Our family groups have been busy celebrating the harvest season in the most hands-on way by becoming ‘Soup-er’ Heroes at the local allotment.
Kayleigh led her Royston family group on an Autumnal walk to the allotment in Royston, where the children had the chance to dig in the soil, explore pond life, and discover the wildlife found in our green spaces. One of our wonderful volunteers shared insights about where our food comes from, sparking curiosity and excitement among the children. The highlight? Harvesting fresh potatoes for soup-making!
Back in group sessions, the children took part in chopping their own vegetables, which were then used to prepare delicious soups for everyone to taste. Soup day was a hit with families, they enjoyed sharing a healthy lunch together; ‘I particularly enjoyed seeing one toddler sat on her mum’s lap – she was happily eating so fast that mum could hardly keep up with the spoon.’ – Jackie, Co-Ordinator.
Our Co-Ordinator Jo used a recipe for the soup from a slow cooker cookbook created in collaboration with Cadent Gas Network and Home-Start. The recipe, aptly named ‘Doesn’t Matter Vegetable Soup’, is perfect for using up whatever vegetables you have on hand. It’s flexible, tasty, and ideal for busy families. Here is the recipe if you fancy giving it a try;
Doesn’t Matter Vegetable Soup (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Ingredients:
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 litre vegetable stock
- Optional: peas, sweetcorn, green beans, herbs (e.g. thyme, bay leaf, smoked paprika)
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Add softer vegetables (like peas or sweetcorn) in the last hour.
- Season to taste and serve with crusty bread!
This recipe is a great way to use up leftover veg and is perfect for batch cooking and freezing.
Cadent’s Support for Families
Cadent has been a generous supporter of Home-Start, gifting families with slow cookers, allowing them to recreate the recipes in their cookbook at home, helping to save time and energy. They have also produced a helpful brochure which we have shared in our groups about staying safe and warm as we head into the colder months.
Two key schemes they offer include:
A free service for individuals who may need extra support in a gas emergency or during supply interruptions. Benefits include alternative cooking/heating facilities, password protection for doorstep safety, and priority updates.
Through their Services Beyond the Meter programme, Cadent works with Groundwork UK to offer appliance repairs, replacements, and energy efficiency advice for families facing hardship.
Thanks to the generosity of Cadent and the enthusiasm of our families and volunteers, our Soup-er Heroes have shown that with a little teamwork and creativity, even the simplest ingredients can bring warmth, learning, and fun to our Family Groups!