Sunday, November 17, 2013

Scottish recipe - Potato and Leek Soup


Potato and Leek Soup



The first time I made Potato and Leek soup was in High School. Back then, in the 1980s, in High School in Scotland the girls went to sewing and cooking class and the boys went to metal work and wood work class. Yes I am that old. Ha !

The soup I make now though is much more thicker and heartier than the version from my High School days.

I prefer a thicker, more creamier (without the cream no less) soup rather than a soup that has the veggies swimming in a liquid broth.  That's the thing about soup, you can adapt it to make it your own and to give it the consistency that you like best

So this recipe is for the thicker kind of Potato and Leek Soup, if you wish it to be more thinner in consistency then just use less potatoes, say 1lb instead of 2lbs

Lets get started

You will need

Potatoes, leeks, onion

Veg broth

3 leeks
1 medium onion
2 lbs Small Potatoes with skins on (1lb of potatoes without skins if a more broth-like soup is preferred)
Splash of Olive Oil
Fresh parsley
32floz Vegetable Stock or Broth
Salt
Pepper (lots of pepper)




  • Chop onion place in a large saucepan with some olive oil
Chopped onions

  • Cut the root ends from the leeks and remove outer layers that look tattered, cut length ways first, then wash thoroughly
cut leeks

  • Chop down the length into little semi circle pieces of leeks, (include the green part all the way down) place into the pot with the onion
prepared leeks
chopped leeks

  • Mix well into the oil using a wooden spoon and sweat the onion and leeks on a medium heat until tender, not browned (about 10 minutes)
Sweat the leeks

  • While leeks and onion are on the heat, chop the potatoes into bite size chunks, leaving the skins on
add potatoes

  • Add broth and potatoes, and salt and pepper to taste, to the pot with the leeks and bring to boil, then lower to simmer for 30 minutes until potatoes are soft
Potato and Leek soup

  • Once ready, mash the contents to thicken the soup and blend the potatoes, do this to your preference, mash all potato for a thicker soup, less potato for a more broth-like, chunky soup
Potato and leek soup

  • Add parsley and more salt and pepper to taste

  • Serve and enjoy with crusty bread and butter
Potato and Leek Soup


Potato and Leek soup




Angela


Linking to homestoriesatoz


Friday, November 8, 2013

Furniture Friday - Large End Table gets two makeovers

pretty green drawers


Here is the story of the End table that gets 2 makeovers

So, sometimes when I am painting furniture, I re-do a piece that no-one seems to love as much as me

This is exactly what happened with a piece I bought a while back

and, you know, that would be fine and dandy if I was keeping it for myself but this End Table with the pretty marble top was going into my "for sale" collection

Here is how is looked when I purchased it from a yard sale

end table with marble top


Great condition, and wonderfully fancy with its beautiful shape and great potential 




So here I go painting it all off white and finishing with a wipe of antique glaze, isn't it Greek chic? I thought so. It's SO my style

end table with marble top


but it sat and sat, even with a price reduction many times over


So I went back to the drawing board and decided to re work it and add even more layers and more color


here is the 2nd makeover

isn't is pretty???

green end table 

end table with green tones
pretty green drawers
large end table with marble top
green tones on a painted end table

and guess what? it sold the very next day

it is currently sitting in the bathroom of the lady who bought it, and being loved 

So remember if it doesn't work out the first time, try something else

Angela

Linking to serenitynowblog ; iheartnaptime
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