Sunday, December 23, 2012

One Word and Soup For One

Someone asked me recently if I could describe myself in one word.

One word.

What would you say? What would be the one word that would totally encapsulate your essence? Could you do it? Can you imagine it? Would you have the courage to share it? Could you own it?

I had to think very hard about my one word. It took me a long time and I could not for the life of me come up with one word. I came up with three words that fit my life right now. These three simple words took me by surprise.

Joyful
Happy
Centered

Are you, my long time readers, as surprised as me at the words I chose?

Trying to get to the word that best describes you or your life right at this moment is a good exercise. It makes you think. Hard. It made me concentrate on what I am feeling at this very point in time. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but right now. Today. Re-evaluating my feelings shook me up a bit. I was so sad for so long it was hard to think about not being sad.

I realized that I AM joyful. I laugh, everyday. I sing along to the radio. Sometimes I dance along - in the kitchen. By myself.

I am finding happiness. I am happy. Are joyful and happy the same thing? I think joyful is the celebration part of happy. I am meeting new people, doing new things. I'm reaching out of my comfort zone and exploring this new phase of my life. Is it perfect? Nothing ever is but I'm finding happiness in discovering me. This new version of me. A bit older, a bit wiser (I hope) a bit more compassionate. A slightly newer version of me. It makes me feel brave this happiness thing.

Centered. Now there's a word! What does that mean? For me it is finding the balance between what was, what will never be and what is possible now. I have begun the work of tucking the past away in a safe, secure place in my heart and learning to cherish it while honoring the gift of my life. All of the parts - the old, the new and the maybe.

Now tell me, what is your one word for you?

Soup For One: Cauliflower Broccoli Cheese Soup

1 teaspoon canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 pound broccoli (about 2 cups) - chopped
1/2 pound cauliflower (about 2 cups) - chopped
1/2 cup milk (feel free to use fat free, 1% or other)
2 ounces cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup) shredded
salt and pepper to taste
a few grinds of nutmeg

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat, add onion and cook until translucent and soft. Add garlic and stir until fragrant (about a minute). Add broth, broccoli and cauliflower and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Be careful with this next part. Transfer soup to a blender. Place a kitchen towel over the lid and puree until smooth. Return the soup to the saucepan, add milk, check seasonings. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese. Ladle into soup bowl and grate some fresh nutmeg over. Sprinkle with croutons if desired.

This recipe makes about 4 cups of soup and freezes beautifully.





8 comments:

  1. I suppose mine one word would be "content". Not a bad place to be. I am happy to know that you have made it through the most difficult journey of your grief. God bless!

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  2. One word, that is difficult. One word just won't do for me either. My words....."Through it all, I'm still here."

    You have had to be strong. It is a good thing to still be standing after the storm.

    I will try this soup for one.

    Thank you.

    Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't know about one word for me, overall, but I can tell you that my one word for my feelings while reading this post was "thankful". I had a smile on my face just from reading that you had one on yours these days. I'm so glad.

    Let me think. One word for me and MY life? You know what? I think "thankful" would do it there, too. I'm consistently amazed by the bounty I've had throughout life, most all of it none of my doing. If not "thankful", then I'll go with "blessed".

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a joy to read. Your courage has meant so much to me, please know that.

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  5. Good question, that is not an easy answer. Content may be one for me..content with where I am now, knowing that life is full of changes and no matter what, I need to be content with what is today, not to worry about what it will be tomorrow.

    I will double the recipe to make soup for two, Blessings!

    Jan (previous Jan's Place, now The Pink Geranium!)

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  6. I'm thrilled at the words you used to describe yourself. Thrilled! Happy New Year! Today I looked at my husband and said, "I'm happy." I guess happy would be the word I'd use right now.

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  7. I love the words that you use to describe yourself. Right now all i can come up with for me is stuck. I am working on better words and will hopefully be unstuck soon. take care.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the words that you use to describe yourself. Right now all i can come up with for me is stuck. I am working on better words and will hopefully be unstuck soon. take care.

    ReplyDelete

Wow. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I love feedback... what with being a cook and all. I will respond to your comments via email (if you do not have a "noreply" address or here, below your comment) As always, Bon Appetite!

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