Kitchen alchemy

Or: greater than the sum of its parts.

I'm sure all cooking falls under this category really, but it always seems particularly striking with soup. 1 leek, 3 potatoes, 1 carrot and 1 small head of cabbage: if I just served those on a plate my children would not be impressed. Nor, truth be told, would I, or just about anyone I know. Yet, stick 'em in a pan with a dash of oil, a sprinkle of mustard powder, the tiniest pinch of chilli flakes and some water; boil 'em up then blitz 'em down and lo - soup. Soup so yummy that both the little Gs asked for seconds. It shouldn't be possible, but apparently it is.