With the winter months creeping in, soup is one of those super versatile and hearty foods that you can enjoy anytime for any meal, and we have some soup winners from around the world, and of course right here at home!

It can be fancy or simple and homely; either way, you’re sure to come away satisfied!

Soup can also be really healthy and nutritious which is a bonus. Each country has its winning soup recipe with its own unique style and captures the countries flavours.

Some examples of soups from around the world include:

• Minestrone soup, which hails from Italy and is commonly made with beans, onions, celery, carrots and tomatoes and often includes pasta.

• In China, hot and sour soup, includes a number of spices from ginger, white pepper and spicy chilli paste and has quite the zing.

• Spain is renowned for their Gazpacho soup, which is a cold, tomato-based soup typically combining ingredients such as cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, jalapeno, garlic, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, salt and pepper.

• France and their French Onion Soup is simply delicious, caramelizing onions over a low heat until it gets to that sweet flavour and is quite brothy. Traditionally topped with a slice of French bread and grated gruyere cheese then broiled before serving.

• Miso Soup is the ultimate staple soup in Japanese cuisine. It’s made with dashi broth mixed with miso paste. Along with dashi, miso is a traditional food that’s one of the fundamental ingredients of Japanese cooking

• In India the national soup is mulligatawny soup. This is a fragrant recipe that is spiced with curry and made with creamy lentils, carrots, apples and coconut milk.

• Grilled chicken tortillaMexican soup is loaded with filling toppings like grilled chicken, fire-roasted tomatoes and a tequila cream. Fast, flavourful, fun and filling! Can be served with fried tortilla strips

• Harira is the national soup of Morocco and is known to be a staple food eaten traditionally during the month of Ramadan, when the tomato-based soup is served with a side of dates and a honey-soaked sweet treat known as chebakyafollowing a day of fasting. It is filled with lentils and vermicelli noodles or rice to thicken the mixture, as well as chickpeas and a blend of fresh herbs and spices. Its roots, however, spread across the North African region known as the Maghreb, of which Morocco is a part.

Sean Granger, General Manager of Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, shares some local South African favourites that will definitely have you “heating up your kitchen for winter to keep the chill at bay.”

Artichoke Soup

Ingredients

• 800g tinned artichoke
• 3 white onions, diced
• 100g butter
• 3 large potatoes, roughly chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 3 sticks of celery, chopped
• 3L veg stock
• 100ml double cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

• In a heavy based pot, melt the butter on medium heat.
• Add the onions and celery and sauté until the onions become soft and translucent.
• Add the carrots, potatoes and garlic.
• Continue to cook for about 5 min.
• Pour in the stock, turn the heat up until it begins to rapidly boil, then turn it down until it becomes a gentle simmer.
• Once cooked for almost an hour with the lid off, add the artichokes, minus the brine.
• Continue to cook for a further 15 min, adding more stock if needed.
• Remove from the stove and blend the soup until it is smooth.
• Pass the soup through a fine sieve.
• Once done, heat up the soup with some cream, add salt and pepper to taste before you serve.

Tomato & Apple Soup

Ingredients

• 2tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• ½large yellow onion,minced
• 2clovesgarlic,minced
• 5large ripe soft tomatoes
• 2large sweet apples,peeled and roughly chopped
• 4cupsvegetable broth
• 2teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1teaspoondill
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of Cayenne pepper
• pecorino cheeseif desired and to taste

Method

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat.
• Add minced onion and garlic, and cook for a few minutes, stirring often until onion is translucent.
• Add roughly chopped tomatoes and apples.
• Sprinkle with salt.
• Cook, stirring often, for 20 minutes until apples are tender.
• Pour in the boiled vegetable broth.
• Bring all to a boil.
• Remove from the heat.
• Puree in blender until very smooth.
• To serve, garnish the soup with grated cheese.

