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.

New Year Resolutions and Mango Coconut Cod

I've never been one to make new year resolutions. I like to think that through the year I adapt, change and grow as needed. (I like to kid myself like that)


But this year I have made a few promises to myself. I'll just mention one here. In 2012 I want to live a healthier, happier life. I think the two go hand in hand. By healthier I mean I want to find a way out of sadness and into happiness. I'm not sure exactly how to do this but I do know that happy is better than sad and sad is not healthy. I found this quote (on where else, the internet) and I have taped it to my bathroom mirror so that I can read it everyday:

“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” -C.S. Lewis


This year I am going to try to let go of the sadness and embrace the wonderful, happy memories of the past and the promise of the future. 


How about you? Any New Year's Resolutions?


I was in the mood yesterday to create something. Something healthy. Something delicious. My local fish monger had some beautiful looking cod on display yesterday. He told me it just came in so I had him wrap up a half pound.


I stopped by my local supermarket on the way home to pick up some staples and noticed some perfectly ripe mangoes in the produce aisle. In the cart they went. 


Sometimes the universe supplies us with just what we need to create something wonderful... fresh cod, ripe mangoes. This is what I came up with.




Pan Seared Mango-Coconut Cod (serves 2)


1/2 pound fresh cod fillet
1 ripe mango, peeled and sliced
1 tablespoon grated sweetened coconut
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
salt and pepper to taste


Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.


Wash and pat dry the cod. Remove any small bones using a needle nose plier (yes, I keep a clean needle nose plier in my kitchen drawer just for this purpose, deboning fish)


Sprinkle cod with salt and pepper.


Melt butter with oil in a large oven proof skillet.


When butter is melted and sizzling hot add a few slices of the mango and gently saute. Add the cod pieces top side down. Saute on medium high for 2 to 3 minutes or until the fish is halfway cooked. 


Flip the fish and spoon the softened mango over the top. Sprinkle with one tablespoon coconut and place in the oven to finish cooking (about 5 minutes).


I served the cod with steamed carrots glazed with honey, the rest of the fresh mango slices and tri-colored couscous. All of which made me very happy.

Mangoes are ripe when they yield to gentle pressure. Store them on your counter or windowsill, not the fridge.

Aren't mangoes beautiful? 

Pan searing the cod with the mango slices. The mangoes will soften and make their own sauce.

Finishing the cod in the oven will ensure a moist, perfectly cooked fish. 

The mango and coconut would also taste great on chicken or shrimp.




Bon Appetite and Happy New Year everyone.