- Prepare all of your vegetables. (I like to cut everything to a similar size so that they cook roughly in about the same amount of time.)
- Melt the butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium high heat. Once it begins to foam, add the carrots, celery, onion, rutabaga, and sweet potato. Cook stirring occasionally for 5 to 10 minutes until they begin to soften and caramelize a bit. (This really does add a richness to the soup.)
- Add the tomatoes, tomato juice, stock, lemon juice, and summer savory. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. (You don't want it to keep boiling or all of the liquid will evaporate.)
- Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes on medium low or until all of the vegetables are tender. (If the soup seems to thick at this point you can add additional water or stock to bring it to the thickness you enjoy.)
- Add the peas and corn. Cook fur a further 5 to 6 minutes until they are heated through and cooked to your desired doneness. (The reason I add the peas and corn at the end and separate from the other vegetables is because I really dislike overcooked peas and corn.)
- Taste and adjust seasoning with some salt and black pepper.
- Ladle into heated bowls and serve. (You can top with a few crisp croutons if you wish.)
- Some good additions to this soup are crushed garlic (1 tsp.). Add along with the other vegetables and onions.
- You can also add fresh herbs. I like to add the leaves of the celery. You can add fresh basil, parsley, thyme or oregano. I have also added a fresh bay leave from time to time.
- Feel free to substitute the vegetable stock with any other broth that you wish. Chicken, beef, ham, all work well. You can even leave the broth out altogether and simply use water. The soup will still taste good, although it will not be quite as flavor filled as it would be using stock.
- As suggested you can use any mix of vegetables that you enjoy, even frozen mixed vegetables if that is what you like.

Quick & Easy Vegetable Soup
This fabulous soup is quick and easy to throw together and very delicious. It uses simple things that we usually all have to hand and also freezes very well.
Ingredients
- 2 TBS butter
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
- 1 stick of celery, trimmed and coarsely chopped
- 1 medium onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
- 1 cup (50g) diced, peeled rutabaga/Swede
- 1/2 cup (100g) sweet potato, peeled and diced (I used a Japanese sweet potato)
- 1 can (14.5oz/411g) diced petite tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup (240ml) tomato juice
- 1 cup (240ml) vegetable stock
- 1/4 tsp summer savory or dried thyme
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup (15g) of frozen corn
- 1/2 cup (15g) frozen peas
Instructions
- Prepare all of your vegetables.
- Melt the butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium high heat. Once it begins to foam, add the carrots, celery, onion, rutabaga, and sweet potato. Cook stirring occasionally for 5 to 10 minutes until they begin to soften and caramelize a bit.
- Add the tomatoes, tomato juice, stock, lemon juice, and summer savory. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes on medium low or until all of the vegetables are tender.
- Add the peas and corn. Cook fur a further 5 to 6 minutes until they are heated through and cooked to your desired doneness.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with some salt and black pepper.
- Ladle into heated bowls and serve.
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Discover the comforting charm of traditional British Potato Pudding—a simple yet satisfying dish made with grated potatoes, carrots, swede, onions, and rich seasoning, baked until golden brown. Perfect as a hearty side or a vegetarian main, this classic recipe brings timeless flavor to your table with minimal fuss and maximum comfort.
This really isn't a pudding, or dessert. It is instead a savory side dish composed of root vegetables put together in the most delicious way. I love these old British dishes that people have been making in their kitchens for hundreds of years. Using simple and humble ingredients and not a lot of them, they speak greatly to the ability of country folk to be able to throw together something delicious without a lot of effort, using ingredients that they might have grown simply in their own kitchen gardens.
- 2 cups (200g) peeled and coarsely shredded potato
- 1 cup (100g) peeled and coarsely shredded carrot
- 1 cup (100g) peeled and coarsely shredded swede (rutabaga)
- 1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp summer savory or marjoram (DRIED)
- 2 TBS cream
- 2 TBS softened butter
- chopped parsley or spring onions to garnish (optional)
- Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/gas mark 4. Generously butter a 7 by 11-inch or 9-inch square shallow baking dish. Set aside. (I put about a TBS of butter into the baking dish and pop it into the oven while it is preheating. Once melted I use a pastry brush to brush it evenly over the bottom and sides of the baking dish.)
