Today i have created a soup which is perfect for celebrating halloween/ Samhain, it is perfect for those cold nights, to eat outside while enjoying the celebrations or snuggled up on the sofa, I will give you the recipe and also the health benefits of the soup, it is vegan friendly and naturally sweet, it is low calorie and low fat so you can satisfy your sweet tooth without damaging your dieting.

Serves 2 : Calories 181 per serving

Carrots 400g
Red Onion x2 70 grams
Butternut Squash 140 grams
Oranges x3 juiced = approx half pint, 300ml
Mixed Herbs
Garlic Cloves x2
Black Pepper
Mixed Herbs
1 pint of water Coriander fresh (optional)

Method

Chop carrots, squash, garlic and onion season to taste with black pepper and mixed herbs, add to a large lidded saucepan pour in water, cover and bring to the boil, simmer for approx 15 minutes until the carrots are softened, uncover and boil for about 5-10 minutes until the water has evaporated to about half, add orange juice and simmer on a low heat for approx 1 hr covered, if you like your soup thicker uncover after an hour and turn heat up to allow liquid to reduce.

Blend until smooth, serve and garnish with some chopped coriander (optional)

The Health Benefits of Vegetables used in this soup. excerpts taken from the Readers Digest book Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal.

• Carrots : an excellent source of beta carotene, the plant form of Vitamin A, the body converts beta carotene into Vitamin A which is needed for healthy vision as well as the maintenance of mucous membranes ( sorry but they will not make you see in the dark) lol.
• Onions : May help to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Prevent blood clotting. Used as a decongestant in traditional medicine. Drawbacks : Can trigger migraines in susceptible people. Cause bad breath when eaten raw. Throughout history onions have been revered to as a natural cure-all.
• Butternut Squash : Belongs to the same family as pumpkins and other winter squash, play a particularly important role in a vegetarian diet where animal products are not available to provide Vitamin A, they to like carrots are a good source of beta carotene, Vitamin E is found in useful amounts of pumpkin, Squashes are easily digested which makes them an excellent food for weaning, also in natural medicine pumpkin seeds are prescribed as a treatment for intestinal worms when used alongside a purgative such as castor oil.
• Oranges : Excellent source of Vitamin C, Contains Thiamin and Folate, and Pectin which may help lower blood cholesterol levels. Vitamin C helps to make collagen which is essential for healthy skin, Thiamine and Folate are 2 of the B Vitamins, Pectin is a soluble dietary fibre which is found in the membranes between segments, this is why it is more beneficial to each the fruit rather than just drink the juice.
• Garlic : Daily doses may help lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol, It acts as a nasal decongestant and has antiviral and antibacterial properties. Drawbacks : Makes the breath smell. May induce migraines and occasionally causes contact dermatitis. But most importantly will ward off vampires tonight……Herbalists and Naturopaths regard Garlic as a miracle food as is used as a remedy for dozens of complaints from Asthma to Arthritis.
• Black pepper : Stimulates digestion, eases flatulence, relieves constipation and improves circulation.
• Mixed Herbs in your diet : One way to use herbs for your health is in your diet, generally herbs have little nutritional value due to the small amounts used, (but are great for flavouring your food in my opinion), Herbs owe their medicinal properties and flavours in the essential oils they contain, they should be picked before the midday heat for maximum pugency.

If you make my soup please leave a comment below, good or bad and let me know of any tweaks you made, I hope you enjoy it.

Have a great day and if you are celebrating tonight stay safe and have fun xoxo

All recipe creations and photographs are mine unless stated otherwise, please feel free to use and share my work, but please link it back to me on here or any of my other social media accounts….