Vegetable Soup

Vegetable Soup

 

A little olive oil

3 leeks

1 potato

1 parsnip

1 small butternut squash

2 carrots

1 small bacon hock

Salt and pepper to taste

Dice all the vegetables into small cubes.

Heat olive oil in the bottom of a large pot and add the leek. Cook lightly, adding a little water if the leek is sticking.

Add all the chopped vegetables, bacon and enough water to cover well.

Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer until the vegetables are soft and meat cooked through.

If you like, blend a little (or a lot) with a stick-blender, season with salt and pepper. Either strip the meat into the soup or leave whole in the soup pot.

Butternut brown rice

Butternut Brown Rice

1 cup brown rice

2 cups water

1 cube/teaspoon chicken stock (optional)

1 small butternut squash, peeled, de-seeded and diced

200 grams chopped bacon (optional)

3 tablespoons pine nuts

2-3 tablespoons parmesan (or more)

Cracked black pepper to taste

Place rice, water and chicken stock in a large saucepan. Bring to the boil and simmer until rice is soft and the water absorbed, maybe about 20-30 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and cover.

Place the butternut squash in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Simmer until the squash is cooked. Drain the water and mash.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan and lightly cook the bacon. Add the pine nuts and fry very lightly.

Combine the bacon mixture, rice, pumpkin and cheese. Mix well and season with pepper (and salt if needed).

Chocolate chip biscuits

Chocolate Chip Biscuits

125 grams butter or margarine

½ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon vanilla essence

1 ¾ cups plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cocoa

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

100 to 200 grams chopped chocolate

Preheat the oven to 180°C and prepare a baking tray.

Cream the butter, sugars and vanilla essence together until the mixture is pale and fluffy.

Add the egg and mix well.

Sift in the flour, baking powder, cocoa, salt and cinnamon and mix will. Stir in chocolate.

Roll the mixture into balls and place on a greased baking tray. If you like flatten them a little with your hands or a fork.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until they are done to your liking - if you cook them longer they will be crispier. If you make bigger biscuits you will need to cook them for maybe 15 minutes.