Monday 7 March 2016

Dancin to the Beat and Making Soup with OXO and a SOUPER Giveaway

I love making soup and am known at home as The Soup Queen - if it has a bone I will make soup out of it!  Mr R often takes my soups for his lunch since he doesn't often get to sit down for a long lunch break a mug of homemade soup is just the thing!

Making soup is quick and easy and even if you make your own stock (as I usually do) the addition of a stock cube lifts the final soup up a flavour level.  OXO (most people in the UK have a packet of OXO beef stock cubes in the cupboard) have released their new 'wet' stock cube, handy little pots of stock and herbs to add that missing 'beat' to your soup.
People in the UK throw away 4.2 million tons of avoidable food each year which ends up in land fills but which some of could have been used to make a delicious and nourishing soup for the family.

A recent idea that has caught on from the States (some of my best friends are American!!) is 'disco soup' a rather strange sounding activity.  In reality it means just to put on some of your favourite music (disco works really well) and move to the beat whilst you make some soup, using of course the new OXO stock pots.  Just loose yourself and get cooking really, you can always make more than you need for that meal and freeze homemade soup for up to 3 months.
In the states organisations have started donating soup to homeless shelters and some are even driving around the cities to hand out hot soup to homeless and less fortunate people who could not get to the soup kitchens.

At a recent 'disco soup' event sponsored by OXO and held at Cactus Kitchens in South London any of the soup we made that we didn't finish or take home along with fresh bread was going to a local homeless shelter that offers a soup kitchen on Fridays.
We were led in our soup making by Chef Dean Edwards (Masterchef finalist) who swayed a bit to the beat of the disco music going on in the background.
We made three soups at the event from fresh ingredients, all very different but all equally tasty and simple and all three recipes can be found in the new OXO cookbook.
My freezer is suitably full of these easy, delicious soups made with really simple ingredients and OXO stock pots.
If you would like the chance to win a copy of the OXO Cookbook and a selection of the new OXO Stock Pots along with other items worth around £40 - follow the Rafflecopter instructions below.

There is only one prize - Entries from the UK only will be entered into the prize draw.

I was a guest of OXO and was not required to write a positive review of the event.  As usual all opinions and photos are my own.




a Rafflecopter giveaway

26 comments:

  1. So many great soups. Disco and soup - who'da thunk it, but it sounds like a great day! That French onion soup looks great :)

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    1. They were all really tasty and so easy to make.

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  2. What a lovely event and great write up.

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    1. Thanks, it was fun, too bad you were away and couldn't join us!

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  3. I am not sure I have ever danced when making soup but I might try it now! I would love to meet Dean Edwards as well

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    1. I might not dance but I do swing my hips a bit! Dean was really nice!

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  4. Aren't the wet pots just perfect? I am going to have to practice my moves though...

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    1. Just swing your backside as you chop an onion and it will take you over!! Have fun!

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  5. Some lovely varied ideas for soup there, good luck to all the giveaway entrants!

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    1. The cookbook has some other really easy recipes for soups and other things.

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  6. Love the idea of disco and soup - two of my favourite things!!

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    1. I make soup out of anything that doesn't move!

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  7. What a great event and I love the sound of disco soup too. GG

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    1. You have to make mealtimes fun and the family can join in!

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  8. Yummy soups.. wish the giveaway was open to all...

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    1. Yes, unfortunately postage is an issue but you can still make great soups at home!

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  9. You may be called the soup queen, but here in my family I am called the soup dragon! (from the Clangers!) But in a nice way and because I am also a BIG soup maker! Your soup looks lovely and I use OXO cubes all the time in my kitchen.

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    1. I wonder is there is a house in the UK without OXO cubes!!

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    2. Mine! Never use stock cubes. Always make my soups from scratch.

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    3. I always have some stock cubes in the cupboard for emergencies although I would prefer to have some home made stock in the freezer!

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  10. Vegetable soup because when it's home made you can vary the ingredients depending on what's in the fridge :)

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    1. A great way to use up what you have in the house! I love those 'made-up' soups!!

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  11. I love leek and potato soup.

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    1. My favourite is home made tomato soup with freshly baked bread - oh yummmm

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  12. Soup is wonderful stuff and makes up the bulk of our food. I was brought up with leftovers going into a soup pot and I have continued the tradition.

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    1. I make soup out of whatever is in the fridge or freezer that needs using up - love that feeling of excitement as to what it will ultimately taste like!!

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