Honestly, David - if you don't fancy working too hard, do the easy version of mine: chuck it all in the pot, boil it for an hour, whizz it up. It's got to be better for you than all the processed nasties in cup-a-soup. And it's delicious.

Do you have a little mouli hand blender? They're ever so cheap, and a complete godsend if you like soup.

cheap blender