It's beginning to feel a lot like christmas!

Warming Wednesday

Its that time of year again and I've got the lurgy (a yukky chest infection with which I have been keeping everyone awake for nights). I haven't got much festive feeling (most unusual for me at the beginning of December) no christmas crafting is being done, and nothing is being ticked off the on the Christmas to do list. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself today, so decided a bowl of warming soup was in order. It was SO GOOD I have to share the recipe with you!

Squash, Chickpea and Chorizo Soup

1 squash, around 800g, peeled and cut into rough 1cm chunks
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 small chilli, seeded and finely chopped
200g chorizo, halved and cut into rough 1cm chunks
Splosh of olive oil
1.5 litres vegetable or chicken stock
1 x 400g can of chickpeas drained and rinsed
Handful chopped parsley

1. Gently heat a splosh of olive oil and cook the onion, chilli and chorizo with a lid on for 4-5 minutes, stirring every so often.

2. Add the squash and stock, bring to the boil, season and simmer for 30 minutes.

3. Add the chickpeas and continue to simmer for a further 15 minutes.

4. Blend a ladleful of the soup in a liquidiser until smooth, add back to the pot with the parsley and simmer for another couple of minutes before serving. (Or you can do as I did and roughly blend the whole lot until you like the texture).

5. Enjoy and feel better!

That wasn't the only thing to warm up my Wednesday. Look what the postman brought me today!

A lovely surprise parcel all the way from Italy! What could be inside?

Just look at all these lovely things sent from Michela at Little Secrets From My Garden. It's her Christmas giveaway!

Lovely scented embroidery thread (how exciting I've never seen this before!) what festive colour, I will definitely be using that with something christmassy this week, some exquisite buttons - what beautiful colours! And a lovely lavender sachet, a strawberry bath cube and some lovely Scarlett perfume.

Thank you so much Michela, your lovely Christmas parcel really warmed my day, it was such a lovely unexpected surprise. You are so very kind! And I can't wait to make something with my festive thread and buttons!

I hope you are all feeling warm and festive this Wednesday!

Sally xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx