Slightly spicy broccoli and blue-cheese soup

I was fortunate to have Tuesday off and fancied making some soup. So I decided on a fresh spring-like creation that doesn't require a great deal of effort. A recipe I cobbled together while working at the Black Olive delicatessen some years ago. I have a fairly rustic approach to cooking, with quantities being influenced by taste and consistency rather than accurate measures. I would say that this one is fairly reliable though.

The following will serve 2 to 3 people and by using animal-fat free cheese it can be suitable for vegetarians too.

Ingredients

• A head of broccoli
• 1 small green chilli
• 6 spring onions
• Small piece (150g) of blue cheese such as St.Agur or dolcelatte
• 2 Vegetable stock cubes
• Salt/Pepper
• Olive oil
• 1 pt of milk
• 1/3 pint of water
• Flat leaf parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Chop the broccoli, chilli and spring onions
2. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a large saucepan or soup pot
3. Add the chopped vegetables to the pan with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sweat on a low heat, stirring regularly for about 10 minutes or until the onions are soft but not brown. The chilli and onions will be cooked. Don't worry about the broccoli, its thick stems will finish cooking when the liquid stock is added later.
4. Prepare a pint jug of stock using 2 stock cubes, 2/3 pt of milk and 1/3pt of water and add this to the pan. Stir the ingredients around and leave to simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Chop the blue cheese into cubes (this will help it melt quicker and avoid lumps) and add it to the pan and stir until melted.
6. Leave to simmer until the broccoli is tender.
7. Using an electric hand-blender, carefully blend the soup for about two minutes or until the broccoli stems have broken down.
8. You will find that blending will thicken the soup, so add as much of the remaining milk until you are happy with the consistency.

Serve with chopped flat leaf parsley and warm ciabatta.

Cigarette on the Waveney - Roger Deakin

I was reminded the other day of an idea I had a long time ago after hearing a documentary about the river Waveney. The idea was a bit of a non starter at the time, so it was shelved as most of my ideas are. Great swathes of them gathering dust in notebooks, on scraps of paper in shoeboxes or down the back of the metaphorical sofa in my head, frankly where most of them should stay. I remembered recording the program and so set about searching for it on my Mac. Alas, no recording was to be found unfortunately. After a quick search on Google I discovered that the file was still available on the BBC science listen again service. 

The program is inspired by the Robert Louis Stevenson's journey along the rivers of Northern France and Belgium in his canoe, the Cigarette. Roger Deakin's evocative descriptions of the wildlife and atmosphere along the river - from its source in Redgrave to the Geldeston Locks on the Norfolk/Suffolk border -  bring the program to life. 

Listen to Cigarette on the Waveney

Le Mercury, Islington

On Sunday I travelled to Islington to meet G and watch the Euro 2008 cup final. I hadn't been feeling myself most of the day due to being what celebrities call "tired and emotional". A euphemism for miscellaneous recreational activities that involve a period of physiological and psychological recuperation. In my case this was brought on I suspect, by my final Champagne and Watermelon cocktail. Which sent me spinning across the ballroom to the stage, attempting to sing a song, picking up a bass guitar, putting it down again and making my way out into the garden. I don't think anyone actually noticed, or were too bemused to comment.

I arrived at Highbury and Islington station with an hour to spare. Having not eaten, I perused Upper Street and came across Le Mercury. A lemon coloured, French cafe on the Corner of Almeida Street. After taking a long look at the range of cuisine on offer, I entered. The soup du jour was classic French onion with a large cheese covered crouton, I followed this with main course of Crepe au fromage. Crepes filled with goats cheese, roast peppers and artichoke with a crisp leaf salad. All artfully drizzled with sweet balsamic vinegar.

The welcome was very warm and the staff friendly and efficient. The food was served quickly (I hardly had time to read a paragraph of my book) but I never felt hurried.

French onion soup
Crepes au fromage
750ml Hildon sparkling mineral water

Total exc. service
£13.40.

A range of French and European dishes – Starters from £3.95 and mains from £6.95

Le Mercury
140a Upper Street
Islington
N1 1QY

Beatles' creative juices flow

"For 44 years a canister of film had been stored in a damp garage in South London; unopened, unloved and almost thrown away.”

This is the story of a previously unseen interview with popular British beat combo The Beatles. The 9 minute interview is being broadcast on Radio 4 today at 13.30, and will be repeated on Saturday. 

It was originally recorded in April 1964, in a Scottish television studio and features John and Paul discussing their song writing technique. "Normally we sit down and try and bash one out" says Paul.

All part of the creative process I suppose.

For more information visit BBC News  or go to the Radio 4 website