Spring Vegetable Soup - Heinz

Back to the daily grind! And to be fair to Monday, I'm feeling pretty positive about the week ahead. I'm still on the fitness train and its looking good. I managed to control myself and not over indulge too much on the weekend, granted I ate 4 slices of pizza but at least it wasn't a whole one for once. 

Moving on from that misshap, I've started my day with a tasty protein shake... Mmmm... So now I'm hank marvin! (Starving). Today I was pretty rushed and forgot to bring lunch with me to work, luckily a friend at work saved the day and gave me a can of Heinz spring vegetable soup. I can't say I have ever tired or heard of this flavour of soup and seeing as we are entering spring (I think and hope) it would be rude not to give it a go.

The verdict:

Yum yum in my Tum! This was a pleasant surprise. It was full of carrots, swede and peas, it was vegtastic! It has a very delicate flavour, perfectly seasoned, with the added extra of rice. The rice really added to the flavour, it was that sometimes over powering basmati rice, it was more subtle, kind of like a risotto rice. It was warming and wholesome, a real tasty treat for a Monday lunch time.

Souper rating: 5 out of 5 - I really can't find fault with this soup. Like paint, it's done exactly what it said on the tin. Thanks again Heinz! 

Chicken Noodle Soup - Weight Watchers

One more day to go till the wonderful weekend arrives, and with fitness still in the fore front of my mind I'm doing good. My mood is temperamental but I guess that's the lack of sweets, cakes and carbs, I feel good for it. Honest. I think.

Anyway lunch time! I'm starving!!! I have decided to go for a chicken and noodle weight watchers Heinz special. I always see this brand and wonder if these specially designed products are really that good for people watching there weight. Do they actually help? Well my question was soon answered by none other than my mum. She did the weight watchers plan, which involves points counting and eating from the weight watchers range. She even had a cook book that had some nice recipes. It actually worked for her she lost a fair bit of weight just by following their rules. Me on the other hand, I don't like rules, I would just deviate and eat crap in protest. I'm not sure this soup will end well, but I'm going to give it a try, what's the worst that could happen? 

The verdict:

What was my mum thinking?! This is madness!! It's not soup, it's water with mini jellied eels squirming around in it. It was so off putting I couldn't eat it all. Thank god for wholemeal pitta breads! 

It was like pure water with little to no seasoning, there was a couple of bits of token sweet corn too, they had more taste than anything else in that soup.

I just don't get it, why make a soup that is tasteless and has little to no substance? Especially in this day and age where we have Jamie Oliver and co, telling us how we can eat healthy and cook food with out bursting the bank.

Souper rating: 0.5 out of 5 - This will not only help you lose weight, but it may make you feel slightly depressed. Sorry weight watchers, please just add a little salt.  

Chickpea & Spinach Soup - M NuMe (Morrisons)

Happy hump day! Only half way to go!
For some reason I keep thinking it's Thursday and then realising its not, and then feel absolutely devastated... can you tell I've run out of enthusiasm this week?
Anyways, its not so bad it's lunch time and i'm ready for my soup. I ventured to the local Morrisons with a friend from work. I made a beeline for the canned soup aisle, but was then swayed by the smell of fresh bread baking away, so I had to make a mini detour to fantasize and drool over the freshly baked treats that taunt me... back on the soup mission!
I never realised how many soup varieties are actually out there, there's just so much choice. I decided to pick one from a brand I had never heard of before, I chose a can of Chickpea & Spinach Soup - M NuMe... M NuMe? Not sure about the name to be honest, feels like the branding guys set themselves high expectations with this one. NuMe = new me? Really? Am I actually going to be a new person after eating this soup? Well I'm going to give it a try and if I don't turn into a rich princess I want my money back!

