I used to be wary of beautiful people. I make all sorts of assumptions about them, mostly that they probably wouldn’t be interested in having a conversation with something that wasn’t as perfect as they are. When I was at university I worked at a market research company where I first met my friends Queen Viv and Miss America. One day an absolutely gorgeous young man walked in and everyone’s heads swivelled around and their jaws dropped. Men and women fell in love with him. He kept to himself, his luminous blue eyes downturned most of the time. I guess he was shy, something that we later realised. But many of us assumed that he just couldn’t be bothered with us. He was just too beautiful.
Queen Viv is one of those people that doesn’t really give a hoot about that sort of thing. She will walk up to someone if they look interesting and start talking to them no matter what they look like. She befriended Alex, insofar as someone could as he was a shy soul, and one reward was that he furnished her with his family recipe for borscht beetroot soup.
While she lost contact with him, she still remembers him fondly through this recipe. Soups have that effect on you. They offer you warmth when you are cold and are great to make in vast quantities and freeze. When you rush in from the cold reheating a creamy soup seems like the best way to stave off the winter chills. Whenever people would ask what I was doing the other week, the answer was invariably “I’m making soup.” So I offer you four soup recipes, all very simple but quite different from each other, in an effort to stay warm.
I’ve since revised my opinion of beautiful people because some of the most beautiful people are just as lovely on the inside as well as out. Some I’ve learned are just shy like the rest of us and some also hold wonderful family recipes. The four recipes start with Alex’s borscht beetroot soup which is full of wonderful winter vegetables and is finished off with a swirl of sour cream (non negotiable unless you are dairy intolerant because it adds so much to the soup). I also give a recipe for Vichyssoise, the rich and creamy French and leek soup served cold although you can bet we served it hot (where it tastes like buttery mashed potato). Third is one of my favourite soups, a broccoli and baby spinach soup which is hussied up with the addition of blue cheese and crunchy roasted walnuts as croutons. Lastly is a creamy, easy pumpkin soup where you let the oven do most of the work for you.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you eat soups as a whole meal or a starter to a meal and then you eat something more substantial afterwards? And what was the last soup that you made or ate?
Borscht Beetroot Soup With Sour Cream
This recipe is based on Alex’s but I adapted this to be similar to the borscht that I ate growing up with a Russian best friend. Her mother’s borscht had a wonderful texture from the red cabbage and potatoes. If you want a smooth soup, you could blitz the whole thing. The wonderful thing about it is that it is packed with vegetables and with the exception of the sour cream (and absolutely use low fat if you want to), there is no fat or oil added. It makes use of fantastic winter vegetables and makes an enormous amount of it-enough to freeze or to provide soup for lunch for the next few days. I don’t want to be fussy but I really don’t eat this unless there is sour cream in it. It’s just a wonderful ingredient and adds so much to the soup balancing the flavours of the rest of the vegetables.
- 1 onion, chopped roughly
- 3 carrots, chopped roughly
- 3 beetroots, trimmed, peeled and chopped roughly
- 1 small parsnip, chopped roughly
- 6 cups water
- 1/2 red cabbage, sliced thinly
- 3 small potatoes, diced
- 1 cup tomato puree
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- Dill (optional)
1. In a large pot, add the water, onion, carrots, beetroots and parsnip. Simmer for 40 minutes. Blitz with an immersion blender until smooth.
2. Add the red cabbage, potatoes and tomato puree and season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 20 minutes and serve with sour cream and sprigs of dill, if using.
Vichyssoise
OK is it silly to put up a recipe for a cold soup during Winter? Northern Hemisphere readers may be sweltering over an air conditioner while we huddle in front of the heater with fur lined boots so this is for both hemispheres waiting for the moderate Spring and Autumn months to come about. Vichyssoise is a French potato and leek soup that is usually served cold but is just as delicious served warm. Out of all of the soups, Mr NQN loved this one the most.
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 leeks (white part only, cleaned well and cut into half moons)
- 2 cups diced potatoes (about 400g/14ozs potatoes)
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 cup cream (can also use light cream)
- salt and pepper to taste (if needed)
- Fresh nutmeg to grate over
- Chives (optional)
1. In a large pot, on low heat sweat the leeks in the butter for about 15 minutes-make sure they don’t caramelise but they must be softened.
