2015

Come back 2014, please. First we have all the health issues both Matt and I had and are still suffering from then Tuesday I had an appointment with my family doctor for my quarterly diabetes check. I got there at about 10:45. They couldn’t find me on the appointment list. Then it turned out that my particular doctor had changed her schedule but nobody had contacted me to change my appointment. I was steaming. They slotted me in with another doctor and I got in to see her half an hour late. However, this doc doesn’t know me so it took her forever to go through everything and then she wouldn’t give me some pills for Matt because she hasn’t/hadn’t seen him. I said he’s right outside but no, he had to have an appointment. I know it’s a narcotic but… our own doctor, who really knows us, would have prescribed some for Matt as well. However… I talked to one of the staff I know well and she is going to talk to our doc who will be there later in the day.

Then, we had arranged with friends to meet them at our favourite Chinese restaurant, the Mandarin, for lunch. I phoned them to let them know we were on our way and off we set. When we got there, they were closed. Staff appreciation day, not being staff, I didn’t appreciate it. Our friends suggested The China House and we followed them there. Not a bad lunch, but not a patch on the Mandarin. We then went back to our friends’ house and spent a pleasant few hours with them imbibing a little wine and lots of nuts and such.

When we came home, having eaten a fair amount we decided to have soup for supper. I went to the freezer and was looking for a particular one when I knocked a container of frozen soup on the floor so the container broke and is now no use to us. Also, our soup had been preselected this way. An hour later, I go to serve the soup with the plastic soup ladle and what do I do, drop it on the floor and shatter it. Luckily I have a silver ladle which was more brown than silver so needed cleaning first. At the time of writing, the day is not over so what will I do next? I nearly knocked our friends’ photo off a table too but caught it.

I first posted this without dating it. I also just realised it is the 13th today even it it's not a Friday.

I enjoy celery soup, I do have a good and simple Weight Watchers recipe which I haven’t made for a long time but this one looks good and I like the idea of bacon croutons.

Celery Soup with Bacon Croutons

Contributed by Naomi Pomeroy

Servings: 8

This elegant soup from chef Naomi Pomeroy gets a surprising amount of flavour from sautéed celery. It has great garnishes, too: bacon croutons and a drizzle of lemon oil. Be sure to buy extra-virgin olive oil infused with pure lemon extract.

1. 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2. 3 medium leeks, halved and thinly sliced
3. 2 medium onions, finely chopped
4. 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
5. Kosher salt
6. Pepper
7. 12 large celery ribs (2 pounds), trimmed and thinly sliced
8. 4 ounces bacon, finely diced
9. Three 1/2-inch-thick slices of country bread, cut into 1/2-inch dice
10. 1/2 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
11. Lemon olive oil, for drizzling

1. In a large saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Add the leeks, onions, garlic and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 12 minutes. Add the celery and cook, stirring, until just starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Add 8 cups of water and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to moderate. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to half of a paper towel–lined baking sheet to drain. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the bacon fat. Add the bread and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until browned and crisp, 8 minutes. Transfer to the other side of the prepared baking sheet; season with salt and pepper.
3. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender until smooth. Return the soup to the saucepan, whisk in the cre?me frai?che and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot, topped with the bacon, croutons and a drizzle of lemon olive oil.

Make Ahead The soup can be refrigerated for 3 days. Rewarm before serving.

Have a great day