The Soup Dragon : Celeriac & Apple Soup

Vegetarian, Vegan

Let's face it, celeriac is never going to win any beauty contests with it's knobbly, hairy, wrinkled skin and gnarled roots.  But hiding behind this homely face is a nutritious and tasty veggie that is high in vitamins C and K, phosphorous and fibre.  It's also lower in carbs and higher in protein than many root vegetables.  

Many people shy away from celeriac simply because they don't know what to do with it.  This soup makes the most of celeriac's fresh, slightly peppery taste whilst the apples add a sweet richness.

The Recipe

1 onion, finely chopped

1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed

1 large celeriac, peeled and diced

2 apples, peeled and diced (I like to use Coxes or Russets when in season)

1 litre of vegetable stock

1 bunch of fresh flatleaf parsley, finely chopped

1 tsp dried marjoram

2 tbsps hemp oil

Ground black pepper 

Heat the oil in a large saucepan or stock pot and cook the onions and garlic over a medium heat until softened. 

Add the celeriac and apple and cook for a further 5 minutes.  Add the stock and bring to a fast simmer. 

Continue cooking for about 20 minutes until the celeriac is tender.  Add the fresh parsley and dried marjoram then use a hand blender to liquidise the soup to a smooth puree.  

Season to taste with black pepper.

Annie x

Blinded by green vision?

Today, I came across an article in the local press about a couple who, having built what is termed as Britain's greenest house, may now have to tear it down after refusing to apply for planning permission (read the full article here).  

For five years, Matthew Lepley and Jules Smith slept in tents whilst lovingly constructing their green home solely from recycled materials wood. Completely committed to the greenest of lifestyles, they used no power tools and built their one bedroom cabin completely by hand in a field they had purchased. Water comes from a bore hole and with no electricity, the cabin is lit by candles and paraffin lamps. Water is heated by a woodburner and the couple cook on a small bottled gas powered hob. They keep ducks, chickens and sheep, grow their own produce and have constructed a compost loo where waste is recycled.  

As I read the article, I wanted to stand up and cheer for a couple who have really put their heart and soul into a green project that is clearly their dream lifestyle. Good on them, I thought.  

According to the article I read, Matthew Lepley and Jules Smith say they did not apply for planning permission because they feel the planning process uses too much paperwork and energy and therefore, does not fit with their green principles.  

Part of me agrees with this wholeheartedly; few people will dispute that obtaining planning permission is fraught with lengthy bureaucracy and needs a good overhaul and I admire anyone who stands up for their principles.

But part of me also said "really?". Does there come a point when sticking to your principles becomes a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face?  

Mr Lepley and Ms Smith had planned to use their dwelling and the land on which it stands to run sustainable living workshops and retreats; if their appeal against their local council fails, they will have to tear down their house and presumably, all their plans will have to be shelved. What a shame that would be, not only for the couple who will see five years of hard work go down the drain but for all those who would have benefitted from being able to learn from their eco-vision.

Whilst I can appreciate their disdain for the planning process, would it really have been so bad to fill in the forms and ensure the future of their home and sustainable living project? I can understand them wanting to live off the grid.  I can understand their sentiment. Yes, the planning process may be convoluted and in many cases, unsupportive of green housing initiatives but like taxes, death and seemingly, Michael Gove, it's there and not going to go away in a hurry. I'm just not sure what they will have achieved by refusing to get planning permission. 

If they are forced to tear down their home will they have changed the planning process? The answer is regrettably, no, it will have made no difference at all to the bureaucrats and the only people who will have lost out are Mr Lepley and Ms Smith and all the people who would have been able to gain inspiration and new skills from visiting their eco-home.

Don't get me wrong. I think they have achieved an amazing thing in making their eco-dreams a reality. I hope that they win their appeal and are able to go ahead with their workshops and spread the green word far and wide. I would love to learn from them myself.  But ..... I just wonder if there comes a point when a small compromise on your principles is worth the long term gain?

What do you think?

Annie x

Soapnuts here, soapnuts there, soapnuts everywhere!

A few years ago, whilst browsing the shelves of my local health food store, I came across something called Soapnuts.  Intrigued, I peered at the bag of empty shells and wondered how what looked like the aftermath of a squirrel party could possibly be of use to me. Little did I know I had stumbled upon a treasure.

For those who haven't come across soapnuts before, they are the shells of berries that grow on trees of the lychee family.  The shells naturally contain high levels of saponin, a natural soap which has been used for thousands of years in Asia and Africa.  

