A Quick and Easy Soup, and "Seeing Red" Juice

leep is my best friend.

Hence, Breakfast on the run this morning:

It was so cold today. On days like today I just want to hibernate.

Another day with very few kids at school. The bus and taxi services were canceled again today, and they will be tomorrow too!

You should see the snow on the residential streets - it is ridiculous! When I walk through the path in my backyard the snow is piled up on either side of me to almost my height.

I honestly have never seen anything like it in my life. These are some pics from around the city (source: Leader Post Website):









Crazy hey!!!!

Those photos should explain why 1/2 my class was not at school this week!!

Okay, back to the food Jolene.

Lunch:







I wanted something warm and comforting for dinner, so I made an easy soup.

Garlicky Tortellini, Spinach and Tomato Soup
(Source: Flavours Magazine)

1) Saute 6-8 chopped cloves of garlic in 2 T butter for 2 minutes (trust me, use all the garlic)



2) Add 4 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil (or veggie)



3) Add 170 g of fresh cheese tortellini and cook about 4 minutes (I used half this pack)





4) Add a 14 oz can of diced tomatoes (including the liquid)



5) Simmer about 2 minutes, then add an entire 10 oz (300g) bag of baby spinach (no need to chop - just toss it all in). Stir until wilted.



6) Serve it up with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese (I used Romano b/c that's what I had) and toss some basil in too.

Bon Appetit!









I enjoyed a few little pieces of baguette with mine.



You really must try this soup - it is SO EASY, yet healthy and delicious.

For a snack this evening I made a juice! I am really loving my juicer - I am SO glad I bought it.

I call this juice "Seeing Red."

It included:

- 1 Apple
- 1 Ruby Red Grapefruit
- 1 Red Pepper
- 1 Roma Tomato



Yummmmmmmm!

Imagine your perfect juice ... what would you put in it?

I am still experimenting to find my favourite combo!

Oh no - I feel a cold coming on. I have had a sore throat all day, so I have been trying to nurse myself back to health. For lunch today I had this:



And a pear:



And some cheese:



After work I went straight to the university to run some more participants.
I just found out this weekend that with only 8 participants ran, I already have results that are statistically significant, and in-fact - highly significant!

(In non-statistical speak, this means that I found "something" of value ... my study has yielded important information that will further the research in the cognitive psychology area).

It is quite uncommon for honours students to find significance in their studies, so I am pretty pumped about it!

With the 4 more people I ran today, the significance should only get stronger :-)

I was at the university from 4:00 - 6:30, so I had a small bowl of mushroom soup to hold me over until dinner:



I also had a cup of "Calm" tea (Chamomile and other herbs) to try and calm my sore throat:



I finally got home around quarter to 7 this evening, and the hubby had made supper!
He made tofu penne (I don't usually eat pasta twice in 1 day - but ahh well).
It was a pesto-like pasta dish, with almonds, herbs, tofu, garlic, and olive oil.






After dinner, in an attempt to load up on vitamins, I made some "ice-cream." I just took some of this frozen fruit:



And added a few tablespoons of unsweetened vanilla almond breeze ... and blended with my Bamix. Voila:



This sore throat is driving me bonkers! What do you do to calm a sore throat?
I have already drunk tea, gargled salt water, taken vitamin C ... now what?