Quick and easy pumpkin soup

Now the nights are drawing in and it's cold outside, there's nothing better than a bowl of homemade soup to warm you up on your return from an Autumn walk. 

I spotted a small culinary pumpkin in the supermarket for just £1 so, as it's Autumn I thought I'd make a seasonal soup. I kept it very simple and as well as the pumpkin used just two potatoes, an onion and vegetable stock for the soup.

I sautéed the onion first, before adding the pumpkin and potatoes, allowing them to soften for a couple of minutes before adding about a pint of vegetable stock (I usually just measure by eye how much stock is needed, ensuring the soup mix is all covered). Once the soup had been brought to the boil, I left it to simmer for about half an hour until the pumpkin was soft. Then I just blended the mixture until it was smooth and it was as simple as that. Whilst the soup was simmering, I roasted the pumpkin seeds and used them to garnish the soup.

Served with a buttery baguette it made for the perfect weekend lunch.

Columbia Road Flower Market

Last weekend I was looking for something to do on Sunday and came across the Columbia Road flower market online. The reviews were good so it looked worth the journey.

We arrived at 10.30 and it had been open since 8 so it was already packed. The stalls were beautiful however and we walked up and down the market several times taking it all in.

There was everything from cut flowers to shrubs to exotic palms and the prices were surprisingly reasonable. 

I couldn't resist a beautiful box of 30 autumnal coloured gerberas which were just £5 and I was tempted by a bougainvillea tree so we went and had a cup of tea in a quaint cafe on the road before I went back to buy it. Handily most stores accept card payments which saved me a trip to an ATM. 

The gerberas brightened up the fireplace and gave it a cosy Autumn feel.

I would like to go back again, perhaps nearer to Christmas when the Christmas trees and wreaths are for sale, but I'd aim to get there earlier to try and avoid the crowds.