This mild tomato-based soup takes the place of overly sweet canned stuff, and it is easy to cook in the Instant Pot, making it perfect for busy evenings. It’s just tame enough for kids to tolerate but has a comforting flavor that makes me want to find more things to dip so I can eat more. I like to pour it into a mug for maximum sandwich dunking. My favorite pairing is a crusty whole grain grilled cheese made with my beloved Tillamook cheddar.
It is a great way to use up prolific oregano, hidden weird carrots, and the truckloads of tiny tomatoes that are still hanging around the neglected garden of early fall. I like to leave the tomato seeds in: they give just a hint of texture and bitterness that add to the depth of the soup. Leftovers taste even better!
I listen to heart monitor alarms all day long at work. My mind must be constantly alert and listening subconsciously for these (which can be life-saving) along with patient call bells, patient screams, code blue announcements, my work cell phone, my personal cell phone, the unit landline, and whatever else is going on. By the …
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Multitasking fails I have experienced include: Trying to express breast milk with an electric pump and a “hands free” bra at the wheel of my car while driving home from work. Result: very erratic driving, crying over spilt milk, and a sense of incompetence. Attempting to barbecue chicken legs while gardening and talking on the …
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At my son’s football game today I found myself getting a little worked up. The refs had made a call that displeased the other team, and the families across the field in the home stands were livid. The sound of “those people” booing and carrying on made my stomach churn. My heart started beating faster …
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This morning’s run was very nice. I went farther than I thought I would. The weather wasn’t dry but it was perfect. I just can’t complain. Running is a habit (again, finally) because I’ve made it so. Exercise Happens! I wanted it back in my life and it took awhile. Though I still have goals …
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Getting out of work on time is hard for me most evenings. I tend to want closure, to wrap up a thought so I can send it away from my mind safely, without it dangling underfoot like an untied shoestring. This leads to me doing “just one more thing”, and the thing leads to another …
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I spent a lot of money this weekend on myself and my family. About $450 is gone and it’s only the wee hours of Sunday so far. I went crazy over-budget with food and entertainment. We blew $40 on pepperoni and bacon at the local butcher shop alone. BACON, people, should not cost more than …
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I was raised in what most people would call a hoarder house. My parents had problems getting rid of things, which made for a challenging environment to grow up in, and it shaped how I feel about my own house now. Although I am not a hoarder in the traditional sense I am keenly aware …
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Sitting in a hammock, slowly rocking beneath rustling leaves. Feeling warm sand squish between my toes. Napping with my kids on the big couch after binge watching comedies. Eating lunch at a noodle shop and running the track with my sister. These all sound like good ways to spend an afternoon. My days off are …
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I have been intermittently tracking Worth-It and Not-Worth-It Foods—trying to pay more attention to what I eat, recognizing food experiences that are worth it in terms of calories, taste, and enjoyability. On the flip side, I am trying to stop myself from making eating decisions that are not worth it to me and make me …
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