Leek & Potato Soup

Leek & potato soup is cheap, nourishing full of flavour and only takes 30 minutes to cook

Ingredients: 3 leeks; 1.5lbs of potatoes; large onion; clove of garlic; tsp mixed herbs; chopped parsley; bay leaf; vegetable stock; salt & pepper to taste.

Chop leeks, onions, garlic & potatoes. Gently fry leeks, onions, garlic and mixed herbs in a little olive oil for a couple of minutes until soft. Add vegetable stock, potatoes, parsley & bay leaf and bring to the boil. Season with salt & pepper and simmer for about 20mins. Remove bay leaf and liquidise using a hand blender before serving with crusty bread. Enjoy.

Early Morning Meditation

Decided on an early sit this morning. Read these words from the Buddha before settling down on the cushions:

"This intent concentration on in-and-out breathing, if cultivated and developed, is something peaceful and excellent, something pleasant in itself and a pleasant way of living also. Not only that, it dispels evil unskilled thoughts that have arisen and makes them vanish in a moment.

It is just as when in the last month of the hot season the dust and dirt fly up and suddenly a great rain lays it and makes it settle in a moment."

Followed the session with a hearty breakfast of vegan sausages, mushrooms and fried tomatoes with lashings of hot toast and peppermint tea.

Later on in the day, I went for a long walk along the River Leven with my dog Lennon to work off the effect of the fry-up and to make room for vegan Sheperd's Pie. This version is made with soya mince instead of lentils and served with brussel sprouts: