This is one of those great recipes for lazy Sunday nights or the times you haven’t been shopping or the times the budget is a bit stretched. It uses foods you probably already have in the pantry and is still very nutritious and tasty.

Tomato Noodle Soup

Vital Stats: Gluten Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Vegetarian, Vegan

So, this is what you need:

2 tspn macadamia oil

2 cloves crushed organic garlic

2 x 410g cans Spiral organic diced tomatoes

1 tbs organic tomato paste

1 tspn dried Italian herbs

4 cups/1 litre chicken bone broth or vegetable stock

250g thin uncooked organic spaghetti or gluten free spaghetti

1 organic zucchini (optional)

fresh herbs and fresh parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Okay, so this is how you do it:

In a large pot, slurp the oil. Then grate in the organic garlic (or use Spiral organic garlic in a jar) and cook for one minute on a low heat. Get the garlic pong off your hands by rubbing them vigorously on your stainless steel sink.

Next, fling in the diced tomatoes – use Spiral Organic tomatoes as there is no BPA plastic lining the can. Then chuck in the tomato paste, herbs and the stock or broth. Stir and bring to the boil.

Now this bit is optional, but I like to feel virtuous by adding green stuff! Grate in one zucchini. You could also use this opportunity for a bit of a fridge clean out and throw in any leftover veges instead!

Add the spaghetti and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Go and put your feet up, get a kid to stir it occasionally to make sure it doesn’t catch on the bottom. If you want some protein, you could add any cooked leftover meat or a tin of tuna now and heat through.

Serve with some fresh herbs, cracked pepper and fresh grated parmesan cheese on top (not the packet stuff please!). It makes about 4-6 portions, depending on how big you like your serves. It works well next day for lunch too.

Now, a word about tinned or canned food and BPA.

It’s not good. Most people are aware of the dangers of BPA or bisphenol A as it has been pretty topical lately. You can read more here. It’s something I have been very careful of and have taken steps to remove it completely from our home.

Take a look inside the can next time you open one. Is the lining plastic? Good chances are it contains BPA and the BPA has leached into your food! I can only find one brand of organic tomatoes that do not contain BPA and that is Spiral Organic. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anyone in my area that stocks it.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and the kids like it too. Remember to come back and tell me how it was!

Update: I have had some great feedback on this recipe via Facebook. Here is what other mums have to say:

* Melissa says “I made your tomato & noodle soup for dinner tonight. It was yum! M loved it too, & when I could get I (aka Miss I don’t like soup) to have some she said it was nice.”

* Peta says “Tomato Noodle Soup was AMAZING!!! It was the nicest soup I have eaten in AGES!! My Miss 2 LOVED it and Master 4 devoured half my soup while waiting for his noodles to cool! He has also re-named it in our house-hold as “Christmas Soup” because it has the red tomatoes and green zucchini!! Thanks once again :)”