Blogtober 2020 :: Day 10

Helloooo my lovelies, so good to see you in the Attic on day 10 (ten!) of my Blogtober journey. Today has been so, so nice in a very gentle, quietly productive weekendish way. Firstly, I relished not having an alarm waking me up and slept in until almost 8 o'clock which was heaven. During the school week my alarm goes off at 6.30am which is actually OK for me as I am most definitely a morning person. 

I'm really happy with my weekday routine and love getting up early and doing my morning workouts, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy my weekends off! I love the change of pace at the weekends, and Saturdays and Sundays still hold something of a special feel for me even though I spend every day of the week at home.

Around 9.30 J and I walked into town together to do our rounds of the market and local shops. We visited the cheese stall and the fruit/veg stall on the market, then called into the baker, the butcher and finally a quick whizz into M&S foods for a few weekend treats.

Saturday is generally the only day of the week that I don't always cook from scratch - we bought pizzas for the Little People and J and I had a ready-made meal tonight, a really delicious Thai veggie curry from the M&S "Plant Kitchen" range. Often I do cook for J and I on a Saturday when the LP have pizza, and I choose something that would be harder (and way too expensive) to do for a family of five. It might be steak for example, or pan fried seabass fillets which are a fave. But honestly, I do really appreciate the times when all I need to do is cook up some extra veggies, pull a pizza out the oven and wait for the microwave to ping.

After our shopping we walked home with heavy bags full of fresh produce, stopping off on the way to recuperate over a coffee (ohhhhh, can you see a pattern emerging here? Please don't judge my coffee habit!). I don't need to tell you that it was outRAGEously good haha! I practically inhaled it, well honestly at one point I really did literally inhale it because J was making me laugh so much.

We always buy looooooads of stuff from the fruit and veggie stall, enough to last us almost a whole week. I load up on masses of fruit as all of us eat fruit daily so I fill two huge fruit bowls in the kitchen with apples, pears, satsumas, bananas, and then berries and grapes etc in the fridge. I buy whatever veg looks good as the variety of produce varies from week to week. Today I bought the most beautiful looking red pointy peppers which inspired me to make my "Red Soup". The Little People named it the red soup when I first started making it years ago as it has red peppers, sweet potato, red onion and tomatoes in it, making it the most glorious colour.

I bought a basil plant to use in the soup, and to (hopefully) keep growing on the kitchen windowsill - I wonder who remembers my crochet herb pot which I made forever ago? I still really love that quirky little make.

I had soup on my mind when I came home from the market so decided to make it straight away so that I could enjoy a bowl for a late lunch. Here is the recipe in brief....

Chop up 2 red peppers, half a large sweet potato, two large handfuls of baby plum tomatoes, 2 onions and 2 cloves of garlic. Spread it all out on a baking sheet, drizzle with a little olive oil, then season well. I used this salt which I recently bought after reading an article about the Dorset Sea Salt Company in Country Living Magazine, it adds a real depth of flavour to cooking which I love. Plus, it comes from Chesil Beach which makes it extra special, a little taste of home.

Roast the veg at 200C for about 40 mins, giving it all a toss around at the half way point.

Make up 600ml of vegetable stock and stir in 1 tablespoon of tomato purée.

Mix the roasted veggies in with the hot stock, then whizz it all up in a blender, doing it in batches if necessary.

Last year we bought a new blender and it's one of our most well used kitchen gadgets - we absolutely LOVE it and use it almost every day. The Little People regularly make smoothies (we keep a bag of frozen berries in the freezer at all times), and I use it to make cooking pastes and sauces, pancake batter, and of course soups. It has a powerful motor so doesn't complain at the frozen lumps of fruit and ice cubes, and it whizzes up a very smooth soup in no time at all. I can highly recommend this one if you are looking for a multipurpose blender (find it on Amazon HERE, it's the 1200W one).

So yeah, I put half of the stock/veg mixture in the blender at a time with a large sprig of fresh basil and whizzed it all up.....

Oh. My. Goodness. SO GOOD!!!!!

This red soup has a very rich, satisfying flavour - I grated a little strong cheddar cheese on top and had it with fresh sourdough bread. I think I'll be making weekend soup more regularly from now on as I really, really enjoyed it - do tell me, what is your favourite soup to make?

My lunch was a late one (2pm ish) and afterwards I noticed the weather was bright and I fancied pottering outside for a little while. I had a sudden urge to bring some colour into the front garden, it was honestly a MaJoR compulsion to go do it right there and then. So before I could even question myself, I had pulled on my coat and was racing down the hill to find me some floral colour. Just like that - one minute eating soup and the next minute I absolutely had to go buy plants!! I do wonder at myself sometimes.

Twenty five minutes later and I was home again with five little pots tucked in my bag. They cost £1 each from the supermarket - two ivies, two cyclamen and a winter cherry, aren't they cheery?

↑↑ This was the place I had in mind for them - this little old wall basket sits to the right of our lower cellar door at the front of the house and it's been making me feel a bit sad just lately. It still has the old stalks in it from last year's deceased geraniums and every time I caught sight of it I would feel bad about it's neglected state. 

