Everything sublime is as difficult as it is rare. Baruch Spinoza

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Modified Roasted Eggplant Soup


I thought the roasted vegetable to broth ratio was not right, so I made some adaptations. I had a small amount of egg noodles in a package I put into the soup and some bacon ends I got from Misfits that I put in the air fryer and sprinkled on top. It was good! There is enough soup for one more lunch.

Boud, I think I'm going to make a stir fry tomorrow. You put it in my mind. I have some leftover pork roast I'll use. 

We have already reached the high for the day. Tomorrow is supposed to be brutal, below zero with high wind, the wind chill factor -30/-40. I heard Maine is supposed to have wind chill of minus 60! I read years ago that much of the migration to Minnesota came from Maine. When I was researching my paternal family I found a relative born in Maine in the mid 1700s. I guess, like the Scandinavians, they were drawn to the climate they knew.

The end of this month will be three years since I have been in a grocery store. I went to Costco just before the shutdown (I was one of the lucky who bought a large package of toilet paper added to the large package I already had) and that was it. I had delivery and then pick up. Mark goes to the local meat market/deli, but because of my limited mobility I never started shopping again. I go to medical facilities. Whoopee. I don't miss it, actually.

Stay warm.








19 comments:

Boud said...

I've made only a handful of store visits in that time. Handsome Son shopped for me, then there was tge local farm and misfits. I've got used to expecting food to appear on the step!

The soup does look good. I like the addition of pasta or grain to soup.

We spent two winters in Wisconsin, with 20 below f. periods. Not my climate. Also way too far from the seashore.

Sandra said...

Boud, if I could walk any distance I'm sure I would be going shopping at least some of the time. I'm really grateful for the shopping and delivery services.

The soup is simple. Roast tomatoes, eggplant, onion and garlic. Blend it and put in chicken or vegetable stock. I like a little red pepper flakes added. You can add cream or leave it out. This is the first time I've added something like pasta and I like it. Goat cheese is perfect with it.

Minnesota has so many lakes you can toss a stone and land on a shore somewhere. We are surrounded by them as well as a river where we live. Have you ever seen Lake Superior? I read recently it is an inland sea.

Boud said...

Yes, I've seen several of the Great Lakes. Ontario, too, has a horizon. And we lived in Madison, surrounded by lakes on which we skated.
But it's not about landlocked water. It's about salt water and the horizon to the next continent. I was born and grew up near it. I just can't breathe in the middle of a landmass. Somehow that lack of an edge doesn't work for me. Early conditioning.

Pixie said...

Truth be told, I would miss shopping, even though it's a pain in the butt sometimes. I like looking at things, even if it's only groceries.

Your soup does look delicious:)

Sandra said...

That makes sense, Boud. I've lived in 2 states that didn't have winter as I know it. I didn't like it. Lots of people from here do, but not me.

Sandra said...

Pixie, I used to like grocery shopping. Then the shutdown happened and then my inability to get around happened and now....I am happy to have someone shop for me!

Even though you aren't soupy, you might like this one.

e said...

Shopping from a wheelchair and paying a cabbie to take me was a pain. Online and home delivery for a fee is so much easier. I hope I never have to go back to that. Your soup is making my mouth water!

Sandra said...

e, if I went to a store I would need a wheelchair or one of those motorized scooters some stores have. I can walk but only short distances.

That soup is really simple.

marlane said...

I agree about grocery shopping but during covid it was the only socialization available for me and Doug. He never wore a mask throughout. I had to go wearing a mask in the beginning. Now things are thankfully back to normal and we can see our friends and visit family.

Far Side of Fifty said...

During Covid I rarely went inside a building...the clinic thats about it. I missed going to the grocery store and some weeks I order and pick up and some weeks I shop myself. We used to belong to Costco when we doctored in Brainerd MN, that was a two hour drive from home. Since our Doctors are in Grand Forks ND now we dropped our Costco membership. One of these days we are going to venture out to the Air Base Commisary and see what they have...when it warms up!

Sandra said...

marlane, masking was mandated here for at least the first year. We still wear a mask. It's required in the clinic and Mark wears one when he goes into stores. Not having a cold for a couple of years makes masking seem like something minimal!

Sandra said...

Far Side, I order from Costco for delivery. Toilet paper, etc. I didn't mind grocery shopping but now I can't do it and I'm so happy to have options. It could be awhile before you get to the Commissary! Actually, it is supposed to get better next week. You live in a part of MN I haven't been to. We always went to the North Shore. I think it's prairie up your way.

marlane said...

Doug is Jewish and he has a strong belief about governments?authoritarians making people do things against their will as in the covid situation. It should always be our own choice.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Roasted eggplant soup is something I have never tried, either made myself or tasted elsewhere, but yours looks so good, Sandra. It is so cold here now in NH, although not as cold as in MN to be sure. A split pea soup and/or butternut squash will be on the menu this week.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

I found it interesting to read how long it has been since you were in a grocery store, but certainly can understand why not. We never stopped going to the local ones even during the pandemic when we masked up and tried to go during more "off" times.

Sandra said...

Beatrice, it's very easy to make and is really good. I liked it dressed up a little!

Sandra said...

marlane, it's an opinion held by many. I'd be interested in knowing what those with this opinion believe the function of government is?

marlane said...

Good question as someone has to take a lead in deciding what to do that is best for everyone.

Sandra said...

Governments purpose is laid out in the preamble of the Constitution, Marlane. Some people only see the liberty part of it.