In collaboration with Specially Selected Pork.
Here in Shetland, the light makes a rather dramatic return just after Up Helly Aa, Europe’s largest fire festival. All of a sudden it’s not pitch black in the middle of the afternoon and outdoor pursuits can last that little bit longer each day, weather permitting.
Despite a recent rather good spell of weather which allowed me to get out for a few longer mountain bike rides high wind speeds and dark, rainy clouds are making an appearance this week. It’s still cozy, comfort food and soup weather.
I confess I’ve had a rather sedentary winter – I let my fitness slide after my intensive outdoor pursuits of last summer. Too much work to catch up on after playing for so long outdoors, too few hours in the day!
Rest assured I’m back on track though and we’ve got some rather grand summer adventures planned. First, we’ve booked a package family holiday to the Spanish coast. I’ve never been to Spain, and our younger two children have never been out of the UK, so it’s all rather exciting. I hear it has to be done at least once in a lifetime, the whole cheesy package holiday deal – you know, family-friendly resort somewhere warm with a swimming pool and within walking distance of miles of pure white sandy beaches.
Not even an hour after we put a deposit on our family holiday I received an email from a PR. Would I like to go mountain biking in Italy? I’ve been invited on a press trip! I can’t go into more detail just now as I’m waiting on final confirmation of everything, but I can’t express just how excited I am about this.
Thirdly, I’m walking the length of Hadrian’s Wall this Spring with a friend. We’re backpacking it, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.
Summer bodies are made in the winter, I read recently, and this is very true in my case. Since the New Year, I’ve upped my mountain bike training so I can regain the fitness I lost during a sedentary indoor winter and an excess consumption of red wine and cheese over the festive period. This morning the wind will die down briefly, according to the BBC weather app, for a window of opportunity for me to cover a few miles on my rural back roads on the bike. Shetland single track roads offer the perfect HIIT workout due to the sharp elevation changes.
I’ve never owned a bikini, nor lounged about on a white sandy Spanish beach wearing one, and I want to. So, in addition to my increased fitness training, I’m trying to eat a bit more sensibly so I can feel confident enough to sport said bikini. My diet consists of protein and loads of veg, mainly, with some recovery carbs thrown in after an intensive workout.
I make no pains to hide the fact I am a meat-eater. I’m very much in support of local British farmers and will buy from Shetland and Scottish producers as much as I can.
When it comes to pork, look out for the Specially Selected Pork label as this is your guarantee, as a consumer, of the provenance, production methods and quality of the product you are buying, from farm to plate.
This label means that the farms and processors receive regular independent visits from the Scottish SPCA, Scotland’s animal welfare charity, so you can be confident that the pork you are buying has been reared to higher standards of animal health and welfare in Scotland.
In Shetland, The Scalloway Meat Company is a Specially Selected Pork supplier so I picked up my pork sausages for this soup recipe from them.
Healthy and naturally low in fat, Specially Selected Pork is incredibly versatile and easy to cook. For this recipe, I simply grilled the sausages and let them cool slightly before slicing and adding to a chunky and filling vegetable soup base. Easy peasy.
For a more substantial meal, you could always throw in a handful of orzo pasta.
For more pork recipe inspiration visit the Specially Selected Pork website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE <<<<
OTHER PORK SAUSAGE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Beer-Glazed Roast Iron Age Pork Sausages by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Sausage, Feta & Tomato Pie by Foodie Quine
Sweet Chilli Sausage Plait by Fab Food 4 All
Easy Sausage, Potato & Pepper Traybake by Supergolden Bakes
Pork & Garlic Sausage Rolls by Patisserie Makes Perfect
This is a sponsored recipe post in collaboration with Specially Selected Pork. Thank you for supporting the brands that make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my kitchen and share recipe stories.
Adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Loves bikes. Calls Shetland home.
ohmummymia says
looks delicious! Looks like I will not need to spend half of a day on it so I will try it
Flavio @ Adventurous Travels says
It looks so delicious – I love the soups with chunks of vegetable in them, especially with tomatoes and pepper. Have to try this but I’m not a big fan of sausages – I guess if I replace them with meat, it’s still be good though!
