So often we think of peas in context with mashed spuds and sausages. Well here is something quite different, a recipe using the humble pea in a soup.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, peeled and sliced
• 25 butter or 2 tblsp oil
• 1 large potato, peeled and diced
• 1.25 (5 cups) chicken stock
• 750 packet frozen green peas
• ½ cream (optional)
• 2 chopped mint

Method

1. Heat the butter or oil in a large saucepan and add the onion. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then add the potato and stock
2. Bring to the boil and simmer 5 minutes. Add the peas, bring back to the boil, then simmer a further 5 minutes.
3. Place all the ingredients into a food processor and process well until smooth. You may like to do this in two batches. Return to the saucepan and add the cream if using. Season with salt and pepper.
4. To make the soup really smooth, you may like to pass the soup through a mouli. This is a little time consuming when you are in a hurry.
5. Add the mint just before serving and serve with warmed Blue Cheese Toasts.

Blue Cheese Toasts

1. Mix together 2 tblsp crumbled blue cheese with about ? cup grated cheddar. Grill one side of six slices of French bread, or bagel slices, turn over and top with equal quantities of cheese. Grill until golden. Serve warm.