Winter Warmers

I love love soup at this time of the year. These are my current top two -the leek and potato comes courtesy of the allotment. Leeks are about all I have left, can't quite bring myself to use the Kale (urrgh) and the parsnips are in keeping for christmas day :-)

Mushroom Soup (Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook):

600ml good chicken stock

1 garlic clove finely chopped

75g butter

450g mixed mushrooms (I always add some dried porcini and the juice)

50g flour

Freshly grated nutmeg

600ml whole milk

150ml single cream

1-2 tsp lemon juice

Fry the onion and garlic gently, roughly chop 1/2 thre mushrooms and add to the onion. Cook until soft then stir in the flour and nutmeg, whisk in the warm stock and bring to boil, cover andn simmer for 15-20 mins. Liquidise and season well. Finely chop rest of mushrooms and add to pan with the milk. Bring to boil and simmer for 10 more mins. Take off heat and add cream and lemon juice. Season well and serve x



Leek and Potato Soup (Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook)

Made with allotment leeks :-|)

1 Onion thinly sliced

1 tblsp olive oil

25g butter

6 large leeks

3 medium waxy potatoes

1 litre chicken or veg stock

500ml milk

freshly grated nutmeg

5-6 tablespns single cream

Sauté onion in butter and oil until soft, add leeks and potatoes and cook for 6-7 minutes. Add the stock and simmer until veg are very tender (about 10 mins). Liquidise and add milk, bring to boil. Remove from heat and add herbs, nutmeg, cream and warm through. Season well and serve x