Veg Box

Try adding a handful of coral lentils while it's cooking.
Do you get mushrooms? They make a nice soup. I had a recipe once which used brown bread crumbs to thicken it.

I'm sorry but canned soup is awful once you are used to eating homemade soup.
Frozen veg is no substitute for the real thing.

Set FOOT in the kitchen. I dunno though, maybe set food was right.

Kateykrunch* Carrot and coriander soup can be made with no peeling at all and only a minimal amount of chopping. You just give the carrots a good wash, remove any horrible-looking bits and cut it into chunks. Same with most veg. Most of the vitamins are just under the skin, and peeling it too well just removes the best bit. That is my story anyway, and I'm sticking with it.

Just a thought - if Hubby really enjoyed eating well, why not buy HIM a soup-maker as a late Christmas present (early Easter bunny surprise?) and let HIM do the preparation? You might find he takes over more and more of the cooking . . . You could then suggest he gets a food processor to do the slicing and chopping for him. Be devious enough and you won't need ever to set food in the kitchen.

Thanks everyone, the soup I made was lovely and Hubby says he has eaten really well this week, but I was really fed up with all the peeling, chopping, boiling, simmering and roasting (remember, I am a pierce and pinger (microwaver) and not in full health at present), so it was nice, it was a change, but I’m not buying a soup maker or another veg box, back to frozen veg and canned soup.......okay, I am a bit idle as well, but thanks all for your tips, still fancy doing the coconut cake though! Lol x

I always begin with a chicken or vegetable stock - cubes if I don't have fresh.

Then a chopped onion (sometimes fried first) and any vegetables to hand.
If you have any left-over stir fry, make it into soup.
I add diced potato, or riconi, pearl barley or any other carbohydrate I fancy or have in the cupboard.

Grating root vegetables makes the process quicker and I always save cabbage water, or add a little shredded cabbage as that seems to give any soup, or curry, something extra.

Quick Tomato soup
Fresh or tinned tomato (I used tinned mostly as it's such a faff to skin the little blighters). Saute chopped onion in a little butter. Add onion and tomato to any stock you have handy, about 2 cups (or one cup of stock per person).

Add 2-3 tsp tomato paste and half a can of Carnation milk. Simmer and blend, adjust to taste. I like mine quite peppery.

If you want other simply recipes, please PM me

Why do they have to be cooked soups? If you have a stick blender, first squeeze a couple of lemons, then add a mix of watermaking veg (like celery, cucumber or fennel). Throw in some beetroot, two green apples - chopped -, some grated carrot and whizz the lot. For an extra healthy boost, add a piece of fresh ginger, half teaspoon curuma plus pinch of pepper. Then you have about 3/4 litre of smoothie to drink during the day. I even throw in raw spinach leaves, avocado or rocket. Any or all of the above are good for reducing cholesterol.

Or take the above recipe and use the veg to make a risotto, or stir into pasta with cream or soft cheese.

You could always roast some of the chunked up veg (a combo that you fancy) and add it to some couscous
Plain Couscous I’ve found in Aldi & Lidl under £1 (makes several quantities) you just add boiling water and stock cube of your choice. Leave to stand per instructions then fold through the roasted veg. Have with meat of your choice for a meal or makes a nice portable lunch
For the fruit- chop up apple/pear/banana etc and fold through some yogurt
Delish

These boxes often include vegetables you are not familiar with, but don't panic. The internet is full of vegetable recipes. Any that don't get used won't go to waste. The general method with my (Morphy Richards) soupmaker is about 500 to 600 grams of vegetables (any mixture! ) all cut up and put into the soupmaker with some kind of stock cube or stock powder and/or spices/herbs, plus hot water added up to the "maximum" mark. Select smooth or chunky and while it is clunking away get out the plate and spoon, the bread and the butter. In less than half an hour you have the most delicious fresh soup.
Soup successes include:-
smooth carrot and coriander
smooth tomato and basil
smooth or chunky potato and celery
smooth spicy roots (parsnip, carrot,sweet potato, white potato, part of a celeriac, lots of whatever spices are in your spice rack)
smooth Broccoli and stilton
smooth mixed veg, both smooth
chunky, mixed veg with and without bits of ham/chicken
chunky chicken, sweetcorn and red pepper

Not so successful (from internet recipe): - butter beans and pickled onions Yeurgggh.

Auntieflo.....and lime!, I bet that makes is more moist, good idea, just waiting now for someone to come along and tell me how to make it....I think I need, coconut and lime, but what else?? Lol x

KateyKrunch, it must be a side effect ? I had the domestic goddess thing as well, AND wanted to make a Coconut and Lime cake.! I have resisted ao far.

Had rough cut coleslaw with lunch just now, it was delish! I am waiting for saucepan of vegs to cool so I can blitz it in blender and see whats what (I dont actually like soup) so OH can try it and hopefully it will save for tomorrows lunch or freeze. Roast veg and pork for tea tonight. I dont know why I am getting so domestic, but I can feel a cake coming on, it must be side effect of my medication (cancer). I fancy doing a coconut cake, whats up with me???lol xx

Katey, I’d recommend buying a soup maker, as you’ll have lots of leftovers and stalks etc whatever you make. Just roughly chop them, into the soup maker with water or a tin of tomatoes, some lazy garlic, herbs and a spoonful of bouillon, stick on the lid and you can have a soup in 20 minutes with no fuss at all. No recipes as it’s just using up whatever you have.

Sorry no it isn't!!

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Yum, yum, I’m trying these tomorrow, of course lovely roasted veg as well, thanks so much for the instructions, MrsJamJam, what is your basic method for each? Thankyou all x

I find that almost anything that comes in my veg box can be made into soup, or coleslaw, or roasted veg(use hot or cold) or in a stir fry. I have a basic method for each and then mix and match the veg in any way that appeals.

It is very useful to have a mixer with a slicing attachment, tins of tomatoes on standby for soup and a selection of herbs and spices. I have also just discovered small jars of ready to use garlic and chilli. Keep in the fridge and use when you fancy. And a stick blender for whizzing soup.

If the right vegetables are in your box. Make a winter colslaw with red cabbage, red onion and carrots. Finely slice the onion and cabbage, grate the carrots, Mix. Add a salad dressing of your choice. Nice with a baked potato, or accompanying a hot pasty or fish and chips (freeze any extra chips, when needed spread on a baking tray and put in a hot oven. Chips are even better when twice cooked like this.)

I use butternut squash and carrots roasted in the oven until nicely browned. Fry onion in butter on the hob until softened add dried thyme. Add one tin of chopped tomatoes, fill the tin up with water and add back to pan with one veg stock cube and the roasted veg. Add salt & pepper to taste, bring to boil then blitz with stick blender (add cream if desired) Gorgeous Tomato soup!
Coleslaw - chop cabbage & onion thinly, put into a bowl(you can add carrot and any other veg you like as well). Add a short squirt of the best mayonnaise you can get, two table spoons malt vinegar, salt and black pepper - Voila! delicious coleslaw!

Good luck with your cooking, Julie x