LEEK AND POTATO SOUP

Good Morning to you,

Tis the season for Leeks and I love them, especially when added to a soup.  They have a mild onion flavour which works so well with potatoes.

So today, as they are in season, I am making a pan of Leek and Potato Soup, which we will be having for lunch. 

I normally eat a slice of crusty bread or a slice of soda bread with my soup, but not today, well in fact, not for the next five or six weeks, as we are both trying to lose three or four pounds, before Christmas.  I want to fit comfortably into my little black dress and George wants his trousers to feel a little less snug. 

I don't eat a lot of bread, but I do like a nice bread with a bowl of soup, well, especially soda bread, but as I say, bread will not be in the house for a little while, and that way, we will both resist the temptation. 

Having said that I am not eating bread, what do you think my friends were talking about today..... baking bread and how everyone enjoyed eating freshly baked bread.  They were unanimous when they each shared their favourite way of eating fresh bread..... slathered with butter. What do you think,  do you think I will be able to keep up my bread "abstinence"?   I do hope so, but it is difficult when you start having conversations about the one food which you don't want to eat..... and don't you find, that because you can't have it, you want it more...... right, that's it, my mind is made up........ no more talking about eating freshly baked bread. We'll talk about the leek and potato soup instead, as that will take my mind off bread.

Leek and potato soup is a lovely soup and one which George's father used to make a lot.   I think that is why George enjoys this soup so much, because it reminds him of the times when his father made it. I think the only thing which I add, which he didn't, is garlic, oh yes and olive oil, as those ingredients would have been far too "fancy smancy" for Bob to use.

But first, as always, before we begin, I have chosen my music to listen to, and today I am listening to,

Sting.  I chose to listen to Sting today, because he hails from the North-East,  as does George, and I thought as this soup is one which George's father made, the North-East link continues, so this music choice is perfect..... and the added bonus is, I love listening to Sting's music and George has enjoyed his music since Sting sung with The Police. So we are both happy with today's music choice.

So, it's on with my apron and here are the list of ingredients you will need to make this Leek and Potato Soup.

INGREDIENTS

3 large carrots

2 sticks of celery

1 medium onion

3 leeks washed to removed any grit

2 cloves of garlic

6 medium sized potatoes

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 1/2 litres of chicken or vegetable stock

salt and freshly ground black pepper

HOW TO MAKE
LEEK AND POTATO SOUP

Peel and chop the onion

Place 1 tablespoon of olive oil

into a large pan.

Saute the onions gently over a low heat,

until they are translucent

Peel and grate the garlic cloves

and add to the onions.

Cook for a further minute or so.

Meanwhile

peel and chop the carrots into small cubes

and add to the saucepan

Cut the celery into  small slices

and add to the saucepan

Cut the washed leeks into thin slices

and add to the saucepan

Peel and chop the potatoes

into smallish pieces

and again, add to the saucepan.

At this point you will find you need to

add the rest of the olive oil.

Make sure all the vegetables are coated

with olive oil

and continue cooking for another four or five minutes

Add 2 stock cubes to

1 1/2 litres of water

and add to the vegetables

If you have stock which you have made

even better

Cook for 15 - 20 minutes or until

the vegetables are tender.

When the soup is ready,  remove half of 

the vegetables and place them on a plate

and

then  blitz the rest of the soup, which

will thicken the soup.

Return the vegetables, which were placed on the plate,

back into the soup.

Stir

then

check for seasoning.

Place the soup in a soup bowl,

drizzle with a little olive oil 

and enjoy,

and

Yes,

just in case you are wondering,

I did enjoy the soup without bread,

but it wasn't quite the same

as I missed the

dunking action of the bread.

So take care and I will see you on Sunday when I will be making my Christmas pudding...... and that will be another tick off the Christmas To Do List.

This week I will be joining,

Miz Helen's Country Cottage