So simple creamed split pea soup and the joy - without being specific.

It rained cats and dogs again today, so I continued with my soups and made a creamed split pea soup.

If it's raining where you are, or cold at all, this is the easiest most comforting soup. 

It's ever so velvet-y and sweet and with some fresh bread and butter it's true happiness. 

But as much as I recommend it  have and already made it and yes, enjoyed it and will post the recipe. 

This post is really about how this food translates into soul moments. 

In this one particular day of my life it is about asking myself, not at the end of the day (when it's too late), but throughout, if possible, at any given moment. What kind of 'you' am I being with my  Georgia and my Wylder and my Daniel today?

As it has not been easy around here lately, and the pressure does not seem to be about to relent anytime soon. It has been all too easy to fall into a pattern of being agitated, inattentive and with a growing desire exit through the front door,

and  not come back.

Yes, it's been  a pressure cooker lately and I'm naturally inclined to claustrophobia anyway. 

So I made creamed split pea soup and I thought that compared to all the soups I had made lately this was the easiest one.I did premeditate on it in advance because I craved it and because the peas require 2-3 hours to soak in water, but that's the only 'hitch' about this recipe, I promise. 

I do find, and this happens every time, that once I start translating a simple impulse to make something into instructions, they seem endless, as does the ingredient list. 

But just think of it this way,

it's just some vegetables (whatever you have, really) simmered in good oil for 10 minutes. 

then you throw in the soaked peas and 5 cups of water and that's it.

Keep this in mind when you read my instructions bellow and you'll be enjoying your soup in no time. 

And look at this now, don't you want to eat it?

  . 

She found the joy

it wasn't premeditated

there was no sign of its arrival in advance

in the real time experience of things she has learned

that whatever she planned, or hoped for, was sure not to happen. 

it must be in the art of surprise. 

the fickle art of  how not hope for what she hoped for?

how not to think, or imagine, or worst of all, yearn..../

this is what she found out:

as she had been disillusioned - many a time

as she had been disappointed- many a time

and now had lost her patience to a point numbness. 

she may not have been aware of this, but finally she had

let go, 

was floating.

In this unknown abyss

she had to relax her the soul muscles. 

take a truly deep breath 

(an art in its own right)

and then, and only then

when completely unprepared

without a thought of any kind

in the depth of sleep

it came upon her. 

unexpectedly. 

A warmth

enveloping her sleeping self. 

a sweet breath. 

a soothing touch and 

all her defenses 

fancy armor

fences of "touch me nots"

melted away 

just like that 

her conscious self

absent

and then

A blossom,

a shy bloom of a rare kind

to be known only by the touch of he who attends to her all year round

all day every day

who has and who holds

the moments

of the years

known in this twosome

her knight

in shining armor

her love

 Recipe for creamy split pea soup. 

21/2 dry cups of soaked split peas (before soaked in water)

4 cups of broth (chicken is my choice)

1 Tbls Miso dissolved in 1 cup water(or just another cup of liquid - water is fine)

1 medium onion. 

3 cloves of garlic

3 leeks, (optional) if big two will do. 

2 carrots. 

4 celery stalks. 

3-4 strips of bacon, or 5 Tbls of olive oil if you must.

1  tsp of dry or fresh Thyme

salt and pepper to taste. 

allow the bacon to render its lovely fat

throw in the vegetables and cook for 10 minutes, 

Don't let the veggies cook through, you want to leave them recognizable and bite-able. 

Add the peas the chicken broth and Miso water. 

Add Thyme and some salt, add more later and also the pepper in the end.

Allow to come to a light boil. 

Then turn down the stove and allow to simmer covered for 1:30- 2 hours.

When done mash the peas and vegetables with a hand electronic mixer. 

I do it very carefully when soup is still hot cause I can't wait to have some. 

If you are using a blender you will have to wait for the soup to cool down. 

when ready to serve drizzle some good Extra Virgin Olive oil. 