Broccoli, Spinach & Blue Cheese Soup with Walnut “Croutons”
I’m a complete broccoli and baby spinach freak. So much so that if I had that blood clot condition that meant that I couldn’t eat green leafy vegetables, I would crave them as I do cake. I know it’s perverse and this may have rendered my opinion somewhat invalid. I enjoyed this soup without the blue cheese and toasted walnut croutons but adding those means that you can serve this at a dinner party or to friends that like things a bit fancy.
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 potato, diced
- 500g/1 pound broccoli, cut into florets
- 2-3 cups baby spinach leaves
- 4 cups/1 litre vegetable stock
- 75g/3 ozs blue cheese
- 2/3 cup of walnuts
- salt and pepper to taste (if needed)
1. In a large pot, saute the onion in oil on medium heat. Add the potato, broccoli, spinach and vegetable stock and simmer for 25 minutes until vegetables are soft. Blitz until smooth with an immersion or stick blender.
2. Meanwhile, roast walnut pieces in a 180C/350F oven for 10 minutes to make them crunchy like croutons. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with blue cheese and walnut “croutons”.
Pumpkin Soup
Australians are somewhat obsessed with pumpkin soup. This is apparently different to the way that the British feel historically about pumpkins as they were traditionally used to feed pigs and livestock. The idea of eating pumpkin to many Brits is not second nature like it is to us. This is the simplest pumpkin soup recipe I can think of and I keep whole butternuts in the kitchen and just bake them whole when I need them. There is no awkward peeling and cutting here and the baking tip actually comes from Mr NQN’s mum Tuulikki. She used to feed Mr NQN and his siblings whole cabbages for dinner where each child would break off a leaf and eat it raw. Hail to the queen of shortcuts in cooking!
- 3oog butternut pumpkin
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup light sour cream or cream
- salt and pepper to taste (if needed)
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now?
NQN on Facebook
RSS
88 Comments | Add your own
All of them are wonderful! Although it is summer here I wouldn’t mind eating a bowl of each.
Cheers,
Rosa
Love the sound of the broccoli-spinach soup, and I can never resist pumpkin soup! Bookmarking to try both when the temperatures are cooler
.
Just what I need at the moment I’m sick at home with a cold
I had an organic chicken soup last night to help me through.
I last made leek and potato and it wasn’t that good. I love the colours of these soups. I think I would like the blue cheese and walnut soup the best. And I always like my soups hot. I just think soup is something to be eaten in winter, not summer. xx
Thanks for some new soups to try out, the beetroot will be first I think.
I do at least one soup every week here. This week is cauliflower & blue cheese (Delia) last week was Tuscan beef, bean & cabbage.
I always do a double batch & freeze for work lunches.
Im glad someone else is almost as obsessed as I!
Potato and leek soup is one of my Mr’s favourites too, right after pumpkin with coconut cream and borscht. I’ve never tried the broccoli and spinach. Adding to list. Great post.
The last soup I made was actually Borscht. It was very similar to your recipe actually. The fun past is peeing in pink the following day!
I love soups. I could eat them every day in winter, but I am the only person in my family who feels this way.
Every time I make soup, my husband groans. I always have to add something substantial like a cheese toastie so that he doesn’t feel hungry.
Alex’s story is so cute my friend
But as much as I enjoyed it, I am definitely enjoying this collection of soups more considering I am feeling myself warm up just by looking at them
Beautiful beautiful beautiful collection!
Cheers
CCU
How lovely! I especially love the borscht. I rarely think of soup as a main – but perhaps I had better rethink that.
I love soup! I had some roast fennel soup tonight…yum!
Love the tip about roasting butternut pumpkins whole, I had never thought to try that! Here in Canada people just aren’t used to eating pumpking (squash) year round, and they definitely aren’t used to using roasted pumpkins in salads and quiches etc which is pretty much de rigueur in Australia!
LOVE the soups…….funny because we are Trying to get into summer but it hasn’t happenned yet so these are perfect despite the fact we’re on a different hemisphere!
thanks.
Love your writing……does your mother-in-law read your blog ?
yum all the soups look delicious. I have a hankering to make soup this winter with the freezing weather. You have inspired me NQN!
What a great selection of soups! And your Matreshka looks exactly as mine, I even took it off the shelf to compare, yes, it does! how cool?! We are so many thousand miles apart and have something that unites us. I am sentimental today.
