FINAL Cook Book
22/9/08
15:35
Page 7
STARTERS
SPICY PARSNIP SOUP . . . Four time World Swimming Champion Karen Pickering MBE presents one of her favourite recipes - Spicy Parsnip Soup. INGREDIENTS 1 Onion 6 parsnips (450g) 3 carrots (225g) 1 tbsp curry powder (or more for a little extra kick) 300ml semi-skimmed milk (1/2 pint) 350ml vegetable stock (3/4 pint) 2 tbsp olive oil salt and pepper cumin seeds to garnish
1 Peel and finely chop the onion. Peel the carrots and parsnips (remove stem of parsnips) and cut into even size pieces.
Heat oil in saucepan, add the vegetables and stir. Cover and cook for a couple of minutes until the veg are softened a little. Add the curry powder and stir for a minute. 2
3 Stir in the milk and veg stock and add salt and pepper. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
4 Let the soup cool and transfer to a blender. Add more stock or milk to thin the mixture as required.
If you like some vegetable chunks in your soup, blend only half the amount. Transfer the soup back to the saucepan and reheat. 5 Gently fry the cumin seeds in a pan and sprinkle over the soup once in the bowls.
Low fat Crème Fraiche can be added to the soup for a creamy flavour.
A veteran of four Olympic Games Karen's story is one of competing against the odds, teamwork and motivation. Representing her country over a twenty-year period Karen has won an incredible 73 titles on the national and international stages, including eight World Championship medals (4 gold), 14 European Championship medals, 38 British Championship titles and 13 Commonwealth Games medals (4 gold). In 1996 Karen broke her back in a car accident that would have finished the career of a lesser athlete. This accident became a motivation for Karen and her performance at the 2002 Commonwealth Games was testimony to this after she won two Gold Medals, one Silver and was given the honour of carrying the English flag at the closing ceremony of the Games. She was awarded an MBE in 1994 for her services to swimming.
7