Anti- Stress Christmas

I am allergic to three things, well four - Penicillin, moldy cheese, stress, and bullshit. Really, they cause me to have fits of rage, inability to breathe, and worst of all- psycho redhead disorder. Thus, when it comes to the Holidays I try to stay away from all four, and especially stress.

I am not much of a shopper for any reason, or any occasion, so I definitely don't "go" Christmas shopping. In fact, you should have seen me when I had to go buy myself a skillet a few weeks ago- I had to come home and decompress after one store!

How do I get around all this Christmas nonsense? Well, it seems, that the higher powers at be seem to understand my predicament and the perfect gift for those around me just crosses my path. I'm racking my brain, but I can't seem to remember ever buying a commercial produced gift for someone. I have even lucked out to have some really fantastic foodies that make/create great things they are willing to trade for food. It's amazing what you can get for a half a hog! Also, I am not above going on gift giving strike. It's just my personality not to push things, after all, when in doubt - feed someone. Everyone is joyous when their belly is full. Of course, they could be lying, but once again I am allergic to bullshit and I haven't ever gotten hives so I am sure my theory holds true. Furthermore, Scott and my sister usually do the shopping for Fiona and I just cheer them on from behind the scenes.

For a myriad of reasons, this will be the first year in 5 that I haven't woken up on Christmas morning at my grandmother's house! I spoke to her last night, and tried to keep myself together as she talked about how she can't find her angel for the tree, and doesn't even remember putting it away (Of course she wouldn't, my sister and I put the ornaments away while she was in the hospital fighting for her life), or how grandpa is having to put the tinsel up without Fiona to help. Normally, I would be at her house helping to make pies, listening to Frank Sinatra or Johnny Cash Christmas music and forcing her to remain calm- she has a tendency to worry A LOT!

However, just when I thought that I was going to have to get a last minute ticket back to Missouri, or brave a full blown sadness attack, I got a wonderful Christmas present. Laughter! It has been a lovely day, and very joyous. The twins have been out in the chaos doing last minute Christmas shopping, and true to their twin nature, although shopping separately, texted me the exact question within moments - "What is your shoe size?" ha ha, I guess I know what I am getting for Christmas. Furthermore, Fiona has been hilarious. She and the babysitter put up the tree a few days ago and some of the lights don't work, but she doesn't care. She has been running around putting random gifts under the tree, like rocks and old toys, and so on and so forth. Her reasoning? Santa may need extra presents for other boys and girls, and I said that I was going to get Scott a box of rocks! hahaha. I am so blessed to have a such a sweet soul as a child.

She said it can't be Christmas without snow, so I am going to give her snow. I found some Styrofoam in the garage and will crumble it all up on the patio for her to wake up to on Christmas day- Oh, I'm so excited.

My hope is that you all have a very merry Christmas filled with lots of laughter, delicious food, and if you happen to get a box of rocks, think of Fiona, who seems to think there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving rocks as presents!

Cheers and Happy Holiday Eats!

Lucinda

Accidental Red Lentil Soup

I meant to make roasted red pepper soup, but ended up with red lentil soup.

Here's the why and the how:

I am not kind of girl that buys or keeps store bought canned or jarred food. I don't have a good reason against it, other than I don't care for the taste.

However, that changed when I got coupon emailed to me from World Market for $10.00 off a $30.00 purchase. I went there with the intentions of buying a cast iron skillet, and was ever so excited when I found one for 20 bucks. However, I had to find ten more dollars worth of stuff to buy for my coupon to be valid. Finally, after browsing about for an hour or so, I found some green tea for 5.99, and some roasted red peppers in a jar for 2 for $5.00. Woohoo, mission accomplished.

I opened the first jar and, although, they aren't as delicious as those made from fresh peppers and soaked in olive oil, they were pretty darn tasty on sandwiches

.

When a friend of mine said she was coming over on Wednesday to see my new place, I decided I was going to make roasted red pepper soup with the remaining jar. She was due to be here at 3 and I started making the soup about 2.

I started with chicken broth, and then added onions and garlic browned in butter with my new skillet. I also diced a potato and added to the broth because with red pepper soup it adds the right texture. I got a little heavy handed with the chili pepper flakes because as I went to add it, the dog bumped into me and my hand slipped. Oh well, it was a cold day and a little heat was just the ticket to warm things up.

I let this simmer for a bit, and then decided to add the roasted red peppers. However, I hit a snag - I couldn't open the jar! I tried EVERYTHING! I banged it, hit the bottom as I once saw someone do with a juice bottle, and in the end I just didn't have the strength in my hands to open the damn thing. Aside from calling 1 -800 I need a man, I was at a loss. It was time to adapt and overcome... soup style, and quick since this happened at about 2:40.

I found red lentils in the cabinet and decided they would work perfectly. I could still get the reddish hue that I wanted and add a flavor and texture that I wanted.

Rinsed them and added them, let them cook in the broth and then put all of it in the blender. (As a note, be careful not to overfill the blender with steaming hot soup contents or the top will blow off, and it will burn you. I learned that the hard way!).

Returned it all to pan on the stove and added cream (if vegan, or trying to cut back on calories, you could skip this... but for the sake of flavor I wouldn't recommend it).

Garnish with shredded cheese or shredded carrots, add sour cream, if your hips allow, and enjoy. I would have taken a picture, but it got devoured before I had a chance.

Cheers and Happy Eats!

Lucinda