Soup'd Up

On the menu today for lunch? Tetra Pak butternut squash soup with a side of buttered toast, thank you. Sexy, no? I was too depressed to cook. To get all creative and whip up something gourmet, like a smoked Gouda grilled cheese with spiced tomato chutney or a thinly sliced filet mignon Panini with horseradish Dijon, melted Oka and topped with freshly picked mâche. Instead, it’s boxed soup and toasted 12 grain. Wooohooo!

My internet connection was down. Allllllll daaaaay. It’s paralyzing. It means I can barely do any work (sniff!) but it also means avenues of entertainment and information are also cut off. No email, no website, no communication, no porn, no recipes, no info, no nothing.

The worst part? It’s not technically my internet connection so I can’t even complain (to an ISP anyway). I steal my wireless from a few peeps in the ‘hood who don’t have secure accounts and for the most part—for the better part of four months actually—there’s been few interruptions. It’s at times like these I consider breaking down and paying the Man for my own private account. But I won’t ’cause I know it’ll come back. It always does. (You’re reading this aren’t you?)

So, while wracking my little brain this morning on what I could accomplish I decided I’d scan some recent media coverage of Entertaining with Booze and get it ready to post on my site. I couldn’t post it in fact and soon lost interest. I then decided I’d write my blog but couldn’t think of a starting point. I might as well just go back to bed. But physical fitness is top of mind—being January and all—so I walked up the street to the Matty Eckler Community Recreation Centre for a swim. Never been before but what the hell, I’ll try anything once. And maybe, just maybe the tepid water would inspire something brilliant.

Nope, guess not.

After splashing away in the water and attempting a few hapless laps of breast stroke, I toweled off, put on too many layers of clothing and trudged on home. The slush underfoot and the blanket of fresh snow in the neighbourhood was somehow nostalgic and made me think of tobogganing as a kid. Rushing home afterward, wet and cold, cheeks rosy and hands numb, to my mom’s kitchen where an offer of hot chocolate would surely be made. Mmmmm, hot chocolate. It’s the prefect winter day for a cup of homemade cocoa. Maybe something fancy with a twist of orange peel simmered in the pot? Or a couple cardamom pods? Cinnamon stick or pinch of cayenne, anyone?

Well, we’ll see.

I’m kinda full from lunch and the cocoa craving I once had subsided thanks to that big bowl of butternut squash soup. But that soup got me thinking. A dollop of crème fraiche, a sprinkling of Ancho chili powder and a bright blue napkin really classed that girl up. So much so, you could pass her off as the first course at a dinner party with no need to tell your guests she came in a box called Tetra.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about “from scratch” and have a delicious (you betcha!) butternut squash bisque in my new book, but I’m also a realist and know that sometimes homemade just isn’t possible. This is where the food stylist in me comes out. With the right vessel and a simple garnish even packaged food can look great. Does it taste as good as homemade? No, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spice up the boxed variety. A little S&P go along way.

As for the “tarting” her up part, I really did that for you. How thoughtful, I know?! I wanted to share something so easy and so quick to show what a little finesse can do to something as simple as pureed squash. No crème fraiche? Use sour cream. No sour cream? Crumble some gorgonzola or sharp white cheddar. Look in your pantry, in your fridge, under the sink. (Okay, maybe not under the sink.) Just get creative and you’ll be fine.

I used Ancho chili powder but I could also have sprinkled paprika, cumin, chopped fresh rosemary or chives, or any other number of herbs to brighten her up and add an extra note of flavour.

And that attractive blue napkin? A leftover from my New-Year’s-Eve-On-A-Dime party where the bought decorations came from a dollar store.

Not mind blowing stuff I know, just food for thought. Okay yuck, gotta go.