Soup or borstch would be a meal for us. Although I’ve never heard of using an immersion blender in a borstch as Russians prefer to eat chunky soups, I will have to try this recipe for myself and for my non-Russian friends. I love the colors in all soups, and your pot and Shun (?) knife.
Great soups Lorraine! I am really I am really interested in trying the broccoli and spinach one but they al look divine!
I love soup! Four great recipes, I will be trying them all very soon.
whole cabbages? 1 leaf each?
Hi Miss T-Yep! She put down a whole cabbage and each kid would peel off leaves to eat. They could eat more than one leaf but it was the low maintenance “cooking” at its most low maintenance
Thanks for sharing the quick and easy soup recipes! Perfect timing with this Winter Chill going on. Am going to try that pumpkin soup – i’ve got such a soft spot for it. I must admit these types of soups have been more so for a snack and/or light lunch. Being chinese/vietnamese it wasn’t a meal if there was no rice. Haha.
Unrelated to food but Alex seems to be the opposite of Jon Hamm’s character in 30 Rock.
We’ve had a very soup weekend here in the Adelaide Hills The temperature has struggled to get up into double figures over the last few days.
Oooooooh…what a bundle of comfort. Beautiful soups–and so easy as well. Will store them up for when we have colder days. Love the looks of that borscht–it’s a little different from the one I usually make.
The last soup I made was a cold yogurt-grape-chile poblano soup that I created after eating something similar in a restaurant. Yum. And I eat soups both ways–as a starter and as a main course. In winter, though, it is often the main course.
We’re just getting into summer here in Oregon State USA – but I’ll tuck these soups away for winter.
Thanks Lorraine – I’ve been saying I’ll make some soup for weeks now – this is the push I needed : )
Oh no fair! I am currently on warfarin to treat a DVT and your broccoli spinach soup is the one I want most!
Yum! I’ve just eaten a whole heap of soup… my husband made his special ham and pea soup for me as I had the flu. Apparently I’ve eaten 7 litres of it this week which is fine, I needed to be able to eat (also lost 5kg with the flu so any intake is good) and have about 7 litres left in the freezer. He makes giant pots of soup, I love it.
I assume by the lovely beautiful people you’re referring to me?! How kind you are.
I hate to say it but I’m not a soup eater. I’m a big fuss-pot but I don’t like the texture. I’m more of a chunky stew girl in winter.
ps kidding about the first comment just in case anyone thought I was serious!
Hi, Leanne
4 wonderful recipes, thank you.
Is it possible to get a copy of them without images, just as text, somehow? I would make them every week…
thank you
ann
Love your recipes,My husband really adores soups, he would eat soup every day if I made it for him.I always make my own chicken stock and then you can make any soup you like. Yours sound awesome will try the beetroot and the broccoli/spinach my son would love those.
Love the twist on the borscht with the chunky veg – very hearty!
We loved Borscht in our family. Having a Russian grandfather makes borscht a staple in our house. My husband grew up thinking that beetroot could only be eaten as that sugary/vinegary flavoured thing in a tin. Now he also has it roasted as well as souped. The 2 other soups we do are my German/Polish grandmothers Chicken Noodle soup and also pumpkin soup which often gets curried or Thai-ised with a few thai flavourings.
I’m a broccoli cheddar person but the broccoli baby spinach sounds really good.
Soup is a good lunch but those around me think soup is an entree to a meal.
I know this because I made potato leek soup last week for dinner and he said, “This is it?”
I love all of these soups and I hope dear Alex has sorted out his shyness and he’s happy somewhere.
THANK YOU Lorraine for posting these recipes! My parents are going back to HK today, meaning I’m going to have cook for Mr Bao and myself from now on…seriously not looking forward to that
I love soup as a main meal or as a starter ~ overall i just love soup. I find the hearty types of soups really fill me up and I don’t need to eat anything substantial afterwards hehe
It is a hot sweltering summer here in New Jersey and I am going to make that borscht and eat it cold with sour cream.
The last homemade soup I made was chicken soup with escarole, carrots and white potatoes.
♥♥♥
Sue
Mmmm I love soup and we always have it as a meal with some turkish bread on the side. My favourite is my homemade pumpkin soup with just pumpkin, garlic, vegie stock, cream and lots of freshly ground black pepper! I really want to try your beetroot soup now – it looks delicious
I often make soup as a whole meal in winter. My current obsession is this recipe for pumpkin soup especially as I have been getting the called-for potimarron pumpkins in my CSA box…
http://chezpim.com/cook/soupe_de_potima
Can FEEL the warmth of your soup, TRUE!
