You Wanted My Soup du Jour!

First– Thank you for all the Valentine’s Day LOVE!!
I hope you guys keep that lovey dovey feeling all year round!
I was also asked ,”how do you make that spinach soup that made you so strong and your guns look like Popeye?!” OK, no one actually said I have huge guns like Popeye it was more like, “Do you have that recipe for your spinach soup?”

Why, yes, yes I do!

Cream of Spinach Soup

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
5 large plump garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
750 ml (or 1 1/4 pints) of cold water
1 tsp salt

1 lb of spinach, washed and large stems removed
2 oz margarine
3 tbsp flour
750 ml (1 1/4 pints) of milk
1/2 tsp of freshly grated nutmeg
freshly ground black pepper
6-8 tbsp of creme fraiche or sour cream
warm foccacia bread, to serve

Place the onion, garlic and potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Add half the salt and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Remove from the heat and add the spinach. Cover and set aside for 10 minutes.


Slowly melt the margarine in another saucepan, add the flour and cook over a low heat for about 2 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the milk, a little at a time, stirring continuously. Return to the heat and cook, stirring continuously, for about 5-8 minutes, or until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Add the freshly grated nutmeg, or to taste.


Blend the cooled potatoes and spinach mixture in a food processor or blender to a smooth puree, then return to the saucepan and gradually stir in the white sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper and gently reheat, taking care not to allow the soup to boil. Ladle into soup bowls and top with spoonfuls of creme fraiche or soured cream.


Serve immediately with warm foccacia bread.

As for those splotches you’ve been asking about– here is how I noticed them: I am constantly noticing anything that appears in my skin because of my history with skin cancer. But these splotches were pretty big and I just noticed them when I was leaving the locker room to go have a steamy date with my t-mill. So, like any crazy person would, I took a picture of them so that I could keep my eye out on them.

I haven’t seen those splotches come back yet so, I’m hoping it was just a one time crazy thing. I’m not worried about it yet– I’m just keeping an eye on it.

Last nights workout- BOOT CAMP! And I found that I am attractive when doing a platypus walk. You’re right- I’m not. One day? Maybe, even?

Just Call Me Popeye!

I have been trying to put some more leisurely activities into my day so that I make myself sit and relax. So, I did some reading. (Yes, I’m still reading The Time Traveler’s Wife– unbelievable, I know! It’s not that I’m not liking it. I just don’t make enough time to read anymore. I know, I have to make time.)
After having my morning coffee and some reading I did a bit of sewing. I really don’t make enough time to sew anymore either. I think it’s time to make a google calendar and put these activities into action. It was so nice to just stitch rip a hem. A hem. Those use to be the least of my favourite things to do but yesterday it felt relaxing and fun. So, I will go to my sewing room, play some music and get creative more often.  





And then it was lunchtime. Spoiler: Here’s where I turn into Popeye!With a windchill of -20 Degrees Celsius all I want is soup lately. So, I found a spinach soup recipe. (Spinach! Of all things. You can really make anything into soup.) So, I did. And it was deeeelicious! And soup-er easy to make. haha I made a lame joke.  
After gaining some energy, I downed a coffee and decided it would be a great idea to hit the T-Mill. Today was a long run day and even though my body was feeling drained, I decided to go through with it anyways. I had some help with my friends Vampire Weekend.
The Vampire Weekend Playlist
Mansard Roof- Vampire Weekend

Oxford Comma- Vampire Weekend
A-Punk- Vampire Weekend 
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa- Vampire Weekend
M79- Vampire Weekend 
Campus- Vampire Weekend
Bryn- Vampire Weekend
One (Blake’s Got a New Face)- Vampire Weekend
I Stand Corrected- Vampire Weekend
Walcott- Vampire Weekend
The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance- Vampire Weekend

The album ended and I need some more tunes so, I put on some Beatles to keep me going:
 
Back In the USSR- The Beatles
Getting Better- The Beatles 
Helter Skelter- The Beatles  
 
Cool Down and Stretching
Here Comes The Sun- The Beatles
 
Stats of the Run
Distance: 10.26 km
Pace: 4:11 min/km
Incline: 1%
 
At the end of the run I decided to sprint the last kilometer. In the last RW mag, I read that you should push yourself to sprint right at the very end where you feel like you can’t go anymore so that on race day you can keep pushing yourself through. Ahh muscle memory, you are a treat. And so was my much needed food and a good night’s sleep after this run. I refuse to get this “second flu” that is going around. Once was enough thank you!