Spring ? Soup Recipe

Well I guess it is spring in name only since we are still having snow. One beautiful flower has dared to bloom in the garden and I watched as it was blown and battered and snowed on for its efforts.
I guess we eat soup all year round here in Scotland because even in July and August we get some cold and drizzly days. I think I have posted a Broccoli Soup recipe before, but lets be honest, some things are worth repeating, especially if they are as simple and as tasty as this.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped
• 250ml/8¾fl oz chicken or vegetable stock (more if necessary)
• 200g/7oz broccoli florets
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• drizzle cream, to serve 
  
  
  
  
  1. Heat the oil in a saucepan and sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Pour the chicken or vegetable stock into the pan and add the broccoli florets.
  3. Bring to the boil and reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10-12 minutes, until the broccoli is tender.
  4. Season to taste, then transfer to a liquidizer. Blend until smooth.
  5. Ladle the soup into serving bowls and drizzle with cream to serve.
     
     
     
     
     
     

I used sour cream for mine and served with grated cheddar cheese and green olive breads, and it was absolutely delicious.

Valerie
xxx

Our Little Cottage

Saturday saw the first real day of spring arrive here on the coast, and although it was fantastic to finally feel the shift, we were back to sleet and snow on Sunday.

If you have read this blog from the start you will know that we have moved house 4 times since Oscar was born in 2009. This probably gives a bit of a false impression of some sort of gypsy tendencies, because prior to Oscar being born we had lived in the same Victorian flat for 10 years. There were undoubtedly drawbacks to living in an old flat, like, no central heating, 3 flights of stairs, a shared garden and being at the mercy of your neighbors for peace and quiet. But if truth be told, I still miss the flat terribly.

Our Old Street

The view from the bay window in the lounge

We had good and valid reasons for moving house, and now we have moved in to this little cottage just a stones throw from the beach/park/shops/cafe's/bank etc, I can't see us moving again any time soon. The emergence and disappearance of the sun this weekend has only highlighted what a long winter it has been in such a tiny space.

Oscar's toys seem to fill every corner (and rug)

But I suppose it is more about learning to be clever with space than anything else, and we have ordered a high sleeper for his room so he can have more space to play.
Undoubtedly though, it has been a challenge, especially after years of living in a flat with huge rooms and 25ft high ceilings.
The sun is out again today although it looks too cold to be considered a spring day, but I am ever hopeful that we will all be down at the beach in T-shirts any day now. It feels long overdue.

Saturday 

Valerie
xxx

At 4

At 4 Oscar

• Still loves to play at being a member of Scooby Doo's gang, more than any other game
• Does not like being dressed and will happily play all day in his vest
• Asks for sausages most days (but does not get them)
• Loves nursery so much (day 3 in a row of crying because nursery is closed)
• Has 2 best friends Evie and Millie

• Has started swimming lessons and finds them enjoyable but splashy
• Has shown a strong aptitude for drawing (at nursery)
• Complains every day that he wants it to be summer or Halloween
• Loves his cats but has still not learnt to stop scaring them half to death
• Cries that no one ever sends him parcels in the post

• Loves that his Daddy reads to him in bed EVERY night ( loving Lucy And Tom Goes To School)
• Has started playing console games and it currently playing Rayman
• Still wants face paint or make up on despite hating getting his face washed
• Told me yesterday that one of his best things was his Mummy
• Dresses up in at least one weird outfit per day

Valerie
xxx

A Relaxing Weekend

We had a fairly chilled weekend, I hope you all did too?

Oscar was so relaxed he had his Sunday lunch in a tie-dye vest and pink eyeshadow, that boy of mine has style.

Valerie
xxx