ANd LOVE when recipes have a special meaning or memory behind them too!
Have been in soup mode, making for us and friends,
The laughter and memories made in the surprise never ends!
(Sweet potato & carrot with sour cream and corinader, Thai Curry pumpkin soup with toasted almonds and chives, Potato and leek soup, Special Lentil and Bacon soup topped with parm cheese and wilted spinach…and the list goes on too! WHOO HOO!)
Ah,just what I needed to get me out of my soup rut. Yum, now which to try first…
I eat it as a meal.
Lorraine…you have inspired me to cook one or all of these soups!
Susie Q
How to choose between them?….. I just might have to make them all!
I think soup is so versatile, hot or cold, hearty or elegant- so many options. If I serve soup at home for dinner it has to be really hearty or be served with toasted sandwiches or something. Lunch can be a bit lighter with maybe just a piece of toast. Or is that just my hungry kiddies?
You’re so funny – you are one of the beautiful people yourself!!
I love soup as a meal and I eat it all year round.
Thank you so much for making it a whole four recipes, none of them difficult to prepare. Potage Parmentier [the hot version of Vichyssoise] was probably the first soup I learned to make as a young bride
! Still like it! Love the broccoli and spinach one. NOW: may I make a slight correction? If you ate your greens in the first place you would never ever get the clots/emboli you speak of in the second!!! It’s if you have NOT partaken that the condition occurs and you are prescribed ruddy rat poison, and with that you are told not to have the green veggies as Warfarin does not work too well with variable greenery in your system!! So eat first and do not suffer after 
!!!
THIS is what I need – so perfect timing!! That broccoli and baby spinach soup sounds delicious – I have the same love for green leafy veggie like you and man this would hit the spot!
Pumpkin soup is a clear classic – this sounds so simple. Will have to try
I love the idea od blue cheese in a sou- what a great idea. Cant wait to try
I read your fab recipes whilst I was chowing down on my lunch which was a vegetable soup I whipped up yesterday. I also cooked my teenagers fav pumpkin soup for them to snack on when they get home from school. Similar to your recipe but add a dessertspoon of Red Curry Paste and some coconut cream instead of sour cream (I use the Carnation light and creamy with coconut which is just as nice but a bit healthier).
What a delicious post. I love soup and have it as a whole meal, although the kids despise it
Mmmmm.. the mere mention of soup warms me inside out. I’m loving the broccoli and spinach soup recipe!
I love making a big batch of soup in the weekend and then slowly eat my way through it in the next few days with garlic bread -such an easy meal and so fulfilling..
Hi Lorraine, These soups look fantastic and I will be making the pumpkin very soon. However, what is the bread I can see peeking in on your photos? it looks sooo yummy and just right for soup weather.
Warmly
Steena
Hi Steena! Thanks so much!
The bread was a Brasserie Bread New York Rye bread 
I love soup any time of day or season. You can’t beat a traditional chicken soup or a plain vegie soup. Laksa and pho are my standard go to’s. I love beetroot so I am going to try your borscht recipe next. The last soup I made was dahl. yum!
I’m happily pinning and keeping the recipes. I miss warm soup weather, but I better enjoy summer fully otherwise I’ll regret. =) SF is cool enough that we can enjoy soups all year around too. Thanks for sharing Lorraine!
I love soup, infactbi have just Mades huge pot of minestrone..well my version in my head. It’s for a friend who has just had an op, there’s nothing better to recoup on is there?
I love soup! It’s a main meal for us, especially if it’s a Tuscan Bean soup or a Pea & Ham soup. I’ve fallen into the habit of making a batch of Turkish bread every few weeks, and it goes wonderfully.
Winter goodness! May I please ask where you bought the soup pot for Vichyssoise? I’m making chicken pot pie this weekend but I can’t find steep ramekins. Thanks!
It’s summer here in the UK, but I love the look of all those different flavours…yum
Perfect Winter fare & the Vichyssoise especially looks delicious.
Love how you took such interesting photos of four different types of soup. Each has its own character and all of them makes you feel warm and fussy all over.
I’m in love with your red cast iron pot!
I would eat all four soups because i love soups – either as a starter or as a meal on its own with some toasted warm bread.