Time to make amends!

↑↑ This little pile of green gorgeousness made me so happy because it is Home Grown!! There is a patch of grass beneath our old wooden bench in the front garden that has become more moss than grass, so I was gently able to lift some of it up to use in my wall basket, to stop the earth tumbling out of the gaps. You know how much I adore moss (like I love it very, very much) and so to have my very own growing mossy stuff is like a dream come true. 

And this is how it looks after my £5 investment, plus a little bit of time and minimal effort really. There is still a bit of a gap at the front so I think I might look for some pretty violas to go there as I do love those cute little things. 

Whilst I was searching for floral colour in Morrisons I found this ready-planted terracotta pot for only £4, so that came home to number 24 too, to sit on my front step.

I love the little splash of colour that greets me now as I climb the nine steps to my front door. Note to self - do not forget to water the new growing things. Must. Not. Forget. 

After all the gardening activity, everything came to a sudden halt inside my brain, and I needed to sit down and re-group for a bit. I think I just got over excited being all domesticated, what with making (and eating) soup from scratch and gardening all crammed in together...well, I needed a small frothy coffee and a little bit of gentle yarny stitching to quiet myself. 

I finished off the second half of the gusset decreases on the second sock (I'm knitting two socks together), so that was a good job done. Now I've got the pleasure of whizzing down those easy foot rows and before long I hope to find myself at the toes. J will be pleased I think, he's wearing the other two pairs I made him every day on repeat.

Just as I was cooking dinner retrieving food from the oven and microwave, J shouted to me to come and look out of the window. We'd had a sudden heavy rain shower and the most beautiful double rainbow was arcing over the rooftops right in front of our house. It was so beautiful, a real uplifting sight for sure.

I hope your day has been wonderfully weekendish, do tell me a little of what you've been up to, I'd love to hear......

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Anke Lindenhols]

I've tried your soup today, it is delicious. Thanks for the recipe.

[Sue Leedale]

Made my version of your soup. Really delicious. Thank you.
Love the daily gentle, kind blogs.

[Tracy Bache]

We brought a soup maker from Tescos last year and it has been used non stop.I make similar soup to yours but use butternut squash in place of sweet potato. Same process. It's really yummy. Thank you for your blogs. I find them very grounding and somewhat peaceful in these troubling times.xx

[Jackie Farrelly]

Hello from Ireland Lucy, I tried your red soup recipe today, it was delicious..thanks for sharing 😊 love your blogs keep them coming x

[Evi Schumacher]

I am enjoying your blog so very much, thank you for sharing your days. My blog has been laying idle for much too long this year, maybe I’ll get inspired again. :-)

[Karen Dodgson]

Hi Lucy
I’m loving your daily posts, it’s like catching up with a lovely friend after a long absence.
I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m the lady who LOVES St Anne’s and posted pictures of me at the beach huts last year with my sister...I’d given her a quick refresher course in crochet then we both made your Dune blankets and took them to St Anne’s where you were inspired to make the pattern. Anyway, this year we were at St Anne’s for our annual family weekend...and me and hubby finally BOUGHT A FLAT! So on 1st October we moved here forever, and we are just so happy. We have a tiny little balcony that looks down to the Beach Cafe and I keep pinching myself. And of course your Dune blanket is the star of our new home! Thank you for inspiring me to make a blanket and fulfill a lifelong dream! Xx

[Jan]

Lunch it’s sooo gooood to read you again! I’m so glad you got your blogging mojo back! Love your photos, your chatter and your creativity! Thank you xxx

[Lunch Lady Jan]

Swamp soup is a go to in our house! It's basically a leek and potato soup but with frozen spinach chucked in and then whizzed up with the stick blender. It's bright green and was dubbed Swamp soup by my boys.
Xxx

[Beverley]

Thank you for sharing the red soup recipe Lucy. I will be trying it out soon as I was looking for a new soup idea. We have had a lovely day here in the Midlands and spent a fair bit of time in the garden just pottering. Love it.

[Lesley]

I’ve just been out and bought the ingredients and made your soup Lucy, oh my gOodness it’s delicious!! Also I’ve started knitting my first Ever sock!! I’m not a natural (or good) knitter so it’s my Autumn challenge! Thank you for the inspiration xxx😀

[Hedy]

I wish we had markets here like yours we could walk to, sigh...But it’s a beautiful fall day here with orange and gold leaves on the trees and we are leaving in our caravan for a weeks holiday though 5 state parks. I turn 75 on Tuesday and I had plans on visiting the Navajo Reservation to deliver used sewing machines and fabrics. But the virus is too strong there so my plans are changed until next year. We have 4 dogs and I’m looking forward to long walks with them. My favorite soup is a hamburger soup with vegetables and a beef broth, quite tasty. I usually have to freeze or give away some as it makes such a big pot for just two people. I love coffee too, but I’m a straight black coffee drinker with nothing added. Yours does look nice though. Enjoy your lovely weekend.