The verdict:

So I'm not a princess and my pocket is 45 pence lighter. BUT, I am full and pleasantly satisfied. This soup is pretty good, not only is it 1 of your 5 a day, but its packed with goodness and stays true to its packaging selling point, its healthy and full of tasty ingredients. As for the packaging, it turns out that the M in the NuMe brand is actually Morrisons! It's really hard to tell at a first glance, it makes me question there branding team though, why cover up that this is in fact a Morrsions own soup? weird...

At first I thought this would taste like a Indian chana massala curry, It had the consistency and look of one. The taste then reigned my view in a little, it has a Indian taste to it, but in a good way its not over powering. It tastes really healthy and in my book that's a good start to a good soup. My only issue with this soup is the consistency, at first it looked nice and stodgy, but then after the 2 and half minute heat up in the microwave it was quite runny. I didn't have a big issue with this as it is a soup and that's how soups generally are. I just felt it need a bit more thickness to it, a bit more gloop, and I mean good gloop, not the kind you get congealed on top of last nights curry left overs. 

Souper rating: 4 out of 5 - Morrisons you did good. Not only did you create a NEW tasty soup, but a whole newly branded range. I can't wait to see whats to come!

Texan Four Bean Chilli Soup - Glorious!

It's Tuesday and the week is going pretty well thankfully. I've taken yesterdays motivation and gone with it! I'm back on the fitness wagon and still trying to think thin... well less fat.

To go with this upbeat, positive drive I currently have, I have chosen to go for a Glorious! soup. I haven't tried this range before, but I was immediately sold by the unusual flavours they have on offer. They range from Singapore crushed tomato to Cuban creamed corn, to a New England butternut squash soup. These are possibly the most inventive soups I have ever heard of, they all have such fun names and sound like they will take you on a beautiful soup journey...arwwwwwwwwwww

For me, my journey had to be the Texan Four Bean Chilli soup from the aptly named skinnylicious sub range. I love chilli and I love beans! Plus since I have been reading up on chilli pepper and their value I have learnt a lot. They originated from the Americas and belong to the fruit family. Not only do they taste delicious but they are a great aphrodisiac, and can help speed up your metabolism... pass me the chilli!!

The verdict:

I wouldn't say this is glorious, but I would say it's tasty and has its plus points. It was a good soup, there is an abundance of flavours that open up the taste buds. I was definitely taken on a journey, but it felt like a slightly confused one, the title of the soup says Texan, but I feel like went there via India. This wasn't a bad thing, it was more unexpected, and unexpected delight. this soup is certainly not for the faint heart, it packs a mad punch of chilli that awakens the sense... lets just hope it awakens my metabolism whilst its at it!

Its a soup full of beans, tomato, rice, and some really al dente onion chunks which are now starting to repeat on me, not that you wanted to know that, nor does the poor guy who has to sit next to me in the office.

Souper rating: 4 out of 5 - A really yummy soup that has taken me on a worldwide adventure this lunchtime! I will certainly be back to take another Glorious tour!

Carrot & Parsnip Soup - Morrisons

Happy Monday! Here's to a fresh week full of positivity!
Over the weekend I really slobbed out, I was self loathing, and to try and make myself feel better I ate a whole bag of mini eggs. I couldn't understand why I wasn't feeling great about myself... I then turned to Facebook for some comfort. It was here I read a quote from The Body Coach - "You won't win everyday. Just don't let a bad day of eating become a bad week. Wake up, reset and go again 🔥💪🏽😀" - This was just the pick me up I needed, it's given me the motivation to forget about the mini eggs and think about the week ahead.
So today I have chosen to go for a can of Morrisons own brand carrot and parsnip soup. I have never had a Morrisons soup, nor have I ever had the pleasure of trying a carrot and parsnip soup. Every time I go to type the name of this soup I instantly want to put, ... and coriander, that's the common pairing for a carrot soup, right? However, I am very intrigued to say the least, I love parsnips in all forms so this should be a treat!

