First produce of the year!

Today I picked some rhubarb, which I will be turning in compote tomorrow, and some nettles.

I have been growing nettles to attract ladybirds, as I read once that they particularly fancy nettle aphids, and saw nettles on the canal that were full of ladybirds after that.
But nettles are also a nutritious food: my Food for Free booklet says that "they have high levels if Vitamins A and C, 2.3% by weight iron, and a remarkable 5.5% of protein."

So I decided to make soup, and after browsing a few recipes I mixed them to get this:

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped
• e.v. olive oil q.b.
• 2 tbs of white flour
• 150 gr nettles tops and young leaves
• 1 glass whole milk
• 500 ml chicken stock

Soften your onion and garlic in a pan with some oil, then add the nettles (washed, with stalks & all) and stir until wilted. Stir in the white flour, the milk and the chicken stock. Bring to the boil for a few minutes and then turn off the hob and blend the soup into the mixer.