back to school soup

I first made this soup in 3rd form home-economics with Mrs Hyder who spoke 100 miles per hour and, like most teachers, didn't love me! I was one of those teenagers that had this false hormonal confidence that lasted for 4 years and made me express my opinion constantly and without embarrassment (ugh, even I would have hated me). Who knows where that came from because I am the sort of person who will turn scarlett red when the attention unwittingly turns to me. Now, this is not the case around my family I must add.... Oh no... They get the full Kate (to them) works!! I will sing, dance, constantly joke and entertain them...but a client says "hi!" to me at the supermarket and you'd think, by the colour of my cheeks, I'd just dropped a dozen eggs and done a legs up fall into the mess.

So, if somehow my high school home economics teacher reads this (never gonna happen) I would like to apologise for the super-annoying, freakishly lanky teenager that took her class.....it wasn't me. Well not really. And to thank her for this recipe as I am pretty sure it was this recipe that made me stop just eating solely potatoes in their every form. This soup made me discover spices, lentils and generally opened my mind to a whole new kind of food. Geezzzzz thanks Mrs Hyder, you fast talking legend.

2 diced onions

3 cloves of garlic

2 cans chopped tomatoes

2 t paprika

2 t turmeric

1 t cumin

1/2 t minced ginger

3 T minced coriander

4-5 cups chicken stock

1 cup of red lentils

Salt and pepper

Fresh parsley and

natural yoghurt as garnish

Just soften the onion and garlic in your pot and then add everything else! Too easy!! Bring to the boil then turn down to a lower heat and once the lentils are cooked, use a stick blender or food processor to whizz it all up. You can do without the parsley (Guy isn't a fan so we often go without) but the yoghurt is a must in my opinion.

Ok so this recipe has been slightly adapted from my school days but it is reasonably similar. In winter I make it almost weekly....it's my absolute favourite! Hope you enjoy.... Let me know if you give it a try xx