The verdict:

Considering I'm not feeling particularly hungry as I'm trying to think thin, this is a very filling soup, its not the thoughts, its definitely the soup.
I was a little dubious at first, as when I opened the can it looked a cross between lumpy sick and baby food. Then as I poured the can, I pretty much felt the same about it. But like they say, "the proof is in the pudding", or in this case... the soup.

Its was actually quite nice, a sweet peppery flavour, enhanced by the weirdly small chunks of parsnip. It actually reminded me of carrot and swede mash my mum would make when I was a kid. The creaminess really adds to the taste of this soup, it really stands out in the after taste making you feel all warm and satisfied inside. 

This really is a nice soup, I'm very surprised to be honest. As shocked as I sound, I think this boils down to brand misconception. My mental image of Morrisons own food is that it's cheap, and made full of cheap produce, I can safely say I'm wrong. I would happily eat this soup again. 

The only downfall for this soup is the lumps, it really could do without them. I also think if a soup is meant to be put through a blender then it shouldn't have any bits, it should be smooth and stick to its guns and stay true to its blended self. And likewise for a chunky soup, it should be full of big bold pieces and have a bite to it. 

Souper rating: 3.5 out of 5 - Its a really tasty soup once you get past the mental image of yourself throwing up a bowl and the eating it.

Minestrone Soup - Heinz

It's Lunchtime! Which means it's soup time!
I'm actually really looking forward to having soup today seeing as my routine was rudely interrupted by work trying to better my skills. I'm not bitter, I thoroughly enjoyed my training in the big smoke. I just missed having my warm bowl of soup, and the 20 minutes of typing a poorly written blog.
Today I have chosen one of the Heinz classic variety, minestrone soup. I do like a good minestrone soup, although, I can say I have never tried the Heinz variety, so I will be able to compare it mentally to ones I have had in the past.
Minestrone to me is something people either love or hate. When I first asked a friend what they thought about minestrone they said it was a watery, bland soup that really isn't worth wasting time over... This point was soon proven wrong.
I moved house roughly a year ago near to a village called Hartley Wintney, it was here that I realised minestrone doesn't have to be the way my friend described. The local Italian restaurant (Bellini) serve minestrone as the house soup, and its absolutely delicious! Its a wonderfully lightly spiced soup full of vegetables, beans, and tiny pieces of cute looking pasta all in a perfectly seasoned broth.
I never usually order soup in restaurants, I save them for the working week. But on this occasion something inside me said "try the soup, try a true Italian soup". One of the best decisions I ever made.

The verdict:

I think I am going to stick to either making my own minestrone soup, or ordering it from my local Italian. It was an acceptable tasting soup, nothing truly awful about it. It just didn't wow me, and to be honest it didn't feel satisfying. 

The consistency is very runny, not watery, but runny. It felt like there was no real bite to it unless you got a piece of veg or a bean. Granted it was full of 'bits', but these bits were not very appealing, nor did they look it. The soup tasted like someone had mixed a can of baked beans with a can of tomato spaghetti, then threw in a handful of cheap frozen mixed veg. Oh and a hand full of old dried out mixed herb leaves. It just isn't comparable to the minestrone's I've had in the past, whether that be from a restaurant or a fresh tub from the supermarket.

Souper rating: 2.5 out of 5 - I'm not really sure this should be called a minestrone soup, but who am I? I'm not part of the soup police, I'll leave it up to the experts to name a soup so I can just approve or criticise.  

Mushroom Soup With Wholegrain Black Rice - Yorkshire Provender

Well I've made it to Friday thank God! This week feels like it's gone on for ages, it's been one of those weeks... whatever that saying actually means. To me it means it's been long, tedious, full of running around and feeling like I've not actually ever slept in my whole life (I know that's impossible, I'm being a drama queen).
So you maybe able to tell that this week hasn't been great. I am being a ray of sun shine today... whatever, let's just hope my souper lunchtime will perk me up!
I have decided to go for another soup from the Yorkshire Provender range. I loved the one I had the other day so much that I am hoping this perfectly portioned soup will help me get through the next 3 and a half hours of my day. The souper flavour of choice is mushroom and wholegrain black rice. I wouldn't usually go for a soup which is primarily mushroom as too much of mushroom can be a very over powering flavour, but with this being from the same range as the souper hit Yorkshire Provender, I thought it must be a good one. It has all the right highlights, it's gluten free, full of natural goodness, vegetarian friendly, and the whole pot is one of my 5 a day...SOLD! Sold for £1.50, - a bit higher than I'd like to pay for a soup but it's Friday so I'm allowing it.

