Winter Warmer

 The cold nights are starting to creep up on us. It's come to the time of year where we start piling on the calories from the heavy meals we consume.

Here's a recipe that will comfort and warm you. Full of fresh and healthy vegetables.

Minestrone

Yummy in my tummy

Ingredients

350g prepared mixed vegetables (onion, leek, celery, carrot, parsnip, cabbage)

25g French beans

20g butter

20g tomato puree

1 tsp. sugar

1 lt. of either chicken or vegetable stock

Bouquet garni

25g pasta shells or spaghetti (broken into pieces)

Pork balls (optional but amazing flavour)

40g bacon, chopped finely

10g chopped parsley

1 garlic clove, crushed

Extra chopped parsley to garnish

Salt & pepper

 

Method

1. Wash and trim all the vegetables. Thinly slice the onion and celery. Cut the French beans diagonally into small diamonds. Cut the remaining vegetables into small flat rounds or squares.
2. Melt the butter in a saucepan on the hob, low heat. Add all the vegetables EXCEPT the French beans. Sweat the vegetables for a few minutes so they are gorgeous and glossy (no colour).
3. Stir in the tomato puree and the tsp. of sugar, cook for one minute. (The sugar takes the edge off the tomato puree).
4. Add your made up stock, bouquet garni, bring to the boil and simmer for approx. 20 minutes, with the lid on.
5. Whilst the soup is simmering make up your pork balls. Bind together the chopped bacon, parsley and crushed garlic together. Form into pea size balls. Place in fridge 'till ready to use.
6. After 20 minutes of simmering add the French beans and pasta, cook for a further 5mintues.
7. Drop in your pea size pork balls, place lid back on top and cook for a further 2minutes.
8. Remove off the heat, take out the bouquet garni and adjust seasoning to your taste.
9. Finish with chopped parsley.

Serving suggestion: Fresh home made bread, selection of cheeses and (my mums home made) chutney.

What indulgent meals do you make during the Autumn/Winter season?