… truth be told I had a shit week last week. I’m not going to rant about specifics here but it’s been one of those weeks that’s started bad and has simply gone down hill… the kind of week where you just wish you could climb into bed and sleep it off for seven days…obviously the #AlternativeEatingPlan doesn’t help as I think my lack of sugar and carbs is making me hugely grumpy but to top it all off I awoke on Friday morning with the worst pain in my lower back and now not only am I in a foul mood but I can barely move…not fun… oh and i’m now sporting the hangover from hell because of course I thought i’d drown my sorrows in gallons of Prosecco. Don’t shout.
kale, tenderstem and fennel summerstrone
I love adapting winter old-favourites into summer recipes… the classic minestrone is always great for a fresh update with whichever vegetables you have lying around and if, like me you’re trying to cut down on carbs, you can simply not add the pasta and you’ve got a healthy, fresh and filling soup packed with summery goodness… what I love about this type of soup is that you can see the vegetables in all their glory and you know that there’s no rubbish hidden in there. Plus, you’ve got a really good soup that tastes amazing from the moment it’s ready and even better the next day!
this is an ingredient list but to be honest just go with what you’ve got in your fridge…
1 bunch Spring onions – finely chopped including the green stems
1 large teaspoon dried oregano
1 large carrot – cut into batons
2 large sticks of celery – cut from the bunch
2 large handfuls of chopped kale
100g fresh or frozen peas
1 litre good quality vegetable stock
fresh rosemary and thyme
in your largest soup pan saute the onions in a little butter and olive oil and throw the oregano and rosemary and thyme in at this stage and let those flavours mingle
add the carrots, celery, fennel and fine beans, stir around, place the lid on and let the veg sweat for 5 or 6 minutes until soft
add the tinned toms, the kale, peas, tenderstem, the bay leaves and the stock and let it bubble gently for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat, pop the lid on and let it sit for at least an hour before re-heating and eating, if not over night.
Dom, love your summerstrone! Sorry you've had a bad week. 🙁
Well, you have a whole new week to look forward too!
I hope that you back feels better real soon. Take one day at a time and be gently and extra kind to yourself.
The summer stew sounds wonderful and healthy too.
Catherine
Oh Dom, big hug, no shouting. Back pain is no fun at all. Hopefully the soup offered some restorative properties, it looks fab.
looks good and hope this week is better for you
So sorry for the crappy week. I really hate that. I know what you mean about hiding out at home – but I think I would binge watch something stupid on television 🙂 This soup is lovely! Hope it made you feel better.
Such a lovely healthy soup – I think I need to lighten up my diet at the moment too. I hope things are better this week too.
That's a fine soup for the time of year, especially since I seem to be particularly addicted to fennel at the moment. Hope you're feeling better and that the weeks get better.
Hurrah- its the weekend, hope that is a cheering thought? And you feel better, and your back is better. But I bet this lovely soup helped?
Is it a coincidence or a cosmic joke that whenever you embark on a healthy eating plan everything conspires to send you running towards chocolate and pasta? Hope the bad week is now well in the past.
I do love minestrone so much – it's my go-to soup whenever I need something tasty, filling and healthy. But I must say I don't think I could leave out the pasta!
You poor thing…. Sounds like you are having a crap time of it (and I see form the next post, it hasn't got any better….) Still, I'm impressed at the summerstone,,,, looks delicious and very healthy! But I have to admit…. when you feel like the world's conspiring against you, nothing beats chocolate and cake (and of course Prosecco).
This sounds sooooo delicious and healthy!!
(And, do you need an excuse for gallons of Prosecco!? Naaaah! Haha!)
Lorna | naturally-bee.blogspot.co.uk |
Hahahaha! You and me both – I am fighting flu at the moment and have been in bed for 2 days……I could have really done with a bowl of this soup, it looks and sounds amazing! Thanks for adding it to Cooking with Herbs, Karen
Oh dear. I have had weeks like that too. Love your title and recipe. Thanks for sharing with NCR.
Hope you're feeling better now Dom. The soup looks delicious great way to make a minestrone summery.