The taxman has emptied my bank account. Not even kidding. I was priding myself on having saved up enough money to cover my projected tax bill for the year and even dared allow myself to think I might have a little bit left over to buy myself a new laptop for the blog (I’m desperately needing a new laptop!).
2015-2016 was the first year since I’ve started blogging that I’d earned enough to actually have to pay tax, which is rather good, I think. I never thought it was possible when I first started blogging way back in 2011 that I’d be able to earn a full-time income from what I do. How? Recipe commissions, mainly, plus Instagram product placement posts. It’s an intriguing industry!
Regular readers might be aware that there are now adverts on my blog (Apologies if this annoys you. Feel free to install the free Ad Blocker Plus and never see them again!) and this extra ad revenue is rather fantastic too. I know bloggers who pay their mortgage with this passive income. Goals!
Again, who knew! You know what else I didn’t know? How big the National Insurance contribution bill would be, and that the taxman wants half of next years taxes paid in advance too! Eek!
To cut a long story short, I’m trying to spend a little less money right now while the bank balance recuperates from this unexpected bill, and thus, this tomato, lentil and bacon soup was born!
Sachets of ready cooked puy lentils are always popped into my shopping trolley when they’re on offer in the supermarket, and upon trawling through the back of the cupboard the other day I found a bottle of passata and a rather nice tin of cherry tomatoes in juice. These were combined with the last four rashers of bacon leftover in the fridge, a little chicken stock (one Knorr stock pot!), a spoonful of mixed herbs and generous splash of Worcestershire sauce to create a rather hearty and delicious winter warmer; perfect for pouring into a flask for an outdoor picnic in the snow.
My husband has declared this the best soup recipe he’s ever tasted (he had the leftovers for his work lunch the following day – yay for insulated soup flasks!). When it comes to cold weather belly warmers this one certainly hits the spot, and best of all it doesn’t require loads of cooking. Simply saute the onion and garlic, cook the bacon and pop the rest of the ingredients in and heat through. Easy peasy!
We’ve just had a cold snap here in Shetland with some proper snow. The kids have been over the moon about this, building snowmen and sledging as often as they could. Last weekend the wind had died down so we went for a little hill walk to blow away the cobwebs. We brought the sledge with us, just in case we found any good hills.
It was a much-needed break from being indoors and the kids had a fab time. Sometimes it’s easy to forget there’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. Nonetheless, I’m really looking forward to the longer days so we can spend more (warmer!) time outdoors. Even now though we’re noticing the days lengthening – it’s no longer dark when we pick the kids up from school, and the mornings are getting a little brighter a little earlier each day. Up Helly Aa, our island Fire Festival is just a few days away and we really notice the difference in the light after that.
In the meantime though, here’s my rather scrummy soup recipe for you to try for yourself at home if you fancy!
Tomato, Lentil & Bacon Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 red onion finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove finely chopped
- 4 rashers smoked back bacon cut into 1 cm dice
- 500 ml chicken stock
- 1 400 gram tinned cherry tomatoes
- 380 ml passata rustica
- 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 250 grams ready-cooked puy lentils
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Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot over a medium-high heat.
- Saute the onion and garlic for about five minutes, until it begins to soften. Add the bacon and fry until the bacon has browned all over.
- Add the chicken stock, tinned tomatoes, passata, dried mixed herbs, Worcestershire sauce and cooked puy lentils.
- Simmer gently 10-15 minutes, until the lentils are heated through.
- Serve with crusty bread.
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Pan-Seared Rabbit Loin Salad with Smoked Pancetta
A twust on my normal soup – sure it Will go down well at home
this sounds perfect in this weather! xxxx
This looks good but I would have added a carrot or two
It should have 1large carrot diced. I have the original recipe in a SW book.
I’m sure that would taste nice too, but there was no carrot in the recipe I was inspired to create this soup from. I’ve never read an SW book in my life. 😉
I can never say no to anything with bacon and that’s why I am very excited to try this. It looks delicious and healthy. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
This looks so yum and a great way of using up bits and bobs at the back of cupboard.
This looks like a perfect soup for winter, I love making soup so will have to give this recipe a try
This is a new recipe in my eyes and Looks a yummy soup and perfect for the cold weather here! I love to try this recipe
This soup looks like the perfect winter warmer!!
The tax bill is a killer isn’t it. We have loads of budget recipes coming up too as we are trying to cut back on our food shop also. Lentils are always good for this. Lentil and tomato soup is so comforting.
This sounds yummy! I am a total soup addict, so will have to bookmark it.
This looks delicious! We love tomato soup, you can’t go wrong with it, especially in the winter with warm crusty bread! Yum!
I love soups at this time of yer! Something so comforting about them isn’t there! x
Now this is comfort in a bowl and I dont think I have ever had bacon in a soup before, so I am intrigued.
Just when you think its safe, the Tax man becomes more than predictable. As for the soup, it looks absolutely gorgeous. Nothing like having a home made tomato, lentil n’ bacon soup. One of my most favourite soups of all time.
Thanks for Sharing
John M
Ah the dreaded Taxman! Congratulations on building your blog 🙂 What a wonderful warming soup for a cold January day!
The soup looks delicious but oh my those photos of the Shetland snow – what a view. I’m intrigued as well that the tax man wants you to pay half in advance. I’ve never heard of that before.
I love the fact this soup is a low cost meal to make and that making it in batches would save even more money as it’s always tight after the christmas period. I literally have all these ingredients (bar the lentils) in my cupboard so I’m going to give it a try!
This has given me a good idea for lunch today. it looks really nice and warming too
We love having soup at this time of year and the smokiness of the bacon sounds right up our street x
This looks delicious and it’s great it can be made in a budget. After Christmas I’m definitely watching the pennies but still want yummy and good quality food.
Oooo this looks delicious! I love tomato soup but this one sounds extra special!
What a great idea to use some things up from the back of the cupboard – you’ve made a delicious looking soup that I would love a steaming bowl of!
What a great idea for using what you already have to make something yummy and cheap! Sounds delish! PS your photos are beautiful x
Congratulations on earning enough to have to pay tax – I guess you are on the steep learning curve about managing your taxes but hopefully it will get easier. And meanwhile this sounds like a great budget soup.
Your sledging adventure sounds fun – we on the opposite end of the weather – on Sunday we wanted to go out for a picnic but it is going to be 39 C so instead we are heading to an indoor pool – I had looked forward to getting out but 39 is too hot.
I’ve never been a fan of lentils, but this looks really yummy.
This is going to be made tomorrow for a nice late lunch meal, minus the bacon. Looks absolutely gorgeous, and if it is not eaten too quickly, I will tag you on Instagram with what it ends up looking like 🙂
This sounds such a great recipe and is made from ingredients already in my store cupboard.
C x
Now this sounds like a delicious mix of flavourings, I be the bacon and the tomato go so well together.
This looks really yummy and a nice warmer for these chilly days we are having x
That soup looks perfect for these cold winter’s nights, I have a feeling we’ll be giving it a try over the coming week x
It’s good that you managed to make such a tasty looking recipe out of some leftover bacon and some bits at the back of the cupboard x
It sounds like your blog is doing so well. I certainly don’t owe the tax many any yet but in a way I think it would be nice to because I will feel more like I’m succeeding. Sorry you can’t yet afford a new laptop. Well done on impressing the other half with your recipe. It sounds lovely. Very hearty and warming I’m sure.
Oo this looks like something my husband would absolutely love – bookmarked, thank you 🙂