Coconut and Prawn Soup

Ingredients

• 400g raw prawns, shells removed
• 400g coconut cream
• 2tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
• 1 pinch of chili flakes
• 400ml thick cream
• 1tbsp cumin powder
• 1tbsp coriander powder
• 2tbsp turmeric
• 1tsp fish sauce
• 1tsp sugar
• 20g cucumber, seeds removed and chopped
• 1 sprig of fennel, stems removed

Method

• In a sauce pan pour the coconut cream and heat up on medium heat.
• To this, add the cumin, coriander powder, chili and fresh coriander.
• Stir the mixture together until it has completely combined.
• Add the turmeric and stir before pouring in the cream.
• Once the sauce has thickened and it resembles a thick sauce, add the fish sauce and sugar at the same time.
• Cook for a further 2 minutes before introducing the prawns.
• Continue to cook on medium heat until the prawns have cooked through.
• Check the seasoning before serving.
• Garnish with the fennel.

So, from the team at Granny Mouse, stay safe and warm! And if you can’t pop in to visit your “favourite Granny” in the Midlands, at least we will keep you snug with our hearty homemade soup recipes!

“It’s true to say that business networking is about making contacts, not only with customers and clients”, says Granny Mouse Country House & Spa General Manager, Sean Granger. “It’s also a way to create connections with others which may at some point become turn into a business relationship,” he added.

Although many people associate networking with gaining something, that is not always the case. It’s really important to note it is about developing trusting relationships and, sometimes even lifetime friendships, with other like-minded folk in business.

Effective networking enables you to help each other, especially in these trying times during COVID which have effectively closed down many small businesses.

Admittedly, 2020 was really difficult to be able to interact with others, however, we are able to do so now, albeit with some social distancing rules in place. And bearing in mind, we don’t have tons of time to attend seminars and the like, so grabbing a coffee or catching up over a lunch helps you stay abreast of new developments and practices in your field.

Below are some networking guidelines that the Granny Mouse GM follows:

• Attend Business Networking Events – The first step in successful networking is knowing where you should go to make connections. Find out what events, even if online at the moment, are in your field, or in your area.
• Choose a goal – It’s hard to get what you want out of your networking endeavours if you don’t start with a clear goal.
• Get Social in your off hours – Just because you’re “off the clock” doesn’t mean it’s time to stop networking. After some conferences hosted at Granny Mouse, Sean Granger has seen delegates go on a mountain bike ride together after their “meet and greet” as well as outside on the Granny Mouse lawn, networking during a pilates class.
• Know your worth! – It’s not enough to provide your clients with a great product or service. If you can’t articulate what it is you do, then you can’t hope to convey that information at networking events.
• Identify conversational ice-breakers – If you want to overcome initial awkwardness and make a good first impression, consider opening with a compliment, or, similarly, asking a work related question which gives that person the chance to talk about themselves and what they do.
• Bring a buddy – Sometimes starting conversations with strangers is easier if you have a familiar face by your side. If you have a friend or co-worker who’s also looking to expand their network, consider attending professional events as a two-some.
• Overcome introversion – If you’re naturally shy, having success in networking can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are some strategies for overcoming introversion and making connections. First, consider brainstorming ice-breakers before a networking event, so you don’t have to come up with ideas on the spot. Second, feel free to take a breather if you get overwhelmed. Go to the restroom, take a walk, or grab a coffee.
• Find a reason to follow up – Making connections is only half the battle; you also have to take steps to keep the relationship going. Even if you aren’t currently job hunting, strive to reach out to your contacts a few times a year to follow up. You could forward a relevant article, invite them to a seminar or conference, or even just send a friendly note during the holidays.
• Don’t be negative – When searching for conversation starters, avoid speaking negatively about former companies or co-workers or what’s going on in the news – always try and find that “positive thought or topic”!
• Don’t be selfish – Whether you’re chatting at a chamber of commerce event or attending an informational meeting, it’s important to remember that networking is about give and take. If you’re always the person asking for favours, the relationship is unlikely to last.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want – We all need help now and again. If you want your networking efforts to be a success, you have to be bold enough to ask for assistance. Before attending that next meet up or seminar, make sure you can articulate what it is that you’re seeking and what you can offer in exchange! Both parties must mutually benefit.

So, when you’re at Granny Mouse for your next networking session or hosting a conference, by all means, use the above guidelines that suit you and help grow your business back up!