My days here in New Zealand are now filled with chilly mornings, gloomy afternoons which turn dark quickly around 4pm and overnight non-stop rains. With the baby in the house, new routines are slowly set into place and I’m getting used to waking up at odd hours, tiptoeing into the freezing kitchen to warm up the milk.

Although I would never say no to a juicy piece of smoked hickory barbecued ribs, but in a dripping wet weather like this, there’s nothing better than a hearty bowl of delicious soup to help warm up.

PICK ME UP SOUP

Ingredients:
* 2 pcs carrots, cubed
* 2 pcs potato, peeled & cubed
* little bit of zucchini
* spring onions
* 2 pcs of medium tomato, quartered
* little bit of celery stalk
* 2 cups of beef broth
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 3 pcs crushed garlic
* sprinkle of nutmeg
* 1 pcs of cinnamon stick
* 4 pcs cloves
* 1 pc bay leave
* 3 pcs cardamoms
* salt, sugar, pepper to taste

Cooking Directions:
1.) Cook onions & garlic until fragrant
2.) Add carrots & potato
3.) Pour in beef broth, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, bay leave, cardamoms, salt + pepper
4.) Once carrot is cooked, add zucchini, celery & tomatoes
5.) Cook for another 10 mnts
6.) Ready to serve

* sprinkle of fried shallots upon serving