Pea and Ham Soup

I'm pretty sure that every family has a pea and ham soup recipe that's been handed down through the generations. Except mine... It's something I never ate as a child and for years couldn't work out what all the fuss was about. In the last few years however I've become quite a fan of the humble bacon hock and the powerful flavour hit is delivers when gently simmered away in this hearty warming soup. Despite never having it as a child, I know my children and their children will definitely be familiar with this recipe. Finally, I think I've perfected it! Let me know what you think. 

Ingredients (Serves 6):

• 4 tbsp oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tsp dried sage
• 1 leek, white part only, finely sliced
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced
• 400 grams of dried green split peas
• 10 peppercorns
• 1 bacon hock, or leftover ham bone - make sure it still has some meat on it though! I use freedom farms bacon hock, they're about $8 each and it has a decent amount of meat still on the bone. 
• 1 cup of frozen peas
• salt and pepper to taste
• buttered bread or toast to serve. 

In a large soup pot heat oil on a medium heat. Add onions, garlic and sage, saute gently for 3-5 minutes. Add the leek and carrots and continue cooking on a medium heat for another couple of minutes. 

Add the dried green split peas, peppercorns, bacon hock and cover with 2 Litres of water. Bring to a gentle boil before reducing heat to low and covering. 

Simmer for 2 - 2.5 hours stirring occasionally. You may need to top up the water if it starts to reduce too much. After 2 - 2.5 hours you'll notice the peas have begun to disintegrate. Perfect! 

Use tongs to remove the bacon bone from the soup and set aside to cool a little. Ladle about a third of the soup into a blender to whizz till smooth, return to the rest of the chunky soup before adding the cup of frozen peas. 

Simmer for another 3 - 5 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the meat from the pork bone and shred with a fork. 

Finally taste the soup, and if necessary add a little salt and pepper. Remember the bacon bone is already very salty, so it shouldn't need more than a teaspoon extra. 

Ladle soup into bowls and top with shredded meat. Serve with buttered bread or toast. Or if you're like me, add a smear of marmite to your toast as well, for an extra salty kick! 

Fresh Chicken Noodle Soup

Seriously easy, seriously nutritious, and seriously fast way to get your chicken soup fix. 


I've used a whole chicken, skinned, jointed and breasts removed. I find this is the most cost effective way to make this soup, plus boiling all the bones means that all that goodness is added to the broth. I don't bother using the chicken breast meat in this soup, as it can get tough when poached, and is far more valuable to use for another meal - like my tasty chicken Hawaiian Chicken Burgers, or Chicken Burrito Bowl with Mango Salsa for example. 


Also, DO NOT throw the skin away... I never like wasting anything! Check out this tasty way to make the most of it...  

What to do with #leftover #chicken skin? Salt and bake on a tray at 180•C for 20-30 mins till golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels and devour.... Reserve the fat in a container in the fridge for next time you're roasting potatoes #chickenskin #lard #chickenfriedpotatoes #naughtytreats #youknowyouwantsome

A photo posted by Stef Parker (@sparkmypantry) on Aug 13, 2016 at 11:22pm PDT

Make sure you drain off the fat before it cools. Store in a glass container in the fridge to use the next time you are roasting potatoes. Plus the chicken crackle makes a tasty snack while the soup simmers. 

Ingredients (serves 4): 
Soup 

• 4 cloves garlic 
• 1/4 c sliced fresh ginger
• 1 tsp chilli flakes
• 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper
• bunch of coriander - wash and pick the leaves off. Set them aside and use the roots and stalks in the soup
• 1 whole free range chicken, jointed, skin and breast meat removed. 
• 300 grams dried egg noodles 

For the bowls

• 2 spring onions, finely sliced
• 1/4 cabbage, finely shredded
• 6 mushrooms, finely sliced or quartered
• 2 carrots, grated or julienned
• coriander leaves

Joint the chicken, and remove the skin and breast meat. 

Simmer all of the soup ingredients - except the noodles - in a large soup pot for 20 minutes, till the meat is cooked through. 

Meanwhile shred the cabbage - a food processor works well here - grate the carrots, slice the mushrooms and spring onion. Divide the vegetables and coriander leaves, among four large soup bowls. Set aside. 

Remove the chicken - bones and all - from the soup pot, and set aside till cool enough to handle. Now add the noodles and continue boiling for 3 - 10 minutes (according to the packet directions). 

Remove the meat from the chicken bones and divide among the serving bowls. Use tongs to serve the noodles on top, then ladle the boiling broth over it all. Stir, leave for a few minutes to poach the vegetables, and make it cool enough to eat. Serve with soup spoons and chopsticks. 

Savoury Cheese Veggie and Polenta Muffins

Savoury muffins are my new favourite snack, breakfast on the go, or as they were today, a quick and easy lunch alongside my favourite tinned soup 

These muffins are loaded with veggies and tasty cheese for calcium and a protein kick. You're welcome to chop and change the veggies used. Corn kernals and roasted pumkin or kumara are also very tasty. 

Polenta is also known as cornmeal and is available at most supermarkets, if you don't have it, you could substitute for 1/2 a cup of ground nuts, or 3/4 cup of extra flour.  

This recipe is easily doubled. I make a double batch, then individually wrap and freeze them. Frozen they stay fresh for up to 3 months. Simply grab one in the morning and it will be good to eat by morning tea time, or quickly warm in the microwave for 30 seconds. 

Ingredients (makes 12 regular muffins, or 6 texas* muffins): 

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup olive oil 
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp dried herbs or 1 tbsp fresh herbs (parsley, chives oregano or thyme) 
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup polenta 
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup grated cheese, plus 1/4 extra for sprinkling on top
• 1 grilled red pepper (skin removed), roughly chopped 
• 1 cup of baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped, or 1/2 cup of frozen spinach, defrosted 
• 1/4 cup finely diced red onion, shallots, or sliced spring onion
• 1/2 tsp salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or chilli flakes (optional) 

Pre heat oven to 200 degrees celsius. Grease muffin trays or line with paper cases. 

Mix milk, oil and egg in a bowl. 

Sieve flour and baking powder in another bowl and stir through polenta, herbs, cheese, pepper, spinach, onion and pepper.  

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and fold in the wet ingredients. Be careful not to over-mix, some dry bits are fine. Sprinkle with remaining grated cheese. 

Spoon into muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes if making regular size, or 25-30 minutes for Texas sized muffins. 

Leave in the tin for 5 minutes before removing.
Serve warm or room temperature with lashings of butter and a dollop of chutney. Also, a smear of vegemite or marmite adds a salty nutritional boost. 

Can freeze for up to 3 months. 

* Texas muffins are the larger muffin trays and are a similar size to what you would get in a cafe, while regular are the more cupcake size.