Super Duper Easy Chorizo Soup & Homemade Bread

A while ago I posted the recipe and method for making your own bread:

http://erinsthoughtson.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/homemade-bread.html

This is the cheat's way with the little packet of dried yeast, not with a sourdough starter made from scratch, I'll try that one another day...

The second rise, the top of the fire is a perfect warm spot!

Since then I've also discovered that kids enjoy making bread as it is almost like playdough. They can form their portion into whatever shape they like but then there's the added benefit of baking & eating it too!

Here is our latest example- my very boring long loaf (before rising) and my daughter's pretty awesome figure of a girl, complete with hair, eyes and fingers.

My daughter's bread- a girl and a small bun.

The baked bread, including dismembered 'girl' in a chorizo soup bath...

I thought I'd also share the perfect companion recipe for fresh bread; delicious, quick and simple Chorizo Soup.

My family loves this delicious soup and it is so easy as it has only 5 ingredients and takes just 10 minutes to make:

CHORIZO SOUP RECIPE (makes 3 large bowls)

Ingredients:

- 2 chorizo

- 1 tin of tomatoes- I like to use Val Verde 'Gourmet'

- I tin of chickpeas- I like Edgell as they have a nice consistency

- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced or finely chopped

- a good handful of continental parsley

- salt and cracked black pepper to taste (if needed at all)

Method:

1- Slice the chorizo thinly (about 2mm) on a slight angle- add to a frying pan on high heat (don't worry about adding oil as plenty of grease will come out of the chorizo as they cook).

2- turn over each slice of chorizo to brown slightly on each side

3- add crushed garlic to the pan- allow to brown slightly, about 1 minute

4- add tomatoes to the pan- let this cook for a couple of minutes, stirring

5- fill the empty tomato tin with water and add that to the pan

6- drain and rinse chickpeas (rinse properly) and add them too

7- wash and chop the parsley and add that too

8- bring to the boil for a minute or so then serve

9- season with salt and pepper if you need to, but the chorizo generally have plenty of flavour.

YUM!!

You can substitute chickpeas for berlotti beans, parsley for basil or add a chopped rasher or two of bacon to bulk it up. 

This serves 3 very nicely, but you can easily double the recipe for extra serves.