Leeks are a favorite with many families, as they are a good and healthy replacement for onions. However, to cut and clean leeks in a proper way, needs some practice. Here are some useful tips, followed by my favorite leek soup recipe. Step Wise Guidelines Step 1 Start with removing the leaves which have lost their freshness, if any. Then move on to the green colored tough part, at the top, and cut it out too, using a chef's knife. Step 2 The next thing that you should do is to cut the rootlets at the base of the leeks. Remember, not to cut the root completely as it is needed to hold the layers of the leek together. Step 3 Now make lengthwise cuts on both the sides of the leek, without cutting the root. The cuts should be made in such a way that the layers of the leek open up. Step 4 To wash and cut the leeks properly, start by placing it, below a water tap. The running water will easily remove, all the dirt that might be there inside its layers. Step 5 Once the leek is clean, get rid of the excess water from its layers, with the help of a clean kitchen cloth or a paper towel. Later you can cut, chop or slice the leek, according to your preference. Soup Recipe The first thing that you should do, while cooking leek soup, is to cut and wash the leaks properly. Chop the leeks into about half inches pieces. For the soup to taste good, remember to chop only the white and the green parts, and keep the rest for some other use. Ingredients Four chopped leeks, two tablespoons of melted butter, two cups of water, two large potatoes(chopped), three cups of chicken broth, two teaspoons of freshly chopped thyme, tomato sauce, salt to taste. Method

• Heat a pan and put the melted butter in it.
• Add the chopped leeks to the pan, along with salt. Cover the pan and keep it on low for about ten minutes.
• After the leeks have got cooked properly, add the chicken broth, chopped potatoes, and water to the pan. Cook on low heat for about twenty minutes.
• When the soup is cooked, add thyme, sauce and pepper to it. A delicious leek potato soup is now ready to be served.

When buying leeks, choose the ones which have firm and bright green leaves. Make sure that the white bulb is without any spots. Choose small leeks, as in comparison to the bigger ones, they are softer and tender.