If I am eating out, soup is often a starter. But at home a filling, hearty soup gets all the trimmings like cheese, pickles, mandatory crusty loaf and celery. No idea why celery, something mum started when we were kids.
Definately trying the beetroot soup, they all look good though.
yumm pumpkin soup is my favourite!
Love the babushka in the background!
Always looking for soups to make during winter (easy ones too!) and this is perfect. Thanks for sharing, Lorraine!
Four incredible recipes, thank you. We’re rather sweltering right now so it’s only the vichyssoise I would make. But you are quite right, soup is the ultimate comfort food. I love soup so much that it could be my middle name.
I think you have a typo in the potato soup intro.
Not one, but four soups ideas?! You are freakin carazy cool!! I have bookmarked this gem.
I thought to myself you are a bit early on this as we barely started summer. Now my brain has figured it out you are in winter…..
Oh a pumpkin soup without onions. (jumping up and down clapping hands). My EXTREMELY fussy family are so hard to please, I often look at all your delicious recipes and just drool. Here is one that even they could not complain about!!!! Oh happy days!
Thank you for these beautiful soups
I eat alot of soup on winter and will definitely making these
Regards
Lindy
Oh My….New Jersey, Oregon, UK and Canada – what an international following you have Lorraine. Am still trying to get my head around the whole cabbages and the kids eating them leaf by leaf … and raw!!
yes I love soup too but like so many of your readers, live with people who do not and certainly do not regard it as a meal…..sigh
Hi Rosa-Thank you Rosa!
Hi Laura-I can never resist it either.It’s so creamy and delicious isn’t it!
YAY I hope you like them! And stay cool! 
Hi Erin-Absolutely, you poor thing! I should have done a chicken noodle soup for you!
Hi Charlie-Oh what a shame. I’d love to know what you think of this one?
Yes I loved that one a lot 
Yes I must admit I
xxx
prefer hot soups unless it is totally sweltering
Hi Belinda-Oh cool! I’d love to know what you think of it!
Good for you! And I try and do the same as they last all week
OOh the Tuscan beef sounds amazing! 
Hehe yep guilty as charged! 
Hi Martyna-He has good taste!
Thanks so much!
Hi Kristy-Oh what a coincidence!!
Hehe you know I never noticed! 
Oh really? they don’t like soups? Yep a cheese toastie is a great match for soup!
Hi Choc Chip Uru-I know, the poor guy was just shy and inhumanely beautiful!
I’m so glad and I hope you’re staying warm! 
Hi Cakelaw-Thank you! I am crazy about borscht. Hehe I usually have to have something else bready to go with it like Kristy mentioned, a cheese toastie
Hi Debra-How delicious!
Hi Louise -Yes I was so happy when she told me that one! Ahh isn’t that funny? We use it everywhere as you said!
Hi Susan-Thanks! I know, different weather completely huh!
Thank you! Yes she does 
Hi marion-Thanks Marion! Enjoy your soup making!
Hi Marina-Thank you!
Haha isn’t that funny? They’re twins! Yes Iknow, it’s really a melange of both recipes. Alex was Russian but perhaps his faily used blenders as his whole recipe was blended. Yup well spotted, it’s a Shun knife 
Hi Anna-Thanks Anna! If you do try it, I hope that you like it
Hi Jaycee-Thanks so much Jaycee and enjoy!
Hi Tina-You’re welcome!
I know, and we’re not even halfway through-brrrr! Hehe I wonder if you could add some rice to it!?
Hi Lilian-hehe yes I don’t think Alex had any idea of what he looked like. Although I don’t think anyone ever said no to him!
Hi Amanda-Oh no, isn’t it freezing! And hoping for double figures too!
Hi Victoria-Thank you! Yes it’s a bit warmer for you guys isn’t it! What a fascinating combination!
I’m so intrigued by that! 
Hi Marissa-Hehe I know, apparently some of the states in the US are having crazy hot weather!
Hi Charlie-Oh cool! I promise you these are easy but satisfying!
Hi Lisa-Oh no, I’m sorry! I hope that the DVT is ok?
Hi Kirsty -Aww that is very nice of him to look after you as I’m sure you look after him well!
get better soon! 
Hi Claire-Haha of course!
Oh really? Not at all? Oh well there are some stews that are similar to soups too 
haha really? 
Hi ann-Thanks! If you copy and paste them into notepad on your computer it will take out all of the images
Hi Kathy-Thank you Kathy!
