image: New Covent Gardens Soup Co.

I think this is a great idea! Most soup fans have a favourite 'go to' and we believe our own recipe is 'the best of the best' and do you know what? New Covent Garden Soups ain't daft! We give them our favourite recipe, they take the recipe and tailor it to the 'carton soup' market, they give us the kudos and maybe-even a small payment (probably not!) and everyone's happy - or are they?

I simply can't imagine that those recipes that I have slaved over and over and over until they totally hit the spot will taste the same - BUT no-one would ever accuse me of being a 'soup snob' SO I sort of like the idea that New Covent Garden are going out of their way to get us involved even if they will most likely be the ones to profit!

Have you 'gifted' a recipe? What was it and how did the whole process go?

Quote: There’s a good reason you won’t see many fast-food restaurants decorated in blue: the colour functions as an appetite suppressant. Researchers have found that people eat 33 percent less in a blue room; the bluish light that results evidently makes food look less appealing. So eat on blue plates, dress in blue while you eat, and use a blue tablecloth....

I'm not so sure! Blueberries, blackberries, grapes, figs, purple sprouting broccoli, purple carrots, purple potatoes, purple tomatoes and a whole host of other foods in the blueish/purplish shades are certainly on my list PLUS they contain an antioxidant called anthocyanin - a beneficial plant pigments which gives fruit and vegetables their deep red, purple or blue hues and protects our cells against the ravaging effects of toxins and disease. And just one of these is the beloved beetroot - I have two recipes - one for summer and the other for winter (or if you are a real beetroot-aholic, any time of the year!)

Summer Beetroot Soup with Yoghurt

Beetroot and Horseradish Soup with Hot Smoked Salmon Cream

Some soups absolutely deserve a home-made crouton! The ones that come in little packs WILL NOT DO - dry, tasteless and simply not worth the spend!

Eureka! I came across Joanna's recipe on the The Pioneer Woman website with splendid step-by-step instructions and they work every time. Plus, I have experimented with all sorts of additional flavourings - herbs and spices, different cheeses, tiny cooked bacon and/or chorizo added - the list is as endless as your imagination!

AND... they have some pretty-darned tasty soups on the website too - have a look!