Mixed potato curry soup

In the best tradition of making it up as you go along... here's today's made up 'use the things you find in the cupboard before going to do the weekly shopping' soup...

1 leek, sliced
1 stick of celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tbsp olive oil
Mixed spices approx 1/2 tsp of each - cumin seeds, turmeric, ground coriander, garam masala
2 potatoes, peeled and cut into smallish chunks
2 sweet potatoes, ditto potatoes
1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed
2 1/2 pints of vegetable stock
1 small bunch fresh coriander / 1/2 tbsp coriander paste (optional)

1. Prepare the vegetables
2. Heat the oil, add the celery, leek and garlic to a large pan and sweat until soft
3. Add the spices and stir for approx 1 minute
4. Add the potatoes, sweet potatoes and chick peas and stir into the leek and spice mixture
5. Pour in the vegetable stock, bring to the boil, then simmer for approx 40 minutes or until vegetables are soft
6. Use a food processor / hand blender to purée the soup
7. Return to the heat for five minutes, season to taste, stir in some fresh coriander and serve

Choc chunk cookies

Choc chunk cookies
Originally uploaded by Maddy Lou

Recipe as below!

Choc and macadamia cookies

Comment: Easy peasy... very tasty... don't even think about the calories... enjoy!

Choc and macadamia cookies
(makes about 24 - 30)
125g butter, chopped
1tsp vanilla essence
1tsp grated orange rind
200g firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
225g plain flour
190g white chocolate, broken into pieces (or half white choc / half dark choc works well too)
50g macadamia nuts, roughly chopped (optional!)


1. Pre-heat oven to Gas 4 - 5, 180 - 190°C
2. Beat butter, essence, rind, sugar and egg in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth
3. Stir in flour, chocolate and nuts
4. Drop level tablespoons (or heaped teaspoons) or mixture about 5cm apart onto two lined baking sheets
5. Bake cookies for about 15 minutes or until firm.
6. Cool on wire racks.