[Madame Cholet]

same here pan and stick blender

[GrannieAnnie]

i used to use a saucepan and my kenwood chef blender but it just made more mess having to transfer the food to be blended and the stick blender was the same cost as the soup maker. i made butternut squash soup today for lunch, was lovely  

good idea about freezing the veg, never thought of that (not that we ever have much veg left over!)

I nearly always overdo the veg when I cook dinner symone, and as we can't give it to the chickens now..........    Perhaps I still forgetg there is only the 2 of us now!  

My stick blender was only a fiver in Tesco!

[Val H]

I paid about the same for a stick blender - just can't equate it being equal to a "soup maker" - not that I'd use one anyway - in my opinion a total waste of money.

[symonep]

I always over do the veg but we or ally have bubble and squeak on a Monday so gets used then, that is a good price for a stick blender, never really been a fan of them tough (maybe because the ones I have had in the past have been rubbish).

[Willow_Warren]

Really must get into making some home made soup.... Think it will be stick blender and saucepan for me, although if anyone is interested aldi have one on offer from next Thursday
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_27197.htm
No idea what it's like of course but little bit cheaper than the Lakeland one...

Hannah 

[LilacSandy]

Thanks Hannah,

I always find that Aldi stuff is quite good, but perhaps paying £40 when I already have the basic equipment is a bit self indulgent and I really want that greenhouse.

[Madame Cholet]

go for the greenhouse anytime

[sue anne]

I have had a soup maker for about a year now and have had some really lovely soups.  Gets me to eat my vegetables (which I don't like).  I don't know how to use it though as hubby does it all.  About 30 mins from start to finish, fantastic, wouldn't be without it.  Sorry folks 

[GrannieAnnie]

30 minutes?  I can make one in a saucepan in less than that sue anne! 

The one Joy and I saw at a show only took about 10 minutes.  The machine heated up the soup through the fast action of the whizzer thingy.  Still wouldn't pay loadsamoney for one though.

[symonep]

Ohhh I feel like a criminal now for owning a soup maker 

[Madame Cholet]

If it works for you that's all that maters.

[GrannieAnnie]

Ohhh I feel like a criminal now for owning a soup maker 

I agree with Madame Cholet Symone, if you have a soup maker and like it, then you are as happy as those of us who don't have one!   

The other thing is, slightly off topic, but does anyone else have a problem with where to keep these gadgets?  I have an under stairs cupboard, a tall and 2 short ones in the utility area, and a larder and  9 cabinets and 8 drawers in the kitchen, but they are all full of stuff and supplies that I use.  Had a job making space for my easiyo, bread machine and food processor last week!!!

[symonep]

i have 3 cupbords for food, the rest are filled with gadgets 

[compostqueen]

Gadgets! Don't you just love em    My husband bought me a food processor for Christmas with a huge set of attachments. All of which I have already got   

I just don't see the point of a soup maker.  Surely you make soup in a pan. Why do you need a machine to heat up a liquid?  Unless of course you don't have a cooker 

[sue anne]

I do know that hubby puts chopped up raw veg etc in with some stock, it chops it all up and cooks it and then it blends it to whatever thickness you want..  My soup maker stands on the side in the kitchen.  Not that big and doesn't look out of place.  I only know that I enjoy the soup and I get my portions of disliked veg in a very tasty form.  I do agree that it is whatever you are happy with and as I have never made soup in my life, in any way, this seemed a great idea at the time and we are still more than happy with it