Oh that’s a very nice touch making your own chicken stock. I’m so glad! Please let me know what
you think of them!
Hi Christie-Thanks darling!
Hi Lee-Oh what a difference in your experience of beetroot! Yum those soups sound amazingly good!
I love spicy soups!
Hi Maureen-Hmmm now that’s a great idea using cheddar next time!
haha now I don’t think Mr NQN has ever said that but I
pile on the bread so that he never does. I hope he is too!
Hi Daisy-You’re very welcome! Hehe you are too funny. Perhaps some cakes and some soup?
Hi sue-Oh good idea! Borscth when cold is a fabulous idea and I’m glad to hear that you’ll be having it with sour cream
Yum! That sounds amazingly tasty Sue! 
Hi Angela-I agree, a nice good bread and that’s all you need really
Thanks! If you do, I’d love to know what you think!
Hi Imogen-Oh cool! That looks really good and what fun seeing what is in the CSA box!
Hi Joanne-Thank you Joanne!
You are making me so hungry with your soup ideas!!! 
Love them all!
Hi flip-Hehe that’s great! Hmmm eeny meeny miny mo?
Hi Michelle -I see!
Hi Susie-YAYY!! I’m so glad Susie!
Hi Rebecca-Hehe we’ve got anther 8 weeks of this cold!
Yep totally agree, then you don’t need anything else really!
Hi Margaret-you are so sweet but I don’t feel like I am, you should have seen me today greeting the construction person in my PJs!
Hi Eha-Yes they’re all so easy, that’s my favourite type of soup
Oh really? well good to know! 
I’m so relieved!!
Hi Sig-YAY! That’s cool
Yes I love the green leafys!! Wonderful, I hope you like them! 
Hi Flick Your Food-Thanks! Yes it adds so much flavour for such a small amount!
Hi Suse-Oh that’s fabulous! What a great after school snack too! I bet they loved it and adding spicy and curry paste is a great idea!
Hi Linda-Thank you! They don’t like any soup at all?
Hi Lucy -Yes me too. It’s so warming!
Mmm yes garlic bread! Maybe I’ll have some garlic bread with this week’s soup! Thanks Lucy! 
Hi Corrie-Oh yes you know I should have done a chicken noodle soup you know! Silly me! Mmm laksa, love the spice to it! And I
love dahl too!
Hi Nami-Thank you lovely Nami! Yes of course, to be honest I’d rather be in Summer!
You’re welcome!
Hi Alli-Mmm yes a big pot of minestrone is so lovely and warming
Oh aren’t you a nice friend to take care of her! 
Hi Tenille -YAY for soup!
OOh yes it’s been ages since I made a pea and ham soup. Thanks for reminding me! 
Ooh the Turkish bread is a perfect partner!
Hi Alannah-Oh good question! IIRC it was from Chef’s Warehouse
They’ve got little lions heads on the side. Love them! BTW if you go there, they’re only open weekdays 
Hi thelittleloaf -Are you having a lovely warm one? I wish I was in the Northern Hemisphere!
Hi Phunk -Thank you so much!! Mr NQN ate that one up so quickly!
Hi Jo-Thank you Jo!
I’m so chuffed that you noticed that, I was trying to give each its own character 
Yep I think some lovely warm bread to soak everything up!
Hi Gareth-Oh I bet everyone wants to come over to your place!!
Thank you!
Hi tastyfoodsnaps-Fantastic!! I love it too
Hi Libby-Hehe thank you! I love my lil babushka!
You’re very welcome Libby! 
Hi Eva-You’re very welcome Eva! And yep although you could also have the borscht cold too
Oh really? I tried to find it,
can you please point it out to me? I must be typo blind! :S
Hi Adrian-Hehe I’m obsessive I think
Thank you! 
Hi Justine-Hehe I know, it’s the opposite seasons. They always get me too
Hi Lea-OH yayy! Don’t they like onions?
I must admit I’m usually addicted to them but yes they’re not needed in this version I promise 
Happy days YAY! 
Hi Lindy-You’re very welcome Lindy!! I hope you enjoy them
Hi Michelle-That’s why I love the internet and blogging! No more borders
I know, I don’t think I will ever get my head
Oh what a shame. Now wouldn’t a soup exchange be a great idea?
around that lol. They lived a very hippy and unusual existence. Even now I learn things and I stand there with my mouth open in surprise
They all look great. The broccoli and spinach is very similar to something I make and have forgotten about. It’s hot here, but I never tire of soup.
