Cosy Winter Warmer Soup

This recipe is one you will definitely need an adult to help you with, so be sure to ask a parent for this cook up, and if you intend on gifting it to another family.

I learned this recipe from someone in my family and have made it for years on those cold windy nights, to create a cosy, warm, healthy dinner. I have also made it as a gift for others when they have just come home from hospital with a baby or just need some extra kindness in their day. It is super nutritious filled with veggies and is so easy to freeze and reheat.

For additional cosy points you can even make this in the slow cooker, so the delicious smell fills the house all day.

Ingredients

• 500g meat ideal for slow cooking.
  This is up to you but could be chuck steak, lamb etc
• 2 parsnips grated
• 2 swedes grated
• 2 onions diced
• 4 cloves garlic crushed
• 4 litres of beef stock (if the soup gets too thick when cooking you can add a little more stock or water as needed)
• 2 carrots grated
• 2 sticks of celery cut
• 500g soup mix
• 1 tbsp Vegemite (Yes you read that correctly, one of my favourite things to add)
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  (Can you say this word?)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
  You could also add a can of tinned tomatoes if you like your soup to have a tomato flavour, you can also add fresh herbs like thyme if you want a bit more flavour. I tend to want this soup plain but have made it also with these ingredients and it is just as delicious.

Method

• Pre-soak your soup mix according to packet instructions.
  If I am making the soup in the afternoon, I do this in the morning, if I am making it in the slow cooker I do it overnight.

IN A LARGE SOUP POT:

• Fry onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent.
• Add meat and fry until browned.
• If you are making this in the slow cooker you can now add this to the slow cooker pot, add all other ingredients (except for celery) and cook according to your machine settings. On mine I normally simmer for 6–8 hours on low. Add celery about an hour before cooking is done.
• If you are making on the stove add all other ingredients (except for celery) to the pot and simmer for two hours. Add celery about half an hour before cooking is done.
• Serve with fresh bread and butter and enjoy your cosy winter warmer soup.

Photo by volant on Unsplash