The verdict:

Why isn't it 5.30 pm yet?! Can you tell this soup has not helped? I don't want to completely write it off as I am still trying to eat it... well force it down. I should have gone with my instincts - mushroom soups should not be eaten at lunchtime or on their own. Even though the black rice adds texture and is perfectly cooked with that added bite, the mushroom is still too over powering. It's not only the taste that's not very pleasant, it's the look and smell too. 

It resembles what I can only describe as frogs spawn. I don't know why this didn't put me off in the first place. The grey, gungy consistency mixed with pearl sized lumps of black spawn rice really doesn't work for a soup. And the smell, oh God the smell... it's all too much. As I ate this soup it felt like I was being slapped in the face with a dirty old sports sock, but I guess that was the cheese showing its ugly, badly used self in this situation. Don't get me wrong I love a good cheese, but this combination is not working. In fact it's making me feel physically sick the more I think about it being digested in my stomach. 

I would love to know who in their right mind created this and said "Yes, That's a tasty soup, lets mass produce it and sell it!"

Souper rating: 1 out of 5 - 1 for branding. Its just awful, and that's not just because I've had a bad week, its a genuinely awful tasting soup. Sorry Yorkshire Provender but i'll stick to the chicken.

Cream Of Tomato Soup - Heinz

So I've missed a few Souper days... I was busy with work and venturing into the big smoke for a work related event. I was then easily swayed away from soup due to the millions of eateries that line the streets of London. But i'm back in the office today and back on the soup!
Today's soup treat is the classic Heinz cream of tomato, this soup is truly a classic, I would go as far to say its an ole reliable. This has definitely been a staple throughout my life, I can relate to a Heinz Tomato soup. Its been there for me in my time of need, when I have been ill and want nothing more than that creamy velvet texture in my tum to make the illness go away. And not to mention the amazing combination this soup and some cheese on toast!! Its just epic!! A perfect way to lift any mood swings that may be occurring.

The verdict:

Just as I anticipated, winner winner chicken dinner!! This soup is the simply classically the BEST! The flavour of creamy sweet tomatoes are exquisite. I cant fault this soup. The whole can is a perfect portion, its really fulfilling and hits the spot. I think some people may find a purely tomato soup boring and a bit too much of the same thing, which I can totally understand. But that's why I think this is a soup that can only be eaten when your feeling low or not very well. As if I had to eat this soup everyday or on a regular basis I think I would end up hating it. 

Souper rating: 5 out of 5 - This is in my top 5, its always a winner, it never fails to make my tummy smile, and its just beautifully simple. Its a bowl full of emotion therapy suitable for anyone struggling to get through the working day.

Roast Chicken Soup With Traditional Veg - Yorkshire Provender

Back on the soup! Yesterday I felt a little under the weather and decided on eating banana on toast for lunch, I soon realised why I haven't eaten this since I was 10yrs old... eurgh.
Whilst perusing the aisles of Tesco I came across some special offer fresh soups. £1 for a perfectly portioned soup, the portion size being 400g. This is what soups should be, I know I have ranted about this previously, but its true this is the right size to feel fulfilled. So I feel like i'm off to a good start, but then again some do say size isn't everything.
I have chosen to go for a Yorkshire Provender range, the roast chicken and traditional veg option. I have never heard of this range before but I am totally sold by the packaging. It's very exciting, advertising healthy facts, telling me to feel loved, oh, and that it's gluten free, I feel like i'm winning today!

