Celeriac- the knobbly root

Celeriac Seed Packet

Mrs Beetons book of Household Management offers the following words on waste:

Frugality and economy are virtues without which no household can prosper. Whatever the income, waste of all kinds should be most sternly repressed. This again, is a matter in which the example of the mistress will be far reaching. Economy and frugality must never, however, be allowed to degenerate into meanness, one of the most contemptible of vices and one more certain than others to expose the mistress to the e ridicule of her dependants. ( Mrs Beeton, 1923 p 15).

This year, let there be even less waste, more creativity and let us stretch further into creating a positive cash flow where we spend less and save more and earn more. Let us follow the messages from supermarkets, such as every little helps…etc to make a difference.

Its time to see what is lurking in the vegetable box after the festivities and create a magical potage that will be warming, filling and very tasty.

Today I found a celeriac, 2 lonely apples, some home made bread and a lot of uneaten stilton (blue cheese). I made some turkey stock out of the turkey we traditionally had for our Christmas meal (very expensive and very free range).

Let me introduce you to the delights of the celeriac. If you like potato and leek soup, here is an alternative that has the same velvety creamy texture with a little taste kick at the end of it.

For celeriac and apple soup you will need a knobbly celeriac which will be peeled and cubed. That is the hard part. Put a knob of butter and sweat a chopped onion in it, add the cubed celeriac and 2 chopped stalks of celery, a little garlic (optional) and braise the vegetables without browning them for about 5 mins. Cover in 1 l or 2 pts of good turkey stock or vegetable stock and simmer of 10 minutes. Add 1 chopped bramley cooking apple and 1 tart eating apple and simmer for a further 20 mins.

Then puree the soup to a heavenly blend, prepare the nicest soup bowls you have on a plate, add some chunks of homemade bread. Ladle soup in bowl, sprinkle a bit of crumbly stilton or blue cheese if you have it ( optional) and sit down to a heart-warming meal with good company.