A little perspective, please!

Overheard over the bushes, while having lunch on a nice day out ...

Friend- So have you talked to him about it yet?
Friend of a friend- Well, I brought it up…
Friend- And?
Friend of a friend- He was non-committal about it
Friend- What do you mean? You should have asked him point blank.
Friend of a friend- I did
Friend- What did he have to say?
Friend of a friend- He said he wasn’t in denial
Friend- Well he is. He’s in denial. Guys just don’t care about that kind of stuff
Friend of a friend- What more can I do?
Friend- Did you ask him if he ever?
Friend of a friend- Yeah
Friend- And?
Friend of a friend- He said he was confused for a little while but then decided not to
Friend- It could be that he made the wrong choice, if you know what I mean
Friend of a friend- You think!
Friend- Hey don’t go off on me lady
Friend of a friend- *sigh* Sorry. Its just that …
Friend- Just what?
Friend of a friend- Well, why do I always get stuck with the wrong kind of guy?
Friend- Ha-ha well you have the right kind of guy some would say.
Friend of a friend- Yeah, but why cant I find the right kind of STRAIGHT guy!
Friend- Well thanks heavens you’re NOT the lady MARRIED to the guy… I wonder if she knows …
Me: &%^&$^&$#!$$#!!!!!!!! (Silently, of course!)

Puts things in perspective huh?!

Share the comfort (food)

We had the post-lovely-weekend blues last evening and needed some comfort food. It was a chilly Seattle evening so I decided to make soup, tomato soup.

Usually the only soups I like are wonton style clear soups but that was hardly going to satisfy us so I decided to try to replicate the tomato bisque we’d had just days ago.

It turned out so hearty and comforting that I thought I should share the recipe. So here it is->

Ingredients:

1 medium onion
1 medium carrot
1 clove of elephant garlic
1 spring onion
10 basil leaves
2 cups tomatoes (peeled, canned kind)
2 cups vegetable broth
½ cup cream

Paprika
Salt
Pepper
2 tbs wheat flour
1 bay leaf
2 tsps rosemary/thyme/herbs de provence (any one)

Chop the onion, and sauté in some olive oil or butter
Chop the carrots and garlic, add to the onions and sauté
Add the bayleaf and herbs
Whisk the flour into the broth and pour into the onion/veggie mixture
Let it boil and remove the bay leaf
Add the tomatoes and heat through
Puree the entire mixture (if you like it a little chunky, use a hand blender!)
Add the cream and heat if needed.

Season with salt, pepper and chopped basil leaves. Garnish with spring onions.

(The soup tastes awesome with garlic bread- mash a clove of garlic into some softened butter and spread on bread, broil in the oven for 3 mins)

You got me!

Maybe I’m naïve and that’s why Hubby finds it so easy to pull a fast one on me …

He said we’re going camping this weekend along the Columbia River gorge. Conveniently I hurt my knee the night before so he ends up having to pack! No, he didn’t have anything to do with the injured knee and yes, its not often he packs for a trip!

So we’re off at noon on Friday, to “beat the traffic”, he says. I hesitate to tell him I’m re-thinking the whole camping/hiking trip (think bad-knee). So we drive to Portland and I’ve been in and out of my current book until I notice we’re driving by a Spa that looks real cool by the way! I point this out to him. *Sigh* I knew we should have taken the GPS I think. Its almost 5 in the evening and we aren’t at our campsite yet?

He says we should ask for directions but then grins and says THIS is the campsite. I ask where the River is. The hotel is right on it he says. I can’t believe it, I’ve been had! Again. J (And he'd packed camping stuff as well so I wouldnt have a clue!)

Two blissful days later, I’m rejuvenated. Portland is a lovely city we discover. People, Food and Scenic beauty- it had it all, in abundance. The best Tuscan tomato soup we’ve ever tasted (beyond Tuscany I’m sure) and the most decadent Chocolate Mousse ever. If you ever visit don’t forget a trip down Pearl District to Moonstruck Café.

And the weather was … well, it’s the North West in fall, if you like the crisp air along with “cloudy-sunshine”, this is the place for you! The Saturday market was a lot of fun. As was Powell’s Book store. Four blocks and 3 stories of books?! Now there’s a Saturday spent well! Ofcourse I don’t buy too many. I still need to convince him that a buying a bookshelf for our home is not a bad idea!

Now I’m back at work and re-living the whole weekend. *Sigh* It was wonderful. Thanks Hubby. Happy Anniversary to you too.