Surprisingly Saintly Soup

So here's another Dorset Saint! Walking through Wimborne the other week, we saw posters celebrating "St Lioba, a Wimborne Saint". I looked her up when I got home. I'd not heard of her before- but she is incredibly well known in Germnay, with many churches named in her honour, and statues and stained glass windows all over the place.

Born around 710AD, the only child of extremely elderly parents, she was named Thrutgeba Lioba [Lioba = beloved] Like Hannah in the Bible, her mother Ebbe dedicated this miraculous baby to God - and Lioba entered the abbey at Wimborne and became a nun. She was incredibly gifted, and Abbess Tessa gave her every opportunity to study[ unusual for those days] and the young woman became a wise scholar, and was popular with everyone. 

Lioba wrote to her cousin Boniface to ask if she could share in his mission in Germany. Although 30 years his junior, he welcomed her, and trained her to be his deputy. When he was called to Rome, he put his monks hood upon her head, and declared her to be in charge in his absence. She was unique in being the only woman allowed to go into the monasteries and speak to the monks, and was respected by the whole community. I read that "She became a great friend of Queen Hildegarde, wife of Charlemagne, and frequented the court of King Pippin" [who? wasn't he in LOTR?!] Another writer has said "While not one of the more broadly known saints in today’s church, she is certainly a woman worthy of note... not afraid to read, study, and learn of “holy” topics, nor to share her insights with powerful men (not all of whom would have appreciated her position of leadership and equality in terms of education and influence). Yet she did not neglect the practical necessities of life in community or of the administration of large enterprises. She was well-loved, and respected by both ordinary folks and the powerful leaders.Not a bad role model for today"

As I said, she is much more well known in central Germany, especially in Tauberbishofsheim, where she lived. Many miracles were attributed to her, both before and after death. She died aged 72. Her relics have been relocated twice, and are now interred in Fulda Cathedral, near the tomb of her cousin Boniface.

The people celebrate her life each year on September 28th. Look at this determined child waving a banner! There is even a St Lioba Soup - but it looks a little rich for me - eggs, cream and cheese- plus beer and mushrooms!

St Lioba Beer and Mushroom  Soup

6 Tablespoons oil of choice
2 cups mushrooms, chopped
2 large onions, chopped
6 cans beer
1 bay leaf
2 eggs
4 Tablespoons heavy cream
Chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Grated Gruyere cheese.

Pour the oil into a soup pot. Add the mushrooms and onions. Saute them lightly for a few minutes over low heat. Add the beer and bay leaf and raise the heat to medium. 
In the meantime, in a bowl beat and blend well the eggs and cream. Add 6 tablespoons hot soup to the egg mixture and blend thoroughly. Pour the mixture into the soup, mixing well. Add the chopped parsley, salt, and pepper, and mix well. Reheat the soup over medium heat and continue stirring for a few minutes. Remove the bay leaf and serve the soup hot. Sprinkle some grated Gruyere cheese on top of each serving.Bring the soup to a boil, then simmer slowly for about 20 minutes.

Yield:4/6 serving, Prep :10 min Cooking:20 min Source: http://homecooking.about.com