porridge for breakfast with fruit.

For dinner we ate a simple stir-fry with chicken and marinated tofu for the vege.

Day one was a definite success. "Pip" enjoyed laying the table for the meals and we chatted away about things like school, shoe sizes ( he is a little obsessed with his growing feet) and laughed at how funny the baby was at the table amongst other things. I think this is the beginning of a new way of life for us and it excites me. 

Bon Appetit xx