Parsnip, Garlic & Lentil Soup.

[Zest]

Hi everyone,

I won't be posting food every day, but I have a bit more time this weekend, and having been inspired yesterday by a post by Aqua-Marine concerning her Carrot & Coriander soup for lunch, I decided to make this 'Parsnip, Garlic & Green Lentil Soup'.

I roasted left-over parsnips (about 1.5 kg of them) and 2 large bulbs of garlic (i.e. containing numerous cloves) for about 25 minutes in the oven with some olive oil. Meanwhile I made some vegetable stock using 5 pints of boiling water and 4 teaspoons of Swiss Bouillon reduced salt vegetable stock powder (I don't like to use too much of that, so that I can reduce the salt content as much as possible). Once the parsnips and garlic were roasted, I added them to the vegetable stock in a large saucepan on the oven hob, and heated through - I then blended the soup at this stage, but found it to be quite watery. So I then added some lentils (green speckled lentils - 150g) in that soup mixture and cooked on the hob for about 20 minutes, and then re-blended the soup.

I am sure someone could make this soup a lot quicker than that if they added the lentils earlier in the process, but this was literally a trial and error soup. As you can see, the colour of the soup is not so appetising, quite a grey colour - but I added some spicy grated cheese on top, and that does really add to the look, and also enhanced the flavour. It's a very tasty soup - definitely worth a go if you like those ingredients. The amount I made today totalled 6 portions of soup, so we had some for lunch, served with 1 and a half pieces of wholemeal toast and peanut butter each, and I've frozen the remaining batches (4 portions remaining) for future lunches. I'm thinking of doing some pea and mint soup next weekend.

My thanks to Aqua-Marine (for her inspiring post) and to Moreless, & Fran182716, who also gave me some tips within Aqua's post, and some ideas for other recipes to try with garlic. Thank you! I will give them a go sometime as well.

I really like the sharing of ideas that happens in this forum - it is really great.

Hope you are all enjoying Sunday, and if you want to share any of your recipe ideas or meals, I'd definitely love to hear them.

Hope lots of people will be joining us for the Monday Group weigh-in tomorrow as well. I'll be posting the thread before 7am, and here's to a great weigh-in!!!! Everyone is welcome to join us for that weigh-in.

Lowcal

[Hidden]

That looks amazing. I think my food day will be veryboring. My husband is poorly.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

Hi Aqua-Marine,

Really sorry to hear your husband is poorly today. It's that time of year for colds and stuff like that - I've already noticed many more adverts for cold remedies etc.

I'm hoping that having this garlic soup will help my immune system, as I've heard garlic is very good healthwise.

Hope your husband feels better really soon.

Lowcal

[Hidden in reply to Zest]

We have to go and get it sorted at hospital tomorrow. 😕 Trying to motivate myself to go and have a swim but the weather and this is making me feel meh.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

I hope the hospital will be able to sort things out.

This weather is putting a dampener on things generally, isn't it - quite literally I realise. Maybe just go and have that swim, and you'll feel better for it.

[bakersdozen in reply to Hidden]

AM No pushing yourself down on these forums sorry I will not allow it! Yours was also very nice.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bakersdozen]

Hi Bakersdozen,

Many thanks for your kind words.

Hope you are having a fab day.

Lowcal

[bakersdozen]

Lowcal this soup sounds very delicious!

Leek with courgettes or butter nut squash, garlic and onion soup mi which I have to now omit due to yeast so you can enjoy your peanut butter sandwich!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bakersdozen]

Hi Bakersdozen,

I have to say I do enjoy the peanut butter on toast very much - I often have that alongside a vegetarian soup. Sorry that you're unable to have that.

I like the sound of your soup combinations - really tasty. Butternut squash is a particular favourite of mine.

Lowcal

[bakersdozen in reply to Zest]

That is clever to have peanut butter on rice cakes with veg soup as veg are free. Thanks Lowcal for your amazing idea!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bakersdozen]

Ah yes, you could have rice cakes - great! That would go really nicely with veg soup. Hope you enjoy it!

[bakersdozen in reply to Zest]

You just reminded me I can have certain crackers or rice cakes. It is yummy!

ave a great day!

I am so excited for tomorrow weigh in day! The scales are beginning to like me!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bakersdozen]

Excellent, will look forward to seeing you in the weigh-in tomorrow, and it's great that the scales are beginning to like you! They have good taste, clearly!

