I got up early and put the ingredients for a cabbage soup in the crockpot before I scooted out the door. The bus wasn't due for 15 minutes when I arrived at my stop. It was drizzling. Not monsooning like last night, but still pretty wet. But the temperature was quite mild. And there was a gentle, warm wind blowing. It was really pleasant.
Even more pleasant was the white chocolate, soy mocha with brown sugar and cinnamon that I inhaled as I waited for my bus!
Our chamber group performed for an All Saints Day church service at a Lutheran church. It was quite moving. The people in the congregation lit a candle for each person they knew who had died over the past year. They also included those who were killed in the Umpqua Community College shooting and victims of the Charleston, SC church shooting.
After the service I stopped for lunch at Burgerville. I was doing my comfort food rationalizing. I felt the need to sit and read my book over a burger. Sigh. Well, at least I recognize this trait. And Burgerville does have gluten free buns.
After my first student, I went straight to the gym. Of course, I rationalized that a good workout would cancel out all the calories I consumed at lunch!
I worked my chest and triceps. Then I did some crunches and elyptical. Ended with some stretches. Then I headed home and for some soup before the rest of my students. I got a text message from my daughter when I hopped on the bus home. It said, " Mom: Get a pen and write down this cabbage soup recipe. You MUST make it likes this every time. It is the BEST EVER!"
LOL. We have this joke at our house. Well basically the kids make fun of me. Because every time I make a dish it is different. If they ask me to make something I've made before, they are often disappointed because it doesn't turn out the same. I like to throw things together as I go. Never remember what I do. Don't like to be confined to a recipe for goodness sake!
But I am writing down now my "Best Ever Cabbage Soup"
Approximately 6 cups water
About 2 Tablespoons "Better then Boullon" Beef base
1 head cabbage, chopped up
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 inch slice fresh ginger, minced
1 canned chopped tomatoes (with juice)
About 1 tablespon fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Throw it all in the crockpot on low for about 7 hours or high for about 4 hours.
It really was incredible! :)
After my soup, I headed down to the SE Hawthorne area for some more students. I had bought some "gourmet lollipops" for my students for Halloween treats. I had some in my bag with me.
Yesterday I made an amazing discovery. I was hungry. I was at the church where I teach piano on Saturdays. And I hadn't packed much food. I felt kind of panicky actually because I was feeling hungry and weak and I had several more students before rehearsal. So I grabbed one of the gourmet lollipops and made a cup of oolong tea. For some reason, the bag had mostly blue and purple lollipops - "Blueberry Cream", "Blue Raspberry" and a "Grape". I did not want a blue or purple tongue. I spied a big white "Pina Colada". Score!
For some bizarre reason, I dipped my lollipop in my hot tea. OMG!!!
It kind of melted a bit and was this creamy, coconutty, pineapple goodness in my mouth. I don't even usually have much of a sweet tooth. But I had a feeling I was on to something. That lollipop lasted me all afternoon. And I was a very happy teacher!
I looked them up online. They have about 100 calories. But I read that they are not good for your teeth if you have them in your mouth all day. The "Colgate Oral Health Center" recommends drinking water and brushing after sucking on a lollipop.
Oh, aside from melting the candy into a creamy bit of heaven, it also sweetened my tea a bit!
Well, I guess my fantasies of a lollipop diet have been dashed, unless I want to go sugar free. But today at my last house, my student's dad made me a cup of Earl Grey Tea. I gave my student her Halloween lollipop (she chose grape!) and I scored a butterscotch. Dipped in Earl Grey tea, of course!!
I recently read the book Begin with Yes by Paul Boynton. He is an optimist. I follow him on Facebook and share at least one of his posts (along with a beautiful, inspiring photograph) each day. I recently purchased the workbook (Begin with Yes - 21-Day Companion Workbork: A Step by Step Guide to Living your Begin with Yes Life).
I am so inspired by this author. I am on Day four. I am supposed to lie down in a quiet place and allow my mind to wander back in time to moments when I was truly and utterly happy. I started this exercise earlier, but was distracted by my noisy kids. So I'll finish later. But what occurred to me is that all of my happy memories have to do with food! Go figure!!
I may have to add my butterscotch lollipop dipped in Earl Grey tea memory. Sweet dreams are made of this! :)
Happy Sunday!
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