Roasted Tomato Soup

"A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet

without violins."

-Laurie Colwin, "Home Cooking"

 

Growing up I hated two things that were good for me, fish and tomatoes. When I took a health class in high school I realized the importance and benefits of incorporating these two beauties into my diet. It took years to change my opinion and palate, but I am slowly coming around. I started by ordering hamburgers and leaving the tomatoes in place instead of discarding them the instant they arrived on my plate. I'm still working on fish. I have trained myself to like lobster, crab and shrimp, but learning to like fish will take a little more time. Whenever I am near an ocean however I feel like it would be an insult if I didn't give it another try. I ate Mahi Mahi for the first time in Hawaii when I was 11 and really enjoyed it. This past March I had some of the most amazing salmon I have ever tasted while at an awards dinner, for work, in Orlando. It takes baby steps. If I had this tomato soup as a kid, I have a feeling my thoughts about tomatoes would have changed ages ago. It is a far cry from the preservative packed can variety and is almost as easy to prepare.

15-20 large ripe tomatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 leek, chopped and rinsed thoroughly, white end only
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp thyme
2 c chicken broth
1 pint heavy cream
 
Preheat oven to 400.
Place tomatoes, leek and garlic on cookie sheet.
Drizzle with olive oil.
Roast for 30-40 minutes, turning every 10-15 minutes to prevent burning.
Remove from oven and puree in blender or food processor.
For a smoother texture, strain through a sieve into a sauce pan.
Over medium high heat, combine tomato mixture with salt, pepper, chicken broth, thyme and heavy cream, stirring constantly.
Continue cooking until soup has thickened to desired consistency.

Pasta Carbonara

Life is a combination of magic and pasta.

-Federico Fellini

 

When I cook for my family, I do my best to set the mood. I always feel like I am more able to listen to the little things that the food is trying to tell me when I surround myself with good music. No music connects me more readily and directly to the food that I am preparing than Italian music paired with Italian cuisine. The music and the food speak to me in a way that excites every inch of my body, down to the tiniest atom in my little toe. I can't help but dance through the kitchen as I mince the garlic or drop the pasta. It becomes a celebration instead of a simple meal, made on a weeknight, to fill the bellies of my hungry savages.

This is one of our favorite "go to" recipes. It can be played up with prosciutto or pancetta substituting Asiago for the parmesan, or you can go with what you have on hand and create a delectable feast for your hungry brood. You could add chicken breasts dredged through a combination of panko bread crumbs, oregano, basil, thyme and parmesan. Whatever you choose try spicing things up tonight and really get into preparing the meal from your heart. Turn up a Pandora play list that highlights some of your favorite tunes. Might I suggest creating a new station including "Mambo Italiano" by Rosemary Clooney or for a more authentic feel "Italian Traditional Radio". Whichever you choose, center yourself for a moment, take a deep breath and feel the love that is expressed while creating this simple, beautiful tribute of love for you and yours.

This past weekend I learned a fun tip that I thought I would share. It isn't as "life changing" as when I learned to peel garlic by first smashing it with the flat edge of a large knife, but I think this is a tip that I will employ anytime I have fresh asparagus to prepare. It is a time saver that will help you get this dish on the table in a flash.

Leave the rubber bands in place on your bunch of asparagus. Pull three or four stalks out of the bottom rubber band and snap the ends off individually, allowing them to break where the woody ends meet the tender flesh.

After you have an idea of the average length of where the woody parts end, chop the entire bunch to this length.

Leave the rubber bands in place and continue chopping into 1 inch sections for this recipe. Once chopped place in a salad spinner full of ice-cold water. Allow the asparagus to soak while you continue chopping the other vegetables. Drain the water and spin dry.

Quick and Easy Pasta Carbonara


6 strips bacon, crispy cooked
1 bunch of asparagus, trimmed to one inch sections, discarding the woody ends
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tomatoes diced
1 pint heavy cream
1/3 c Parmesan cheese, with additional for topping
8 oz angel hair pasta, cooked to desired doneness as per package instructions

In large fry pan, cook bacon until it is crispy.
Remove bacon and clean out drippings, reserving 1 tsp of drippings to saute the onion and garlic.
Warm 1 tsp of drippings, over medium heat, and saute onion and garlic until onion starts to become tender, about 1 minute.
Add asparagus and stir fry for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Add tomatoes and cook until the asparagus is bright green.
Pour in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese and simmer until sauce has thickened.
Toss with pasta, serve and top with additional Parmesan.  

