Junior Duke Leek and Potato Soup

Ingredients

3 fat leeks
1 small onion
4 large potatoes
1 tablespoon butter + 1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock.
generous grinding of fresh pepper
cream and/or full fat milk

Equipment needed:  vegetable peeler, knife, cooking pot, blender.

First wash the leeks -- make sure to get rid of all the dirt.

Then trim off the outside leaves, roots, and dark green leaves.

Slice the remaining leeks.

Peel and slice the onion.

Put leeks and onion into pot with butter and oil.  Put the heat on low.

Wash and peel the potatoes.

Chop the potatoes.

Add to pot.

Add stock.

Grind pepper in.

Cook until potatoes are soft.

Puree with a blender.

Add cream or milk to taste and enjoy!

Bread and Butter Pickles

One of my favourite pickles, and one of the first we made when we started pickle making.

500 grams pickling cucumbers, sliced into rings 

2 medium sized onions, sliced into rings

1/4 cup /50 grams salt

Put cucumbers, onions and salt into a bowl.  mix well.  Leave for 2-3 hours, with a weight on top.  Rinse and drain well.

Boil together:

2 cups / 500ml vinegar

1 2/3 cup/ 350grams  granulated sugar 

2 tablespoons white or yellow mustard seeds

2 tsp celery seeds

1/2 tsp turmeric 

1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Add drained cucumbers and onions.  Bring back to the boil. 

Spoon into warm sterilised jars.  Seal and store for 2-3 weeks before eating. 

Crunchy Granola

In the 70s, one of many reasons my family was considered weird was that we ate homemade 'Crunchy Granola'. I gather it's trendy again. Which is good, because I've discovered it tastes good too. 

Mix together in a large bowl:

2 cups rolled oats 

1 cup spelt flakes

1 cup barley flakes 

1/2-1 cup coconut flakes

1/4 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds

1/8 cup sesame seeds 

chopped or flaked nuts to taste/budget 

Mix in a measuring cup:  

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup honey 

Add honey and oil to large bowl and mix well.

Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and spread out the mix out well. 

Bake at 170C for 20 minutes or until golden brown; stir once during cooking. 

Cool. Add raisins or other dried fruit (optional).  Enjoy.