The verdict:

yum yum yum! This is one tasty fresh soup, in each bite you feel like something fresh is going in. The consistency is almost stew like with torn chunks of chicken and light cubed pieces of carrot, celery, parsnip. Its full of homely comforting flavours, but that maybe because of the amount of cream added to this moreish soup. It's not too thick and not to runny, its just right, So much so I think Goldie locks would approve.

Although the veggies to chicken ratio is very acceptable, I would say they should re-evaluate the amount of leek added. Its just that bit to stringy which makes it a little hard to eat in a delicate manner. I say this as most of the time I have a desk lunch, and I am sat with colleagues whom have had the fun of seeing me with stringy green veggies all down my face today. Its not to bad though as I got enjoyment out of  the soup and so did they.

Souper rating: 4 out of 5 - A really tasty soup! I will definitely be exploring the other flavours from the range. Its healthy, tasty, and portion control has been taken into account even though I could of eaten a ton more, but that's me just being a greedy pig.

Tuscan Style Bean, Bacon & Pecorino Soup - Baxters

Woo hoo! It's Friday and I am definitely ready for the weekend, it's been one of those weeks...

Lunchtime! And I am ravished, I really cant wait for lunch today, I had an absolute disaster of a dinner last night. For some reason I thought I would be clever and multi task, I put together an array of fresh vegetables, seasoned them and popped them in the oven. I obviously thought my job was done as I went off to have a shower, do the laundry, play with and feed the dog. I thought my evening was falling into place quite smoothly, but that was until I saw smoke coming from the kitchen. I burnt the dinner. Lesson learnt. 

So I'm super hungry and have chosen to go with a Tuscan Style Bean, Bacon & Pecorino Soup from the new Baxters hearty range. I can't say I have ever tried a Baxters soup before, so i'm a Baxters virgin this Friday lunchtime! 

The packaging has a very rustic feel to it, making the hearty words feel very intriguing. I love lentils and beans so I have high hopes for this one.

The verdict:

Well this is definitely a hearty soup, but I would go a step further and say it is more of a heartburn soup... 

When I first opened the can, I thought, wow this could be really good, there's lots of beans, peppers and even slices of courgette, never seen them in a soup before. This nice surprise was soon on the decline one spoon at a time. It reminded me of a cheap ready made bolognese sauce that has way too much oregano in it. This flavour is just way to over powering and takes over any other entity in the soup. As for the Pecorino, where has that got to? I just couldn't find it or taste it, yet its in the title of the soup, along with bacon, which I can only assume has been used as a salty seasoning to compliment the oregano. 

Going back to the heart burn, the beans, I love beans, but these beans were really not soft enough. It's almost as though they needed soaking for an extra 24 hours. 

The soup overall was edible and was OK. As I didn't have any real expectations i'm not disappointed. In fact the soup provided me with some nostalgia, taking me back to my university days when I had no proper interest in food and would buy a microwavable spaghetti bolognese for a quick fix before a night of drinking commenced. 

Souper rating: 2 out of 5 - If you love oregano this is the soup for you. It hasn't done the great bean variety any justice, but it's heart was in the right place. Not bad, but not great. 

Carrot & Coriander Soup - Waitrose

On today's menu I have chosen to go for a carrot & coriander soup. I wouldn't usually go for this particular flavour but today I felt like trying a can for the greater good, and to see if I can be swayed into liking carrot & coriander soup.
Instead of the usual lunchtime fitness walk I headed into town with a friend/colleague, where the luscious green lights of Waitrose shine. Seeing as Waitrose pride them selves on quality produce I thought this may be my best chance to get a can that wont disappoint.

The verdict:

Hmm, well, its easy to say I am not impressed, not disappointed just not impressed. At first glance the contents of the can had a delightful sunshine feel to it, but then I poured, the pouring was the beginning of the end. The soup flowed out like water does from a lime scaly tap. 