[bakersdozen in reply to Zest]

Thanks! You are making me giggle!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bakersdozen]

lol, ha ha - that happened to poor Tewson yesterday as well - and he's got a poorly tummy now... Watch yourself Bakersdozen...

[bakersdozen in reply to Zest]

I have a job for you to be a clown or a comedian!

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bakersdozen]

Ooooh, I'll have to have a think - which one would I prefer to be.

[bakersdozen in reply to Zest]

[bakersdozen in reply to Zest]

Lowcal I just went to the shop today and can't buy peanut butter as it has sugar so I decided to make and use honey instead of sugar. Thanks Lowcal for making my brains work and becoming more adventurous. Actually you keep telling me peanut butter and I love it so now I am not being deprived of peanut butter I can now join you just I will have my yummy rice cakes and you can have your toast. Thanks for giving me some ideas to eat for breakfast..

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to bakersdozen]

Hi Bakersdozen,

If you're making your own peanut butter -( is that what you meant? ) then you could try making it without any sugary stuff at all, i.e. without honey? I wouldn't imagine it would need any sugary substance in it? But I don't really know much about peanut butter - except that I like it on my toast.

Lowcal

[bakersdozen in reply to Zest]

That is exactly what I was planning to do without honey just peanuts and drop of oil and blend it together!

[Hidden in reply to Zest]

I love butternut squash. So good for you.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

Yes, really tasty.

[Zest Healthy BMI]

I'm popping out now, but thanks to everyone who has commented on my post today - it's been lovely 'chatting' with you, and hope you all have a great afternoon.

[Fran182716]

Hi Lowcal, I'm sure it tasted lovely despite the colour! I have that problem with mushroom soup, it tastes great despite the dark greyness. Reminded me of rude names my boys have christened some of my soups "swamp soup" ( spinach) and even " vomit soup" ( with bits of carrots) naughty boys still eat them though!! ☀️

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Fran182716]

Hi Fran,

The last time I did a grey soup was back at Halloween - and at that time it seemed perfectly in vogue - but of course at other times seems less palatable, but your tip to sprinkle some cheese on the top has really helped.

Glad to hear your naughty boys still eat your soups, despite the rude names they give them! It's the taste that counts afterall.

Lowcal

[Hidden]

There're few things that are better and more comforting on a dull day like today, than a nice bowl of homemade soup. It looks lovely and I bet it was really nice. I go for flavour over colour any day One of my favourites is leek and potatoe and that can look a little off colour, but the taste mmmmmmmmmmmmmm perfect.

Thanks for sharing Lowcal, I was busy cooking and unable to reply earlier

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

Hi Tewson,

Thanks for your kind remarks, and I agree that Leek & Potato soup is indeed another example of an insipid looking soup that tastes delicious.

Sorry to mention this again, but I have just come back from visiting a relative, and she actually gave me a present - guess what it was - a Honeydew melon! I couldn't believe it!!! Set me off laughing all over again....

Hope your tummy is feeling better today and you're feeling fine again.

Lowcal

[Hidden in reply to Zest]

That's just cracked me up!!

As for my tummy, a couple of slices of toast sorted that no problem.

Behave Lowcal

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

I will behave, I'm going to go and cook my dinner now.

Glad your tummy is feeling better!

[Hidden]

Hey Lowcal - it looks great! Maybe next time add red lentils/split peas instead of green lentils, as they cook down really well and don't need to be blended, are great for thickening soups and would keep the colour more appetising. Love the combo though, sounds delicious especially roast parsnip and garlic with the peanut butter on the side

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Hidden]

Hi Ruth,

Thanks for that tip Ruth - I do have some red split lentils as it happens, and I will definitely try those next time. You're right, the colour would be much more appetising that way.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend.

Lowcal

[alejandra]

Hi. Thanks for answering yesterday. And thanks for the welcoming. I have one more question if it's not too much bother, how do I join the weigh in tomorrow? Is it on a normal post or a special site or group?

Thanks for answering.

Alejandra

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to alejandra]

Hi Alejandra,

I will be posting the Monday group weigh-in post just before 7am tomorrow morning, so just look out for it - it will have the title "Please Join Us for a Monday Group Weigh-in (4th January 2016)" and should be easy to spot.

Alternatively you can click 'follow' and my name (Lowcal) and then you'd be notified automatically when I post it.

Looking forward to seeing you in the weigh-in, and sleep well in the meantime!

Lowcal

[alejandra in reply to Zest]

Thanks a lot!! I think I am following you. I'll check.