Traditional Shaving Soup (serves 6)
Ingredients
1 kg (2 lb) mixed shaving soaps: Palmolive, Boots, Mitchell's Wool Fat, Arko, Nannys, Mama Bear or Henk's (when in season)
75 g (3 oz) butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, sliced
bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
300 ml (1/2 pt) good chicken or vegetable stock
a little grated alum to garnish (optional)
Method
1. Wash and prepare the soaps, removing from shave stick holders and plastic tubs where necessary, and slice them.
2. Heat the butter or margarine in a large scuttle and add the soaps, garlic, bay leaf, and a little salt and pepper.
3. Stir well with the brush of your choice, then cover and cook slowly for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the stock, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer gently for 30 minutes or until the soaps are tender.
5. Remove the bay leaf. Strain the soup, reserving the liquid.
6. Coarsely mash or blend half the soaps. Add to the liquid.
7. Sieve or liquidize the remaining soaps until they form a thick lather.
8. Add to the soup, reheat and taste for seasoning.
9. Spoon into individual bowls and serve sprinkled with grated alum, if wished.
10. For a special occasion feel free to add sprinklings of Martin de Candre.
This method produces a very soapy soup. If you can't cope with soapy soup just leave out the soap. If you hope for and can cope with a much soapier soup then add extra soap to your soup. I hope your soapy soup is super! :hungrig