[Jenny]

Lovely reading your blog today. Been scribbling down all these soup recipes. I am currently making a big baby blanket, it’s all in white, just wondering if I will need to buy more for the border. Enjoying making it and creating something pretty for a 2021 baby girl 😍

[Sandy Chilvers]

Hi making a colourful blanket for my 2 year old grandson you have made me want to make soup for lunch. So pleased you are feeling more like your old self. Feel like i know you through your writing

Sandy

[Susan]

Love reading about your days, so uplifting and hope giving. I've made an autumn wreath and now starting a winter one which meant a big session in the loft yesterday sorting out wool. I'm not the best crocheter so I'm trying to learn as I go along. I'd like to say how much I enjoy reading everyone's comments on here. I wish you all the very best. We are fortunate to have our crafting. To the lady who is looking after her mother who has cancer,I send you both a big virtual hug. Bless you all.

[Jacqui]

Lovelypost as ever. My fave home made soups are red lentil and bacon curried butternut squash. Will def add your red soup to my repotoire he he
I have just come home from holiday and the cottage had a big pair of workmans boots in garden real ones and the moss was covering them and a few fern like plants beginning to grow looked lovely. Trying to find some big leather boots now. Love your winter basket.

[Christine Emberson]

I am so enjoying your daily blog posts - thank you. Lovely makeover of the basket and admire the sock making. My sons made two names for all my home cooked soups depending upon what colour they came out - red soups became Fantasy and Fireworks, less than red - Bottom of the Pond! xx

[Line]

My favourite soup is potatoes, carrots, parsnips, leeks, one small onion and some garlic. Served with some milk or not.
I'll try yours.😀

[Charlotte]

I make 'leftovers in the fridge' soup every week, just before the big shopping trip. A chicken thigh plus onion, carrot, parsnip, potato, whatever, all cooked up with a Knorr Stock Pot until ready. Add parsley and some milk. Then liquidise. I have one of those liquidiser stick things. Best tip is for a helpful husband to hold a towel over the top of the saucepan whilst I use the liquidiser so the kitchen walls don't get their lunch before we do! Loving your daily blogs. Charlotte in Dorset

[Camcas]

Lovely warm sunshineY spring day here in South Australia-so we took the dogs for a walk along the beach and watched the surfers as we strolled along.Perfect
Came home to find our apiarist taking honey filled frames out of out hives so I am hoping our bee agistment fees (aka honey) will be paid soon!

[Elizabeth]

Hooray for your October blog! I'm in Ballarat in regional Victoria where we are low on Covid 19 cases but effectively locked away from family in Queensland (state border closed) and Melbourne, under very tight lockdown & where my other kids & grandkids, good friends and family are also completely shut off from me.
Every day I check in and cheer up. Thanks Lucy !

[Diana Sullivan]

I am taking care of my mother who has cancer. I try to do what she likes or entertain her the way she did when I was growing up. She still likes to eat. Today I made pizza which she loves, tomorrow I’ll make shrimp stew. Her favorite soup is red pepper. We don’t use sweet potato so I’ll try that next time. My schedule is hers unless I go out to shop. If it wasn’t for the virus I would wheel her around everywhere in her wheelchair. We have good friends who have a car so we’re planning a trip to her favorite sites. I know this is about what I did today. I do live in my head a lot. So, I did housework & pizza making mostly. When I had a minute I looked at yarn, trying to decide what to make next. My mother has always supported her children in creative pursuits. When I was five she made a spare room into an art studio for us. By 8 I was crocheting. So today we decided on the woodland colorway. I may use one of the square designs. She likes those. She has never been interested in any of it herself but has always adored her gifts. She wants to pick out something Christmas tomorrow.

[Susan]

I spent my morning doing some electrical maintenance work on my home. My main breaker was bad and I had to change it. It’s super easy to do once the electric company comes out and kills all the power to the panel. That was such a big task and relief to get it over with, I’ve been wandering around the house today being lazy. Stringing my fall garland for my mantle right now. I may change it into a wreath. Or just make a wreath as well. My biggest fear is when I get my fall decorations out I’ll have already had something made from last year.
That soup looks yummy!

[Linda from Boston]

Soup sounds great. A favorite of mine is potato and corn chowder. Leeks, onion, potato chunks, creamed corn, chicken stock, milk and a big handful of cheddar. The weather is getting cool here and soup is a welcomed addition. I did find a recipe for lasagna soup that intrigued me!! Might try that soon.

[Julia]

That sounds like a fantastic soup recipe! We don't have soup that often, but did try out a tomato soup recipe we both like, it's fast and very delicious, so this will become a staple, I'm sure.

I wish we could buy from the farmer's market, but the prices are downright outrageous here, and the quality doesn't always match the pricing. :/

Have a great weekend!

[Sharon]

I love soup too. Our favourite is a red lentil with chunks of potato carrot onion Yummm Even my teenagers can cook it with minimal assistance. My sisters in scotland tell me if all the time of the lovely plants they get at the shops. Those plants you bought would have cost ten times that much here in the states 😞😞😞
Loving your wee snaps of life. Thank you.