- Mix the vegetables, salt, pepper, summer savory and cream together in a bowl, mixing them all together until well combined.
- Spoon into the prepared baking dish and press down a bit to smooth it out. Dot the butter evenly over top. (I press it down firmly with a spatula. I try to dot the butter as evenly spaced as possible over the top of the vegetables.)
- Cover tightly and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until golden and crusty on top. (I use a sheet of tin foil to cover it, tucking it closely around the sides of the dish and making sure it is tight.)
- Remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes before cutting in to squares to serve.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or spring onions to serve (optional). Delicious!! (I used some finely chopped spring onions on this day and they tasted lovely!)
RUSTIC SMASHED RED POTATOES - Before I made this delicious version of mashed potatoes, I wasn't really sure if I would like mashed potatoes with the skins still in. I decided to give them a go and was quickly converted! These smashed potatoes are of a different genre of smashed potatoes. These are like a smashed mashed potato, meant to be rustic and creamy all at the same time. This totally works.

Potato Pudding
Tasty, old fashioned and, it uses ingredients most of us have to hand a great deal of the time. This is a real people pleaser!!
Ingredients
- 2 cups (200g) peeled and coarsely shredded potato
- 1 cup (100g) peeled and coarsely shredded carrot
- 1 cup (100g) peeled and coarsely shredded swede (rutabaga)
- 1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp summer savory or marjoram
- 2 TBS cream
- 2 TBS softened butter
- chopped parsley or spring onions to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/gas mark 4. Generously butter a 7 by 11-inch or 9-inch square shallow baking dish. Set aside.
- Mix the vegetables, salt, pepper, summer savory and cream together in a bowl, mixing them all together until well combined.
- Spoon into the prepared baking dish and press down a bit to smooth it out. Dot the butter evenly over top.
- Cover tightly and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until golden and crusty on top.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for a few minutes before cutting in to squares to serve.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or spring onions to serve (optional). Delicious!!
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- 1 cup warm water (240ml)
- 1 1/2 tsp yeast
- 1 TBS liquid honey
- 1 TBS olive oil
- 2 1/2 cups strong flour (360g) plus more for kneading (can use part whole wheat)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 TBS butter
- 3 TBS flour
- 1 1/4 cups milk (280ml)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp each dried oregano and dried basil
- pinch hot pepper flakes
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (60g)
- 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into wedges
- 1 large red onion, peeled and cut into wedges
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into cubes
- 1 TBS pesto
- 2 TBS olive oil
- 1 TBS liquid honey
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups grated four cheese Italian blend (245g)
- To make the crust, place the warm water in a large bowl. Stir in the honey and sprinkle the yeast over top. Allow to sit for several minutes to proof the yeast. (about 5 minutes)
- Whisk the flour and salt together. Stir the yeast to dissolve and then stir in the flour mixture and the olive oil. (Add the flour to the wet mixture.)
- Mix together well, at first with a wooden spoon and then with your hands. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 to 6 minutes. (Alternately you can do this in a stand mixer using a dough hook.)
- Place in a lightly oiled clean bowl, turning once to coat it with the oil. Cover and allow to rise for 20 minutes before knocking down and proceeding. (You can leave it to rise longer if you wish, or even overnight in the refrigerator.)
- While the crust is rising you can roast your vegetables. Preheat the oven to 220*C/425*F/ gas mark 6. Line a large baking tray with some aluminum foil. Spray with low fat cooking spray.
- Toss the vegetables together in a bowl along with the pesto, olive oil, honey cinnamon, garlic powder, and salt & pepper to taste. (Toss them together in a bowl helps to coat all of the vegetables evenly with the oil and seasonings.)
