Soup for the soul
“Soup puts the heart at ease, calms down the violence of hunger, eliminates the tension of the day, and awakens and refines the appetite.”
Winter can be a challenging season for some. The colder weather brings with it rain and cloudy days. Many of us spend this season trying to dodge the cold – huddled inside, sharing moments with friends and family. But this can be a time where the indoors begin to shine. We retreat into the comfort of blankets and heaters and explore our kitchens, seeking the warmth of steaming teas and tasty baked treats.
This winter, we hope to take some time to focus on warmth—like a hearty bowl of soup made to nourish and soothe. Cooking a good soup has many small steps, a pinch of salt, a hint of basil, tiny progressions that make up a delicious whole.
These small steps matter. Replenish yourself, take an extra minute to get dressed in the morning, savour your cup of coffee, stay on the phone a little longer when calling a loved one. All these pieces are ingredients for self-care.
As the colder weather settles in and we begin to embrace the shift, remember to be gentle to yourself. Take as many steps as you need to achieve your goals. Sometimes good things must simmer slowly before they’re ready for us to taste.
We extend a virtual hug and best wishes to members of our community that may find this winter challenging to cope with. We are here to support you.
“Nothing is better than going home to family and eating good food and relaxing.”
As the current situation has many of us spending more time cosied up indoors, why not try one of our Café Vita et flores recipes. This pumpkin soup recipe, shared by our chefs, is sure to be enjoyed on a cold winter day or evening.
Roast pumpkin soup recipe
Ingredients
- 2 kg pumpkin
- 1 brown onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Salt and pepper to season
- 3 cups (750g) vegetable stock
- ½ cup (125g) cream
Method
1. Cut pumpkin into large pieces and roast at 180 degrees for approx. 35 mins.
2. Sweat the onion and garlic in a pan.
3. Add pumpkin, onion, garlic, salt and pepper to a pot.
4. Pour in vegetable stock and cook through.
5. Blend and add cream.
6. Season to taste.