Whilst the oven was on yesterday cooking my stuffed peppers ( which were yummy btw) I popped in 2 huge bulbs of garlic ( place on a bit of parchment and wrap all loosely in foil), I roasted these for 45 minutes. Once cooled i took off the foil and put them in a tub in the fridge. Why? I here you asking. Well today I wanted to make my 'garlic' soup, I have 2 versions both taste sublime. Our household love garlic in any way, shape or form. This soup made by using roasted garlic is amazingly subtle in flavour, and only 200kcals for the whole pan!
Squeeze your pre roasted garlic into a pan with a really tight fitting lid, add 400g roughly chopped leeks ( green parts inc.) and 100g peeled chopped potato. Pour 1 1/2 litres veg stock ( or 1 good stock cube and 1 1/2 litres hot water) over the veg, tight fit the lid and simmer away for about 25 minutes. ( I use a semi pressure cooker and once up to a bubble lower the heat to very low and cook for 15 minutes only, the average normal saucepan takes longer at a higher heat ). Once cooking time is up, leave in the pan for about 15 minutes with heat off, then blitz in a liquidiser until smooth. This is not a thick soup, if you want it thicker just reduce the amount of stock you use.
Serves 4-6 people depending how big a bowl you like, but still only 50kcals per bowl if serving 4.
This soup is to be my starter tonight for dinner with the 'girls'( served with homemade garlic bread which I won't have). Mains is kangaroo steaks, a huge mixed leaf salad with pomegranite seeds and homemade new potato salad ( I don't like potato salad, but apparently make a superb one). Dessert is greek yoghurt and berries, with a tiny drizzle of honey and a raspberry sauce ( sauce is 100g raspberries and 50g pineapple just blitzed until smooth then rubbed through a sieve to get rid of any seeds). All 3 courses for me comes to less than 400kcals, and I drink sparkling water from a champagne glass. I will have fed my eyes and tastebuds with delicious food and my soul with good company. Perfect.
The gazebo is up and table with benches under, all are decorated with strings of fairy lights and tiny hanging tealight holders. Wine and water are both chilling in the fridge. I am looking forward to this evening so much, my friends and I don't get together as often as we would like, even rarer on 'a school night'. To me this is what life is truly about, simple pleasures.
Before all this tonight though, I am off for my bike ride. Happily my wee pooch still fits in the basket and yesterdays test ride round the village went well. Today I am going a little further, not pushing it too much as I have aching muscles where I didn't know muscles existed, lol. Don't want to end up siezed, so easy goes.
Happy Thursday everyone, hope you enjoy your day.
