It’s cold outside, the sleet is coming down in swirls, gale blowing, and generally the type of day you just don’t want to venture out, if you don’t have to. I thought about making a meat stew with a pack of “Soup Mix” I had, and with that in mind, soaked the mix overnight in water. However, having forgotten to defrost some beef, I had to do a little re-think! A bit of this and a dash of that can produce a tasty meal.
- 1 Kitchen Measuring cup of “Soup Mix”*
- 5 Kitchen Measuring cups of Water
*Soup Mix is not the powdered kind. It is a mix of dried pulses, i.e., red split lentils, yellow & green split peas, marrowfat peas and pearl barley, which needs soaking for between 8 and 12 hours.
Add the above to a large saucepan, and leave to soak overnight. Drain, rinse, and place back in the saucepan before cooking.
Serves 4
- 500mls Chicken Stock
- 3 – 4 Good quality smoked or non-smoked streaky rashers or lardons of bacon, chopped
- 1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes
- A dash of Tomato Sauce
- A Pinch of Onion Salt
- A Pinch of Sugar
Add the Chicken Stock to the drained and rinsed Soup Mix, and cook according the instructions on the packet.
In the meantime, fry the bacon until crisp, and add to the saucepan, along with the tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion salt, and sugar. All of the above “dashes and pinches” are so that you will taste as you go, and adjust accordingly. Simmer for about 30 minutes, and it’s done.
Enjoy!
Cakes, Bakes, and other Bits 
Just love those ‘what’s in the press/fridge’ dinners! Looks delicious!
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Thanks Margaret. We also do a “fridge soup”, same type of idea, and is different every time 😉
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Yes indeed, store cupboard cooking is where it’s at. My mother used to call it ‘mix ’em gather ’em’ and it was never the same twice. I have to make my own soup mix as I hate marrowfat peas with my entire being. It’s good to have all the bits separate for other recipes though.
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Absolutely agree, Amee. As I commented to Margaret, our Fridge Soup is never the same twice. We just happen to like all the pulses in this mix, otherwise I, too, would be tailor-making it. Granola/Muesli mixes have to be done that way here, as “someone” hates raisins and picks them out of pre-made packs!
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Theres always a “someone” 😉
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There is, at least one in every household 😉
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It looks wonderful
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Thanks, Val, it tastes pretty good too 🙂
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Looks and sounds delicious Colette. Just the thing for the weather we’re having at the moment 🙂
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Thank you Neil. It certainly is. I hope it’s not too bad where you are 🙂
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I’m a big fan of soup mix. Always have a bag in the cupboard. Great picture as always C.
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Thanks for your comment, Caítríona. Apart from the overnight soaking, it’s handy to have, and makes a change from pasta or potatoes in a soup or stew. 🙂
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Looks and sounds heartwarming. Unfortunately we don’t ‘do’ stews in our house 😦 However I’ve started training in my Teen Boy 😉 There IS hope!
xx Jazzy
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Thanks for your comment Miss Jazzy Val 🙂 Never mind, Teen Boy might just like it 🙂
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