I'm Dreaming of a White - Soup?

A heartwarming bowl of soup

From humble beginnings...

Salsify roots

The tricky part is peeling the roots because salsify turns brown on contact with the air. It's not a pretty sight.  In addition when peeling it weeps lactose - just as lettuce stems do.  Prepared roots have to be dropped into acidulated* water, to stop them browning,  in readiness for dicing straight into the pot.

Not such a pretty sight

Other ingredients are leek (white only) and a potato and in this case our golf ball sized celeriac too.  Green chervil from the garden for garnish.

The good news is that the end result is subtle and unique.  A winter warmer.

*Water with a squeeze of lemon or a teaspoon of vinegar.

After the Party's Over.... There's Always Soup

One of the highlights of our Christmas was this dessert inspired by a surprise course we were served when we visited the Musee Des Beaux Arts in Lyon last October: 

But now it's back to more common or garden fare: Leeks and Neeps make a fantastic soup (along with turkey stock)

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I ground up this root today and now have a jam jar of macerated horseradish in vinegar at the ready in the fridge. 

Here's the last of the homegrown carrots (also heading for the soup pot)

Not pictured are some red cabbages which go very well with ham.

So despite the lack of posts, and the bad weather, allotment life continues... just more slowly.