- Spread the vegetables out in a single layer on the prepared baking tray. Roast in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized. (This smells fabulous when they are roasting.)
- To make the white sauce, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. Whisk in the flour. It will be stiff. (I use my small wire whisk.)
- Slowly whisk in the milk, whisking constantly. Cook, stirring continuously until the mixture bubbles and thickens. (It is important to add the milk slowly and steadily, whisking the whole time to prevent lumps from forming.)
- Whisk in the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for about 2 minutes to cook out any flour taste. Set aside to cool. (This is important. You don't want to be adding a hot sauce to the crust.)
- To assemble the pizza(s) oil one large baking sheet, or two smaller pizza pans.
- Spread the crust out to fill the pan(s). (I like to dampen my hands with water to do this. I find it makes this step very easy to do.)
- Spread the white sauce over top of the crust and top with the grated cheese. Lay the roasted vegetables on top in a decorative manner. (I spread the sauce out with the back of a metal spoon.)
- Bake in the preheated oven (425*F/220*C/gas mark 7) for 30 to 35 minutes until the crust is golden brown on the bottom, the cheese has melted, and everything is heated through wonderfully.
- Cut into slices or wedges to serve. (This depends on the type of pan used. Round/wedges. Rectangular/squares.)
Roasted Vegetable Autumn Pizza
A somewhat healthy version of Pizza topped with beautifully roasted autumn vegetables. This is delicious as a main, or cut into smaller squares as an appetizer/nibble.
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (240ml)
- 1 1/2 tsp yeast
- 1 TBS liquid honey
- 1 TBS olive oil
- 2 1/2 cups strong flour (360g) plus more for kneading (can use part whole wheat)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 TBS butter
- 3 TBS flour
- 1 1/4 cups milk (280ml)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp each dried oregano and dried basil
- pinch hot pepper flakes
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (60g)
- 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into wedges
- 1 large red onion, peeled and cut into wedges
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into cubes
- 1 TBS pesto
- 2 TBS olive oil
- 1 TBS liquid honey
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups grated four cheese Italian blend (245g)
Instructions
- To make the crust, place the warm water in a large bowl. Stir in the honey and sprinkle the yeast over top. Allow to sit for several minutes to proof the yeast. (about 5 minutes)
- Whisk the flour and salt together. Stir the yeast to dissolve and then stir in the flour mixture and the olive oil.
- Mix together well, at first with a wooden spoon and then with your hands. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Place in a lightly oiled clean bowl, turning once to coat it with the oil. Cover and allow to rise for 20 minutes before knocking down and proceeding.
- While the crust is rising you can roast your vegetables. Preheat the oven to 220*C/425*F/ gas mark 6. Line a large baking tray with some aluminum foil. Spray with low fat cooking spray.
- Toss the vegetables together in a bowl along with the pesto, olive oil, honey cinnamon, garlic powder, and salt & pepper to taste.
- Spread the vegetables out in a single layer on the prepared baking tray. Roast in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized.
- To make the white sauce, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. Whisk in the flour. It will be stiff.
- Slowly whisk in the milk, whisking constantly. Cook, stirring continuously until the mixture bubbles and thickens.
- Whisk in the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for about 2 minutes to cook out any flour taste. Set aside to cool.
- To assemble the pizza(s) oil one large baking sheet, or two smaller pizza pans.
- Spread the crust out to fill the pan(s).
- Spread the white sauce over top of the crust and top with the grated cheese. Lay the roasted vegetables on top in a decorative manner.
- Bake in the preheated oven (425*F/220*C/gas mark 7) for 30 to 35 minutes until the crust is golden brown on the bottom, the cheese has melted, and everything is heated through wonderfully.
- Cut into slices or wedges to serve.
Did you make this recipe?
This content, written and photography, is the sole property of The English Kitchen. Any reposting or misuse is not permitted. If you are reading this elsewhere, please know that it is stolen content and you may report it to me at mariealicejoan at aol dot com.


















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