>Patsy, what did you put in your french bean soup?<

Hi Crow Sister I fried finely chopped onion in virgin olive oil with a chopped leek (and garlic if you want it a bit spicier) and the french beans. I added water to the pan to boil and simmered it down, scooped out the vegetables. Putting some whole or chopped ones aside. I put the strained vegetables in a blender whooshed it up and put it back in the pan with the liquid then adding black pepper and salt and some basil. Then I boiled the soup back up and then when simmering added the whole or chopped french beans back in with the soup. Nice with warm French bread.

Your soup sounds a lot nicer than mine! Know what you mean about the odd treat I am a cake freak. I love coffee cake, any cake and pastries unfortunately and have to wrench myself away from bakeries and patisseries.