And don't forget fresh country bread and butter.

Now, and this is completely optional. 

while cooking it is recommended to have a glass of wine in hand (red or white - up to you). 

And for main course, 

A wonderful  home made lasagna, the epic preparation of which will be on my next post. 

Because this was one of those fun dishes that eveyone wanted to be involved in.

So the soup is really an appetizer if you will, 

But there's a long interval between the two courses (even a day). 

and for desert, cake is coming. . .

Pancakes for breakfast - good coffee, but no cake.

This morning started with buttermilk pancakes. Georgia and Wylder requested them as soon as they opened their eyes.

It is our favorite pancake recipe and if I ever try to vary from it,  even a bit (I attempted to introduce an oatmeal pancake recipe from the lovely Orangette lately), everybody complained fiercely.
I highly recommend giving this recipe a try, especially if you have kids,
Georgia and Wylder are the mixers and tasters.  As we stand crowded over the bowl they dip their fingers in the sugar, and try out the batter many, many times before it hits the griddle. So if you like it's a family affair. 
Recipe adapted from David Rosengarten. enjoy!
 Best ever Buttermilk Pancakes. 

Dry ingredients:
11/4 cup all purpose flour.
1/4tsp baking soda
1/4tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Wet ingredients.
In the pancake pan, melt 3 Tbls of butter (even let it burn a little, smells so good) and set aside.
In a bowl whisk together.
1 large egg
11/4 cup of buttermilk.
2Tbls sugar.
1tsp Vanilla
add the melted butter while whisking.

Now add dry ingredients, once brought together let sit for 5 minutes before scooping onto the hot griddle.
I usually use 1/3 cup size measuring cup as a scoop, this makes  for medium size pancakes. .
Although they are made with butter we always smear on more before we drizzle the honey.
Yes, honey. myself I'm a maple syrup girl, but for some reason (Daniel) everybody else takes honey on their pancakes - not me. . . .

If I have any batter left over(I usually do) I make them all and warp in aluminum foil to keep in the refrigerator.
They can be warmed up in the toaster anytime, up to a week later,  and they taste fresh and delicious.

For lunch it was simple chicken soup.

I had made it two days ago and am still enjoying it, as such soups get better a few days in. 

I added Cannellini beans while I was warming up a portion for myself today. I love their rich creamy texture and it went very well with the soup. There aren't too many soup justifying days in LA so I'm making the most out of what little winter we got here before the heat strikes yet again.

Chicken soup is always a soul comforting food for me as well as supposedly being a very nutritious food choice. 

Shortly afterward it was a perfect cup of coffee to that carried me through the afternoon. Sometimes I think I enjoy the choice of cup and the way it looks next to my computer, more than the coffee itself. I leave it on the desk a long time afterward just for the whiff of atmosphere it exudes.

I am trying hard to abstain from baking something this afternoon, as we still have some oatmeal muffins left, and no one in this household is as keen on baked goods as myself. 

I always feel that cooking of any sort needs justification beyond just me and I don't want to over feed my family members especially not with cakes and muffins.  That said, I need to bake, or at least cook something very soon and it will probably be on my next post if not tonight.
A good cup of coffee in the afternoon is always a mini celebration though, even without cake. 
You might have noticed it's been mainly soups lately,
and no lovely sex to report either.
Yes, it's not just the lack of cake, but funny things go together.
There has been nothing sweet about our financial woes lately and these have not brought on a romantic mood.
Daniel has had to take on a job that he hates and while I'm hoping that some of our designs will be ready for a Baby show in Las Vegas next year (and that we'll be able to afford making them) Right now things are dire.
But things can change in an instant sometimes. It starts with something small and then before you know it there's hope and joy and sweet things too.
Next time you're here, if you see a cake . . . .
This is Mrs. Butterfly and Mr. Caterpillar made by Georgia this afternoon.