Carrot and Celery Soup; Squishy things in the dark; Weekly Menu

Carrot Celery Soup

You're watching the telly… or a movie….

You, the viewer, know that the brutal, rapist/serial killer is sitting on the living room sofa holding a long, razor-sharp knife… Waiting patiently.

It's late; a dark, moonless night.

The woman comes home, unlocks the door and walks into her house.  She puts her keys down, hangs up her coat and wanders into the kitchen.  She tosses her phone onto the counter, opens the fridge and pours a glass of wine.  She slowly walks toward the predator.

All without turning on a single light.

Don't you just want to scream: TURN ON THE DAMN LIGHT!!!!

Don't you think: How can anyone be so stupid; so oblivious.

Now, think….

How often do you do that yourself?

I do it all the time.  I never turn the lights on.  I'm always wandering around in the dark.

Last night, as usual, the little German bitch (as in female dog)  wanted to go outside around 3am.  She's a bit incontinent, so I'd rather let her out than mop the floor.

As usual, I wandered sleepily through the dark house to the front door, without turning on any lights.

Not as usual, I stepped on something….

Something big…. And squishy….

The weather has been getting a bit warmer, here.  Spring is coming.

With the spring come all the creepy, crawly, slithery denizens of the night that have been tucked away for the winter.

We're new here.  We've not yet been introduced to the variety of critters that were in the past, and may still be, co-inhabitants of this house.

Fortunately, because this is still a 'construction site' I had slipped some shoes on.

But 'squishy' is something one senses more than feels.

I paused in the dark, debating.

Should I turn the light onto find out what it is/was?  And possibly give myself nightmares for weeks to come?

Did I kill it?  Damage it?  Squish (shudder!!!) it?

Or should I just convince myself (I can be very gullible when necessary) that it was, say, the broom, and go back to bed.

I let the dog back in….

And turned on the light….

There was nothing there.

Nothing.

That, of course, presents a whole new set of thoughts for my imagination.

I didn't sleep well the rest of the night.

Actually, I'm a little uncomfortable just typing this….

Maybe some hot soup would sooth my nerves.

Thinking spring usually makes me also start thinking light.

Carrot and Celery Soup
This is a simple, healthy, low calorie soup that is packed with flavor, perfect for a light first course.

2 large carrots
2 large ribs celery
1/2 onion
1 1/2 cups (12oz, 375ml) beef stock
1 tbs parsley
black pepper to finish

Roughly chop the onion, carrot and celery. Put vegetables in a medium saucepan. Add the stock, bring to a boil over medium heat. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
Purée in a blender or use an immersion blender. Ladle into soup plates, sprinkle with parsley, a bit of pepper and serve.

In addition to the above, for the week of March 27 we have Artichokes with Yogurt Dip, Salmon with Capers, Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Spinach and Prosciutto, Spinach Salad with Ham, Avocado and Pasta….

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