Jazz says
Im so happy I found your page! I always end up bookmarking your recipes. I can’t wait to try them. Excited that I found one for soup. Great for the weather we’re having.
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
I saw this over on Instagram and it instantly made my mouth water. This is my kind of soup!
Miles and Ellie says
I love a good soup and this looks absolutely fantastic. We love healthy and local ingredient recipes too!
CourtneyLynne says
Omg can we say yum?!?! This soup looks absolutely delicious. I just give it a try
Elizabeth O. says
That soup looks so comfroting. Perfect for the cold weather. I think it’s awesome that you have a lot of activities lined up. That trip to France is exciting!
OUR FAMILY WORLD says
very interesting sausage soup! it looks very tasty! i would loike to try this onee!
Derek | Dad With A Pan says
This looks SUPER comforting! Just what I need for this weather!
Natalie says
Soups in winter are the most comforting. I love a good hearty vegetable soup as I do not eat meat.
angie says
I am for sure a meat eater as well. While I love all types of food meatless meals is not something that comes easily in our house. Thanks for sharing the recipe sound like a good one
April says
I just finished eating ice cream and now I’m cold. This soup would warm me right up. It looks delicious!
Robin says
My favorite thing to cook is a great soup, and the only complaint I have is that sometimes I forget to write down what I’m putting in the recipe when it turns out amazing!
Crystal Gard says
This looks and sounds really good and easy to make. Going to bookmark this for later
Evelyn says
I made this today. It was so good. My husband and I loved it. Thank you
Wanderlust Vegans says
I love chuncky vegetable soups. Or even a good stew. We would forgo the pork though! Although we can get an amazing vegan sausage.
Author Brandi Kennedy says
This is pretty close to exactly what I made my family for dinner a few nights ago. It’s still a little chilly here as the evenings come on, but spring is on it’s way – still time to squeeze in a few more pots of good soup before sandwich-and-crudite season hits!
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed says
What a delicious looking bowl of soup, perfect comfort food. Pork sometimes gets a bad name for being bad for you but it’s good to see the specially selected pork label to indicate it’s low fat and a healthy meat to eat.
Dene' V. Alexander says
This looks like a big ol’ bowl of comfort!! Delicious
Vanessa says
This soup looks good! I’m always looking for a great soup to make on the winter days!
Jacqueline (PiperCooks) says
I’m in the same boat getting ready for summer! Lower carbs, mostly protein and vegetables too. Makes it tougher when I bake up a batch of cookies for my family, but I will persevere, lol. This soup looks like exactly what I need right now. You take such wonderful photos as well.
Meeta says
Oh Elizabeth I love soups like this – really spot on especially since we have had stormy cold weather the past few days!
New Labels Only says
This soups looks so delicious. I must have this now! The recipe is also not that hard to follow. I will be trying it this weekend for sure as it’s predicted to be a cold weekend!
Aish Das-Padihari says
This is something, I can eat everyday for dinner. Most of my curries look exactly like this. Loved your recipe.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
I love adding sausage to soup. So many kinds to choose from. This soup looks perfect for the cold rainy day we are having here. Love the leftovers too.
Fred says
I cannot even begin to imagine how cold it can get up there in Shetland and this will definitely be a great meal for that kind of weather. I love your recipe, I would love to try it with at least one Habanero.
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says
This soup looks especially hearty and filling. Those sausages look excellent too. Useful information too about the special selected pork label.
Marie-Pierre Breton says
Comfort food at its best! Love the super hearty soup of yours! A must do before winter ends!
Corina says
This is definitely my kind of food! I love these type of soups and often add sausages like this to one. You’ve also reminded me that I need to start working on my summer body as we have a family trip to Spain this year too!
Camilla says
Oh my Elizabeth, I have to try this soup, I know my family would love it as all huge sausage fans – beautiful photography (as always);-)
jacquee | i sugar coat it! says
Soups are definitely my favourite food in the winter months, although I would have no problem eating/drinking it year-round. This one looks deliciously hearty!
Angela says
This soup looks so delicious, I would love a bowl of this for lunch. Such a fantastic recipe.
Thanks for linking to my sausage rolls.