I think the Vichyssoise might be my favorite. How generous to give four recipes in one post!
I love soups – my most recent had blue cheese so I love the sound of the green soup – blue cheese is usually a challenge for me but I love greens too. Though I also love the borscht – haven’t had that for a while and I love beetroot – I rarely have sour cream in the house but I often have yoghurt
We are in winter too, so these recipes comes in a perfect time.
We used to have soup as a started of our meal, but we also have some kind of heavy soups that we have as a unique dish.
One soup would be enough to warm me up but four? I’d be in heaven
I actually just had a clam chowder this evening as a meal. I generally would have soup as a starter but wasn’t all that hungry tonight. Love the sound of that borscht!
What a great recipe
These all sound wonderful. I can’t do soup as a meal unless I have some good hearty dipping bread. But it’s one of my favorite meals for cold weather months.
Soup is good food no matter what time of year. And I’ve always been partial to borscht, not only because of its deep flavors but it’s beguiling color.
I love the idea of cooking a pumpkin whole!!! Who knew!!! I think I was afraid it would explode.
I made a spicy pumpkin soup on Sunday to leave for my parents who were returning from their holiday the neext morning. Totally annoyed that I didn’t roast a pumpkin whole for it
Soup is definitely a starter. A prelude to the evening meal. I love your broccoli, spinach, cheese and walnut offering. This sounds tasty and different. Fortunately soup is a warming way to get many vitamins. Our last soup was pumpkin, leek, sweet potato, onion and coconut soup followed by chicken schnitzel with salad.
I thought I spied Brasserie Bread & Pepe Saya there!
Delicious soups Lorraine. I’m going to roast my butternut pumpkin whole next time I make pumpkin soup
Wow Lorraine!! Thanks for sharing these wonderful recipes! It’s not winter here but those look like they can be made any time of the year!! Reading the ingredients already makes my mouth water!
I made the borscht today and it was amazing. I followed the recipe but also added two teaspoons of vegeta stock, as recipes I’ve seen in the past usually use some sort of beef or vegetable stock. It added some extra oomph to it. Deeeelicious.
borscht and broccoli cheese soup aren’t for me, but your pumpkin soup sounds heavenly, and i LOVE vichyssoise (especially once i learned how to pronounce it correctly!).
Thank you for including a cold soup, because it really is sweltering hot here!
I love to make big pots of soup in Winter ^^ so warm and comforting. I like the idea of having walnut croutons
Hi angela -Oh could we exchange some weather? It is so cold here! I must admit I really loved the Vichyssoise too
Thank you!
Hi Johanna-Oh you can definitely use other cheese in it too
Cheddar would be great 
I think that yogurt would definitely work!
Hi Nydia-That’s great!
Oh they sound really interesting! will you blog about them? 
Hi Ichigo Shortcake-Hehe I know, I needed the warmth
Yum clam chowder is a great one!
Hi love2dine -Thank you!
Hi Jen-Yep I need the bread too or I just end up hungry later
Hi Carolyn-Oh yes I know, isn’t it a spectacular colour!?
Hi Cathy-I know! I really thought it would too!
Hi Hannah-Haha perhaps a chilly week of Canberra weather might raise cause for a round two!
Hi Merryn -Thank you!
I really liked that one! And yes you’re right, they’re a great way to get vitamins! yum!! What a delicious sounding dinner!
Hi Chanel-Hehe you are so eagle eyed!
Oh cool! Let me know what you think! 
Hi Sammie-You’re welcome and you’re absolutely right! Any time of the year is good
Hi Mic-I’m so glad that you liked it Mic! It’s one of my favourites and just as I remembered it from my high school years. Nice idea using the Vegeta too
Thanks for letting us know!
Hi grace-Hehe I’m glad that you liked those two, you are like Mr NQN!
Hi Fiona-Oh no! Can we please swap weather?
Hi Vivian-Me too! I feel better if there is soup in the fridge or on the stovetop
I had Avocado Cucumber soup today … It’s summer here
I can eat dimsum anytime of the day, or the year at that matter. Thanks for sharing!
One Trackback/Pingback
[...] so darn hot (not complaining) and I knew I wanted something a little unexpected than the traditional vichyçoisse, cucumber, avocado or even gazpachio — although all worthy soups in their own right. On top of [...]
Post a Comment