The slow road was fun....but....(my new health challenge)

Exercise should be regarded as tribute to the heart.

                                                                                  

                                                                               -Gene Tunney

 

 

So, I started a new health challenge today. I know that I said that I was going to take "the slow road", but since that proclamation I've just been sitting on that road waiting for something, ANYTHING, to happen. Guess what? Nothing happened. The good news is that while I have just been watching the time pass by I didn't gain weight, but I don't think I've ever been further from losing it either.

 

I think I needed this time though to accept my body, as it is. To stop loathing the unlovable parts and let them know that they are o.k. which was weird, but probably a necessary part of my healing process. I did my best not to scowl when I looked in the mirror, or groan as my pants got just a little tighter. It wasn't an easy process, but at the end of it all I know that I love myself and that even those "unlovable" parts are loved. Having said that, those unlovable parts have out stayed their welcome and it is time to get down to business.

 

I was so excited when a friend mentioned the possibility of a health challenge that I jumped in with both feet. We have a little facebook group and collectively we have "donated" $25 a piece to the "winners pot". At the end of the challenge there will be two winners (although all of us will be winners of better health) one who loses the most weight, by percentage, and one who racks up the most points. I am hoping to lose the most weight, but just in case that falls through I am planning on getting the maximum number of points every day.

 

Here is the break down for points:

 

* Drink at least 64 oz. of water = 3 points
* No eating after 9:00 pm = 2 points
* Eat 3 servings of vegetables = 3 points (one serving equals ½ cup; leafy greens require 1 cup per serving)
* Eat 2 servings of fruit = 2 points (one serving equals ½ cup)
* No sweets/sugary treats = 5 points (I’m a firm believer that everyone needs a free day now and then, so you will be limited to six days max each week wherein you can claim these points)
* If you do indulge in a treat, but limit yourself to one serving, you can still claim 2 points each day.
* 30 minutes of exercise = 5 points (To encourage a weekly rest day, and to not penalize those who choose not to exercise on Sunday, you can only claim exercise points a maximum of six days per week).
* Each additional 15 minutes of exercise = 1 point (Up to 90 minutes total, for a maximum of 9 exercise points: 5 points for the first 30 minutes and 4 points for 60 additional minutes. Feel free to exercise for longer, but you can only claim 90.)
* Track all food consumed = 4 points (Use whatever means you prefer to track your eating. You don’t have to count calories if you don’t want to; just keep some kind of food journal. Again, points for this will be limited to six days per week so as to not penalize those who choose to take a free day.)
* Bonus points will (hopefully) be offered each week. Watch the facebook page to see what those will be. Please be aware that all of this may be subject to change based on input from the group.
* Absolutely no HGC or other weight loss pills or supplements. This is an all-natural challenge.

I have done similar health challenges before, but I LOVE the simplicity of this one.  I LOVE that you don't subtract points for "bad behavior". You may not earn the maximum number of points if you eat sweets or sugary treats but if you limit it to one serving you still reward yourself. I also love that there are "rest" and "cheat" days. In the past I have been an all or nothing kind of gal, but that just isn't conducive with real life. Even my super skinny, athletic friends will have a treat now and then. Unlike me, they just know what the limit is and what they need to do to make sure it doesn't derail their overall goal.

This new plan feels like it will fit into my original more "mindfulness" goal. For today's exercise I took our puppy on a challenging walk for 60 minutes, did 30 minutes of yoga and also completed my meditation for the day. While on the "slow road" I was only doing yoga for about 20-30 minutes 2-3 times per week. I know that if I continue incorporating yoga into my 90 minutes of exercise everyday I will still come away with the benefits that I am hoping for, but now that I have more accountability I will be more consistent.

So here is to a healthier lifestyle and to the abundant beautiful future me that is just bursting to make her entrance!