Soups
A bowl of hot, lovely soup on a cold winter's day is what life is about. Countless times I have watched snow storms outside our window, holding a bowl of hot soup in my hands and been thankful of everything I have in my life. I have never understood cold soups, I think they are pointless and they make me nervous. Soups are supposed to be piping hot and when someone serves me cold soup in a bowl I break out in sweat. I just can not put it into my mouth. Call it salsa and I will dip carrots or organic nachos in it but I will absolutely not put a spoon in it. Cold soups are the reason I could never go fully raw. I need my hot soups on a cold day. Sometimes when I was outside tending to my horses in sub zero temperatures with the Northern Lights dancing in the sky and stars shimmering like diamonds on dark velvet (which means that it is REALLY cold outside), I wished that my mother had made soup for dinner. Usually my father didn't like soups as he was working outside all day and came home hungry like a wolf, ready to eat meat and lots of it. So soups were hardly ever on the menu and I can understand that (he needed like a billion calories in those days). I used to make myself a cup of soup from a packet but usually got a headache afterwards. It was before the days of me understanding MSG (Monosodium Glutamate), additives, added sugar (usually glucose syrup) and more. I was just so cold and craved something hot so this was at least a quick solution. I haven't opened up a packet of 'soup in a mug' for at least 15 years because I make all my soups from scratch and they taste a million times better.
4 Market Place Cafe's Broccoli and Leek Soup
Maria and Pete are dear friends of ours who used to own and run a cafe called 4 Market Place in central London (very close to where we used to live).
A Simple Fish Soup
This soup is both very simple to make and cheap and perfect mid week, especially when you have a bit of cooked leftover fish in the fridge.
Asparagus Soup
I could not believe my taste buds when I first tried out this asparagus soup. It was so good and not at all what I had envisioned when I set out to create a more healthy version of the soup.
Autumn Soup with Sweet Potatoes and Apples
This must be the perfect autumn soup! It is warming, slightly sweet (not too much though), mild and packed with vitamin C. This soup is quite popular with kids and easy on the stomach.
Black Bean and Sweetcorn Soup
This is an easy mid-week soup, perfect for the left over vegetables found at the back of the fridge.
Cauliflower and Potato Soup
Since we don't have a very warm climate in Iceland our only hope for growing something we can eat is potatoes and hardy vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, beets, carrots etc.
Cauliflower Soup
I remember when I was a young girl (ok not THAT long ago), the kids in my neighbourhood used to attend a large garden where each kid had a plot for growing vegetables (we are not able to grow
Chickpea Soup
I love Jamie Oliver's recipes and his whole philosophy on and approach to food, which is "use organic, local ingredients and avoid the junk". This is an adaptation of one of his recipes.
Coconut and Lime Soup
This soup is amazingly versatile as the base itself is perfect for all kinds of vegetables, sea food or even chicken or rice.
Coconut and Salmon Noodle Soup
This soup is the perfect one to make if you have a bit of leftover salmon in the freezer or fridge.
Dhal (Lentil Soup) with Pumpkin and Coconut Milk
I actually had to bake this soup in an oven proof baking dishes since the gas on my stove finished, just in the middle of my cooking!
East African Vegetable Soup with Nuts and Sweet Potatoes
This is a substantial soup and for those who think that soups are "not a meal" (like my dear father), think again because with all these ingredients you can't help but feel satisfied and full.
Egg-drop Soup with Sweetcorn
This is a very cheap, easy and simple soup to make and is light as well. I really like that combination! I often make this recipe mid week when time is limited.
Hadda's Tomato Soup
Hadda Fjola Reykdal is a friend of mine I met in art school. We studied the beautiful art of printmaking (a technique which I absolutely adore) although she is now a renowned painter.
Hot and Sour Mushroom Broth
This recipe is an adaptation of a similar recipe I found in a book called Veggie Chic by the great author Rose Elliot.
Lentil and Spinach Soup
If you are thinking of a recipe to serve on your first date, this is definitely not it! Lets just say that you will come under some "pressure" ha ha.
Lobster Soup (Bisque)
I am not particularly fond of lobster or shrimp although I might eat it a couple of times a year. My husband however loves both.
Mango- and Ginger Soup from Masai Mara, Kenya
I got this recipe from a girl called Margaret Ngugi, a chef at Mara Simba Lodge in Masai Mara, Kenya during one of my trips there in February 2007.
Mediterranean Seafood Soup
This soup is quite versatile as you can use various types of seafood. I particularly like mussels and salmon or haddock in it.
Mulligatawny (Indian Vegetable Soup)
This soup is Anglo-Indian i.e. the influence is both from Asia and Europe.
Mushroom Soup
I think I would have to vote this one of my all time favourite soup recipes. It is simple, cheap, easy and that is always a good combination in my view.
Mussels and Potato Soup
In Iceland lots of people pick fresh mussels from the coastline. There are several places you can do this and one very popular is in the South-western part of the island.
Simple Trail Noodle Soup
I know it is probably much quicker buying ready made trail food but let me tell you...most of what is sold out there is rubbish.
