This soup goes into containers for take-to-work lunches, which means I have to resort to banana toasties less often and he can avoid the hideous work cafe. He is ridiculously proud of himself. Last week he even sent me an email while he ate (bear in mind we sit about 20ft away from each other): "My lunch is AMAZING!" it said. You have to love a man who does that. Or, perhaps I have to.
Souperhero Soup
I am not allowed to interfere with this process at all, but I did give him a few pointers before he started so these instructions are solely based on that. Quantities are approximate - my beloved is not a details man - though he has learned that birds' eye chillies are not less hot because they are smaller than the others.
A roasting dish full of peeled and chopped pumpkin, beetroot, carrots, potatoes and onions or leeks - whatever you have
olive oil
few cloves of garlic
a few ribs of celery
a chilli or two
chicken/vegetable stock
Heat the oven to 180C. Drizzle the roasting dish full of vegetables with oil and put it in the oven for 30-40 minutes until everything is cooked and beginning to brown up a bit.
Meanwhile, take a pot big enough to take all the vegetables and gently saute the garlic, celery and chilli in another slosh of olive oil until soft. Tip in the cooked vegetables and stir well, then cover with chicken stock. Bring to a gentle simmer for 5-10 minutes, then taste for seasoning. Puree with a stick blender, then summon your wife to admire your greatness.
What's your new favourite packed lunch at the moment?
Amazing how they're so proud of themselves. These men in our lives! At least it's tasty whilst it lasts!!
ReplyDeleteHahaha you had me laughing out loud! Alas my other half is also not a details man, nor is he a recipe man, sometimes it is spectacular, and some times it's a spectacular fail. Looks like souperman is on to a good thing there! Lucky girl! :P
ReplyDeleteSoup is the best! My current lunch is a bulgar wheat salad. I make a huge bowl on Sunday, keep it in the fridge and dip into it every day for my lunch box. I am really enjoying it, you can add any veggies to it that you have in the fridge.
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile. My other half does the same thing - emails me whilst he's having lunch to say 'yum'! Our lunch is normally what we had for dinner the night before. Trying to be sensible with not spending a lot on weekday lunches.
ReplyDeleteGlad he learnt the chilli lesson, it's not something you want to do twice! Because I'm at home ALL THE TIME, husband has amazing work canteen and 4yo has school lunches, there are no packed lunches in my life at the mo'. But I think one of the key things is appropriate storage. A good thermos goes a long way.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant post hon! Oh please can I send my hubby round to your place for some training...I would love some home-made soup! What a healthy lunch too :-) Becks x
ReplyDeleteI am with him: I am not an exact recipe person either...:)
ReplyDeleteMr CC, being of a scientific/engineering bent, can't cope with what he calls "the vagaries" of cooking - if a potato takes 10 mins to soften today, why doesn't it always take 10 mins?!
ReplyDeleteThat's a mighty fine looking pot of soup!