Sunday, December 31, 2017

Cauliflower Soup And Other Plans

So. I have been cooking more. But lately I haven't been feeling well. I have some kind of crud. Sore sinus, sore throat, cough. The symptoms come and go and change in prominence. Often it impacts my energy and appetite.  I had big plans for the holidays but most of them didn't happen.
Even before the holiday food I had a plan for cauliflower soup. Simple plan. Roast the cauliflower. Start with my olive oil, chili flake, shallot, garlic routine. Add chicken stock. Blend. Add half and half and butter. Eat. But nothing is simple when your body doesn't cooperate.
My Christmas Eve dinner plan was orange, fennel and pomegranate salad and triple cream. I managed to get the salad made. It was really good. But I only managed a few bites of each. No wine. Christmas was supposed to be a steak, polenta and green beans. I got the beans cooked. That was it. I baked a potato and ate a few of the beans. No wine. HoHoHo. I wasn't even that bummed. I just didn't feel well.
I don't even remember when I put finally put the cauliflower in the oven with a few cloves of garlic. I love the smell of things roasting. But then my energy flagged so I put it all in the fridge. Days later I pulled it out. Skipped the starting ritual. Blended it all with stock and cream. It is really good. I thought about adding cheese but decided I like it the way it was. It probably needed more blending or even a pass through a strainer or a food mill but I didn't mind the wee bits of cauliflower. 
Years ago I had an amuse bouche at a French restaurant. A demitasse cup of cauliflower soup with truffle oil. I've been trying to recreate it ever since. This new soup was close. I have some truffle oil but I didn't add it.
The roasted garlic was so good that I plan to roast a bunch and keep it in a jar in the fridge. 
I don't even remember the New Years Eve plan. I think scallops were part of something but I never ordered them.
I don't follow any rules No collards and black eyed peas. When I was young the mommie used to eat an onion sandwich and drink buttermilk every New Years eve. I have no idea why.
I slept a for many hours the last two nights. And I woke up with a fair amount of energy. I've been cleaning and cleaning. I made a sort of stew with things I needed to use up from the refrigerator and (finally) some polenta.


I feel like things are better. I think about food. I make plans. I do cook.
No big plan for tonight. I think I'll have the rest of the soup and maybe a grilled ham and cheese sandwich if my energy and appetite hold up. Mandy gave me some small bottles of champagne. There will be wine.

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