Its a rather confusing texture, its incredibly runny but then has some sporadic tiny chunks of carrot floating among flakes of tasteless coriander. It is an edible soup but definitely opens the debate of whether soup is food or drink. I will always say it is a food but can see why people think otherwise, this is a good example for a non food believe to use in a justification battle.

Souper rating: 1.5 out of 5 - It just didn't cut the mustard for me. It was well seasoned and had an OK flavour to it, but it was borderline seasoned water so not really one I would want to waste valuable lunchtime time on. 

Chunky Vegetable soup with red split lentils - New Covent Garden Soup Co

Today is Wednesday hump day, and i'm feeling like I've caught the hump, but I think i'm just hungry to be honest. I really fancy a soup that is not only factually healthy, but one that tastes it when sipping and biting.

I have chosen a Covent Garden soup, I never buy these soups as I have always thought they are over priced for what they are (£2, that's 2 whole pounds for 600g of soup, that's 2 very small portions of soup or one huge one that's too much). I usually consider them more style over substance, but today I have been sucked in by the pretty milk carton packaging, and the fact this vegetable soup has sweetcorn in it!? I absolutely love sweetcorn, some would say its not a healthy love, but frankly, I just don't give a dam. Plus you never see sweetcorn in a vegetable soup, its usually paired with chicken or something Thai.

The verdict:

Its not hot, its not spicy, its just extremely peppery! woah! This soup has pepper in it, that's clearly evident from the first taste. Aside from this it is a very tasty soup, the chunky vegetables have a perfect texture, with a satisfying bite to the carrots and ever so soft parsnips and swede. The sweetcorn is a massive curve ball with this soup, its almost not right. For me to say that is a statement seeing as I have declared my love for them on the world wide web. The small bursts are delicious alone, but when mixed with sweet parsnip and a ton of pepper, it just does click for me. 

Having got past the pepperiness, I can say I am full and satisfied. 

Even though I said previously I thought this soup was rather expensive, I may have to take this back. How much should a fresh soup cost? Especially a fresh soup that contains fresh ingredients and no crazy words that I don't understand. It's a tasty soup, it did its job, and I am nearly over the hump for the day, so its helped really.

Souper rating: 3.5 out of 5 - Even if my breath smells like I've been sucking on peppercorns, its a good one, Covent Garden can have my business back again.

  

Lentil & Bacon soup - Heinz

Back to the daily grind... After my wondrous Cornish weekend away I am back to work on this fine sunny Tuesday! I feel refreshed and mega excited for today's souper treat!

I have gone for an old classic today, Lentil & Bacon. I haven't had this soup in years, maybe even as long as a decade. But something inside me is saying 'I want lentils'. I chose to go with the Heinz variety, I feel this will be the safe bet seeing as they are the most well known soup brand in the world, and the lentils wont be too baby food like, will they?

The verdict:

Well, I feel relatively fulfilled, not over enthralled or balled over by this soup, but just OK. I think I had a mental expectation of the lentils being in the form of a Indian Daal consistency, this was not the case. The texture of the soup was mushy and wobbly, this was the initial feeling I got when it was sat in my confused mouth. I shouldn't of been too surprised by this, as at first glance when I poured the contents of the can into my bowl it resembled a mixture of baby food and regurgitated sick. 

I'm not one to give up too easily so I continued to eat this congealed concoction. Once heated up the soup changed, slightly, the wobbliness loosened up. The flavours are subtle and heart warming, the bacon actually tastes like bacon and is an pleasant salty delight. The lentils and chunks of carrot still have a bite to them and help add variety to this predominately split yellow pea soup. This is definitely a classic traditional soup.

Souper rating: 2.5 out of 5 - This definitely an acquired taste. If you can get over the gelatinous texture and you are feeling a little under the weather, then you will probably enjoy this. Unfortunately I wont be in a hurry to buy this again any time soon.