It all started with a big paper bag of chestnut mushrooms. Perfectly in season, brown, earthy and fresh. Smelling of autumn. That, and a glance out of the caravan window at the rain convinced me that it was definitely soup weather.
Much as I like a bowl of Heinz mushroom soup as a quick, comforting lunch, a homemade soup is really in another league and is well worthwhile the small effort that it takes.
Mushrooms, chopped sweet chestnuts, garlic, fresh parsley and tarragon are the mainstays of this soup. A slosh of cream or creme fraiche finishes it. It’s warming and delicious, and cooks up in less than thirty minutes.
As winter approaches I make soup much more often. There’s usually a pot of soup simmering on the stove most days in this weather. Soups are so versatile, and can be made cheaply from the simplest of ingredients.
Amongst our personal favourites are mushroom and chestnut, fresh chicken, winter vegetable, butternut and sweet potato, leek and potato, Cullen skink and lentil soups. Not having a blender here in the caravan, all of our soups are left “au-naturel” and somehow feel all the more of a meal for that.
Served up with warm cheese scones, or good crusty sourdough bread, soups are definitely the food of autumn.



I love soups…especially mushroom and splti pea. That soup you all made looks fantastic! (Admittedly, though, I did have to look up “Cullen skink”. In Florida, where I’m originally from, it wouldn’t be unheard of to have a soup made of skinks, aka lizards. It is a state in the U.S. that has its very own “Roadkill Cafe”, after all! Ha!)
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Lizard soup! Love it 😂
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Tee hee!
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OMG I totally misspelled “Split”! (is the sky falling?!?!?!)
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Do they really serve roadkill? 😀
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Ha, no! It’s called “Linger Lodge” and I’ve actually been there! It’s a lot of fun! If you go here and scroll down, there’s a photo of the menu, with things like “smear of deer” and “flat cat stack” https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60786-d2387285-r125143542-Linger_Lodge_Restaurant-Bradenton_Florida.html
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😂😂😂😂
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Love soup. My husband makes soups that you can feel in your toes if that makes sense…sole food!
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It’s a wonderful skill to have. Lucky you 😀
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My mouth is watering! I love soups too!
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So simple, so comforting to eat ☺️
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I love having hot soup in winter too🙌💕 This is how I enjoy winter the most😂
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Winter is definitely made for soup 🥣 😊
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