Zucchini Soup with Giveaway Cuisinart Stick Blender

Ah, Autumn, season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

With a nip in the night air comes a hankering for a bowl of something warming.
And this zucchini soup really fits the bill - it's not too heavy, chock full of healthy vegetables, and best of all, extremely tasty.

Well, actually, that's not all. It's also supremely simple to make. So, let's get straight into the recipe. I know the real reason you are here is for the GIVEAWAY.

Just promise me you'll try this soup first. *pretty please? you won't regret it!*


Easy Zucchini Soup

serves 2***

Ingredients

1 tsp olive oil

2 zucchini, halved and sliced

½ tsp crushed garlic

2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

2 tblsp cream (optional)

Salt and pepper

Method

1. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.

2. Add the zucchini and garlic, and cook for 5 minutes, or until zucchini softens (don’t let the garlic burn).

3. Pour in the stock and cream and simmer for 8 minutes.

4. Remove from the heat and puree in the saucepan using a stick blender, until smooth.
Alternatively, cool slightly and transfer the soup to a blender and process until smooth.

5. Return to the saucepan and reheat, if desired.

6. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

***Double the ingredients to serve 4

As long as you have some lovely fresh vegetables, a mug of delicious soup is not far away.

In the past week, I've made zucchini soup, broccoli soup and potato and leek soup.

The tastiness of your soup also depends on the stock that you use.

No time for homemade stock, though. Here, I used 1½ cubes of Massel chicken stock in 2 cups of boiling water. Fantastic flavour.

A stick blender is a wonderful tool for soup - win one further on!

This really is a quick and easy soup to make. Very versatile, it can also be served cold.

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Kitchenware Direct Giveaway!

Thanks to Kitchenware Direct, you could this fab prize!

When Brad from Kitchenware Direct offered to provide a giveaway on this blog, I spent a wonderful time on the Kitchenware Direct site, browsing the beautiful products, trying to decide on a prize (if they were a bricks-and-mortar store, I would have been kicked out for taking so long to decide).

So, just for you: One lucky reader could win a gorgeous new Cuisinart stick blender.
I chose it especially, because it comes with a chopper attachment that is so useful for chopping and blending small amounts of herbs or spices, even mayonnaise; great when you don't want to drag out your large food processor.
And the stick blender and attachments are very easy to clean - the stainless steel finish looks good and it's easily kept that way.
 

To enter, just tell me what your favourite soup is, and why. Did you make it yourself, or did you enjoy it during a special meal? I'd love to know!


 Enter by leaving a comment on this post, or email (details below). Entries close midnight 5^th May 2013. Prize can only be delivered to Australian addresses. Other conditions are below. Good luck!
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Update
This contest is now Closed.

The winner is Tina@bitemeshowme

Thanks for all your lovely entries!

Conditions of Entry

1. Entry to this contest is by a comment on this post, describing your favourite soup and why. Alternatively, enter by sending an email to oohlookbel2000 [at] gmail [dot] com

2. Entries close at midnight 5 May 2013.

3. The prize can only be delivered to Australian addresses. Prize will be supplied and delivered by Kitchenware Direct.

4. Please include an email address or your blog URL in your entry so I can contact you if you win.