19 Comments

Just what I needed this morning. Thanks Elizabeth. I love your writing!

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I appreciate you!

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Thank you, Elizabeth. Good to see you at the poll yesterday. A little disheartened today, but never down trodden. Our country is worth the effort. Our community is, too. As for soup, shrimp and corn chowder is yummy.

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Grateful for the efforts of folks like you, Suzanne, who work the polls, and you're right -- we have to keep going! Shrimp and corn chowder sounds amazing.

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Coconut Red Lentil Soup

1 tbsp. coconut oil (or olive oil)

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp. fresh ginger

2 tbsp. tomato paste (or ketchup)

2 tbsp. curry powder

1/2 tsp. hot red pepper flakes

4 cups vegetable broth (but I added water to it also)

1 400ml can coconut milk

1 400g can diced tomatoes

1.5 cups dry red lentils

2-3 handfuls of chopped kale or spinach (green is optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a pot, heat the oil over medium heat and stir-fry the onion, garlic and ginger until the onion is translucent, a couple minutes.

2. Add the tomato paste (or ketchup), curry powder, and red red pepper flakes and cook for another minute.

3. Add the vegetable broth, coconut milk, diced tomatoes and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 20-30 minutes, until the lentils are very tender. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Stir in kale/spinach for the last two minutes

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Had a red lentil soup in my sights just a day or two ago, Michelle. Thanks for sharing this!

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So well and beautifully expressed, my friend. As Voltaire said at the calamitous end of “Candide,” we can cultivate our gardens in the face of such difficulties. To me , like your salve of making soup, it means doing what we can where we can for whom we can, however modest the contex, gesture, effort, or objective. Voting is one; soup is another; writing as you have for us neighbors is still another. Thanks.

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Neighbors are everywhere, aren't they? Thank you, Charlie. Your remarks are always valued and valuable.

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I am so grateful for your ability to bring me back to center. You are such a gift.

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You know, we use "what goes around comes around" to warn of the bite-back from bad behavior. But, I'm sure it also applies to goodness, because you have served as that same centering force for me. Thank you!

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White bean chicken chili like my mother made. ;)

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…Apologies. I neglected to compliment you on your fine writing and your highly evolved sense of perspective.

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Ha! The soup said it all. Thanks, Rob.

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It’s like you wrote straight from my heart - a beautifully resonant essay. True and surprising - soup! Of course. And all the associated forms of caring. Mulligatawny is my go-to. Will share.

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Sounds like the kind of cookbook we all need: Soup & Associated Forms of Caring. Also, Mmmm-mulligatawny! Thank you, Stewart.

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Soup! It heals my body, mind, and soul. You are so right -- we collectively need soup (literally and metaphorically) to heal us all of our 'pests' ! Soup has been my go to meal ,even for breakfast, for years, as my husband would tolerantly attest. Now it's time for me to reach out to a neighbor who may need a healthy dose of chicken vegetable soup . Thanks, as usual !😋😋😍😍😍😍😍

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I'm always a little sad when my refrigerator is devoid of soup. So much satisfaction to be found there. Thank you for reading and commenting, Melody.

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Thanks Elizabeth. Perspective my friend, can so easily be skewed.

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So easily. Minute by minute some days. Grateful for you.

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