For anyone who wants to be greener, soapnuts are a godsend. When I started out trying to green my home, one of the things I wanted to do was reduce the number of household cleaning products I had to a minimum and make the ones I kept as clean and green as possible. Since I found out about soapnuts, I have been able to replace literally every household cleaning product from laundry powder to washing up liquid and household cleaners.

What I love about soapnuts ....

¤ They are completely natural, unprocessed and organic.

¤ They don't contain anything that will be harmful to our water system.

¤ They are hypoallergenic so great for babies and those with skin allergies and sensitivities. Although they are called nuts, they are actually the shells of berries so they are perfectly safe for those with nut allergies.

¤ They have natural anti-fungal, anti=bacerial and anti-microbial properties so are perfect for cleaning and removing odours.

¤ They are completely biodegradable; when you're finished just throw them on the compost heap or in your food recycling bin.

¤ They are fantastically economical - a kilo of soapnuts will cost around £10 - £12, can replace pretty much all your household cleaning products and last for months!

So what do you do with soapnuts?

In your laundry:  Soapnuts are usually sold with a small muslin bag for use in laundry (or you can easily make your own). Just pop 5 - 8 whole shells in the bag, put in the drum with the laundry and wash on your usual programme.  Soapnuts work well at low or high wash temperatures and also soften the clothes so you don't need fabric softener. They are unscented but you can always add a few drops of your favourite essential oil if you wish. The same batch of soapnuts can usually be re-used about 3 times.

Multi-purpose household cleaner: This is where the beauty of soapnuts really comes in, I think.  Just simmer about 50g of soapnut shells in a litre of water for about 10 minutes, allow to cool and you have a litre of very versatile cleaner. Strain it into a trigger spray or lidded bottle and you can use it for pretty much any kind of household cleaning. The natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties make it perfect for kitchens and bathrooms and you can add a few drops of essential oil if you wish for your own customised fragrance. I like to add some peppermint oil to my kitchen spray in the summer as it helps keep flies away.

Washing up liquid/concentrated cleaner:  For washing up or heavy duty cleaning like carpets, follow the same method as above but allow the liquid to steep overnight before decanting. As well as being great for washing up, use to treat heavy laundry stains before washing, or carpet stains (I can attest to how well it works on suspicious stains near our cats' litter trays)!  

Handwash:  Once you've made your household cleaner, throw the soapnuts into a blender with about half a pint of water and whizz until smooth. Strain into a bottle, add some essential oils and you have a gentle hand wash.

Veggie wash:  A mild soapnut liquid is great for washing veggies, removing dirt and pesticide residue then rinsing off cleanly without leaving any taste.

I have got quite evangelical about soapnuts over the years - they're cheap, clean, green and importantly, they actually work. What's not to love?

Soapnuts can be found in many health food stores or from online stores such as Living Naturally 

Have you tried soapnuts yet?  

Annie x

The Soup Dragon : Spicy Bean Soup

Welcome to the first of what will be a regular series of soup recipes.  Home-made soup is so quick, easy and healthy and making a big batch that will last a few days or can be frozen, is a great way to meal plan and help reduce food waste.

Vegetarian, Vegan

This spicy soup is hearty enough for a main meal and is just the thing for warming up on a cold day.

The Recipe

1 large onion, chopped
1 stalk of celery, chopped
2 carrots, cut into small chunks
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
400g black beans, dried and soaked, or canned
400g chopped tomatoes, fresh or canned
100g sweetcorn kernels
1 litre vegetable stock
2 tsp mild chilli powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp coriander leaf, fresh or dried
Hemp or coconut oil
Black pepper and sea salt to taste

Put the onion, celery, carrots and garlic in a saucepan with the oil and cook over a moderate heat for 10 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.   Add the beans, sweetcorn, tomatoes and seasoning and cook for a further 5 minutes, then add the stock.   Simmer over a low heat for a further 15 minutes.  Remove about half the soup from the pan and blend it to a smooth puree using a hand blender.  Return the puree to the pan and stir the mixture well until heated through.

Annie x

Gizmo's Greenhouse : Reload

If you are one of the few who have stumbled across this blog in recent months, you will have noticed that it has been sadly neglected.  Shortly after starting Gizmo's Greenhouse, life became very busy and stressful and something had to give.  This blog, being the new kid on the block, ended up being the sacrifice.

However, I am pleased to say that now that life has settled down somewhat, Gizmo's Greenhouse is lurching into life once more, with food, green lifestyle and much more.

Hope to see you again soon!

Annie x