Heart and Home: Food for Thought

There is a recipe in this post. Really. It's Foodie Friday, after all. If you're in a hurry, Mark Bittman's recipe for a delicious Fall soup is near the bottom of this post. But first, I had some thoughts that I wanted to share with you.....and remember my friends, to leave yours- in a comment - when you're done!!

I've spent a lot of time this week sitting right here,

 watching the storm from the warmth and comfort of my living room.

It's been really cozy, and even though I haven't been up to my usual speed -

I've been thinking about and appreciating

all the little things that make this house a home.

I've been thinking about the details that make a life a life well lived.

I've been asking myself a lot of questions.

      

Little Maggie looks like she is pondering the universe

 from beneath the little pillow cave she built for herself.

She looks incredibly comfortable,and why shouldn't she be?

Dogs never contemplate their futures! And I know they don't worry about their health,

or about aging, or about whether or not they are good enough parents, or about being financially secure!

Isn't that why they're called "lucky dogs"?!

The change of the seasons often brings a change in my mood as well.

That's when I start reflecting on my life, and questioning my choices,

and pondering my options,

 and wondering what lies ahead for me in the future.

There are some things I know for sure:

I know I'm not the only women of a certain age who is

struggling to figure out who she is at this point in her life.

I know that I'm not the same woman I was twenty, or ten, or even five years ago.

I know that I'm stronger than I ever realized when I was younger.

I know that I'm still growing, and learning.

 I know that I'll never get it all figured out.

I'm learning to be still and wait, and to accept

that the answers to my questions won't be obvious and immediate.

I know the answers will be revealed to me slowly and steadily,

 much like the change of seasons from summer to fall,

as the leaves on the trees gradually turn colors and fall to the ground,

and the air becomes crisp and clear.

 

I know that I won't always be immediately aware of having found an answer.

And I know that I'll always have more questions

 as I live through the changes of each new season of my life.

I do a lot of thinking when I cook. Here's a recipe I tried recently:

A delicious, quick and easy soup for Fall:

from Mark Bittman's new cookbook:  Kitchen Express.

Drain a can of diced tomatoes and a can of chickpeas. Cook a diced onion, a diced carrot, and a diced stalk of celery in olive oil until soft. Add one crushed clove of garlic, the tomatoes, the beans, and about four cups of chicken or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, add a bunch of chopped chard or beet greens (or spinach), reduce to a simmer and cook for five more minutes. Serve soup with croutons on top.

I added about a cup of leftover wild and brown rice, some chopped up leftover deli chicken, and about a half cup of shredded Parmesan cheese. You could add sliced or crumbled cooked sausage, or other meat, and any other veggie you have in the fridge.

This soup is really easy to prepare, and tastes delicious hot or cooled to room temperature if the weather is still summery. If you are an intuitive cook I highly recommend Mark Bittman's Kitchen Express - it's full of quick (most 20 - 30 minutes) and creative ideas for preparing delicious meals.

Posted for Foodie Friday, at Designs by Golllum.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time,

XO

Heidi