This weekend I was that girl. You know her and you have probably smirked at her. Hell, I have even thrown a few well deserved nasty glances in her direction.
I dressed blissfully, shamelessly and highly inappropriately for this time of the year. I may have skipped a time or two; this is how freaking happy I was to feel the warmth. Gone were the tights and my bare legs saw the first glimmer of sunlight. I gleefully tucked away the knee high boots for open toe stilettos and flip flops. Not a tear was shed when I pushed my winter coat and mittens to the back of the closet to make room for my trench coats and swing jackets.
I know it is too soon, though. This optimism is premature and soon enough I will me searching for my scarf. I am getting far too ahead of myself, but I cannot help it. I am ready. This body wants to feel sunlight.
I will be sad when the cold returns, but there is an upside. I cannot believe I am going to say this but a final snap of cold weather would bring one good thing: a final opportunity for soup. If you have spent enough time here you have probably picked up on my penchant for soups, stews and chilis. They are easy, cheap and generally healthy; what more does a girl need? I made this one a few weeks back for a quick and easy dinner with a friend. The potatoes make it hearty without tons of fat and the leeks add a really nice flavor. We were all surprised at how great this tasted since it only took about 30 minutes to pull together and had minimal ingredients. Served with a salad, it was a perfect week day dinner (and the leftovers made for great lunches.)
So while it would make me sad to hide my sandals again, I could definitely live with eating this one more time.
Golden Potato Leek Soup
Adapted from Cooking Light
1 tablespoon butter
3 cups thinly sliced leek (about 3 medium)
6 cups cubed peeled Yukon gold potato (about 2 1/4 pounds)
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 (14-ounce) cans organic vegetable broth (such as Swanson Certified Organic)
2 thyme sprigs
1/3 cup lo fat whipping cream (I used ff half and half)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
To prepare soup, melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add leek; cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally (do not brown).
Add potatoes, water, salt, broth, and 2 thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes or until potatoes are very tender.
Remove pan from heat; discard thyme sprigs. Partially mash potatoes with a potato masher; stir in cream. Used a blender or an immersion blender to further puree soup for a creamier texture. Sprinkle with black pepper.
Everybody’s smiling
Sunshine da-a-ay
Everybody’s laughing
Sunshine da-a-ay
Thanks. That’s what I needed in my brain today. *shakes fist*
I know, I am sorry, but I had to.
I think I may have perhaps skipped just a little bit myself yesterday when all the girls were out at the farm having a grill out with the sun shining and three years old jumping perilously on the trampoline without jackets. And we had freshly ripped out of the sea mahi mahi grilled on cedar planks. And risotto - creamy, lovely risotto. And I wore flip flops for the first time since October and it was LOVERLY.
Mahi mahi and risotto?! You are killing me, woman. KILLING ME. I want.
I may have frolicked on Sunday. I stress “may.” You cannot hold me to this.
Hmm, I suspect there was some frolicking, fB.
So easy and so good (the soup I mean). I think I know what’s for dinner as the temps dip this week.
Soup, wonderful soup
Perfect for not-quite-spring days
Warm to the tummy
Oh, I hope you make it. Let me know.
I’m as guilty of this as you are. I was all over the sunshine and warm weather on Saturday. But yesterday and today reminded me that we aren’t quite there yet, at least not where I live.
Welcome Jacqueline. It really is sad to see it slip away.
Embrace the warmth and all of the opportunities it presents. Friends, family, the water, and a nice tan to only name a few! Potato soup is an all time favorite. Have you ever thrown some dumplings into the mix for good measure?
I am ready to embrace my sundresses. I have never thrown in dumplings…there is a thought.
I was happy to bust out my new skull flipflops, you weren’t the only one. Everyone was happy this weekend………
soup looks yummy
Seriously, people were grinning. It was so nice.
I sashayed on my way to work today. I did. And it was WONDERFUL.
Surprising you could sashay given you are…impaired.
I could go for this and a bread bowl right about…
It would be good, huh?
That soup is almost worth another week or two of winter. Yum.
I found a pair of shoes this weekend that would go perfectly with that gorgeous frock you bought a few Sundays ago. I’m looking for the link now.
Oh yes, please send! I like that dress more and more-thank goodness you convinced me to buy it.
Saturday it got up to just shy of 50 degrees. For us, it was cause for celebration. I saw people in shorts, sandals and - perhaps most amazing of all - smiles.
Yesterday it snowed all day.
Freaking Canada. I am telling you.
I encourage women to wear skirts… any. time. of. the. year.
Seriously.
But it is so cold!
that soup looks delish
Why thanks.
i was basking in the good weather this weekend. and now? fucking snow, all over the place, again. beat.
God damn Boston. Jesus.
Very hearty soup! I love thyme and potatoes - go really well together
Lennie
They do! You should try this…super simple.
Piffle, says I! Nonesuch! And pish-tush and other quaint, archaic versions of “oh, please.” Smirk at an openly happy girl in skirt and stilettos? Less cheery women may get snippy about such things, but it’s only jealousy. There is very little in the world more attractive than happiness, especially a pretty girl happy to be wearing less.
That sort of thing happened all over the freaking place around here last Monday. It was like a switch had been flipped. Absolutely delicious.
“There is nothing more attractive in the world than happiness”. I like that, John.
Nonononononono! Although I realize I will, in all likelihood, have the chance to wear newly-purchased sale boots, I am so happily mincing about in my new platform sandals. And the thought of being jerked back into winter is almost more than I can bear.
I need new platform sandals. Thanks for the reminder.
Mm…that soup does look fantastic (and easy!), but I’ll take the warm weather over soup any day. These warm weekends are such teasers.
I know…at least it was the weekend and not the week. It could be enjoyed.
Am I the only person in the world who eats soup year-round? Fun fact: if you eat/drink hot liquids when it’s hot out, you feel cooler by comparison.
Good call.
Speaking of warm weather, yesterday I made the first gazpacho of the year! I didn’t know it had got that warm up where you are yet…
It was mid 70s which was pretty warm. Hooray.
I noticed you added the cream to your recipe, and it doesn’t appear to be in the Cooking Light.
Did you add that just for the added fat and creaminess? Had you tried it without? I’m wondering if the original recipe is worth making without the addition.
Welcome Jeffersonian. The original recipe actually did have cream in it.
Oh, believe me, I felt the EXACT same way this weekend. I wore skirts without tights both Friday and today…it’s wonderful. So much less restricting!
Freeing even.
Leeks are among the more underappreciated vegetables. They simply don’t get the respect and attention they deserve. Parsnips and brussels sprouts are also in this category.
Peter
You know how much I like the brussel sprouts. I will change the world’s opinion on them!
Thanks for the welcome.
It helps if I keep reading to the “additional ingredients.” Thanks.
Hey, no problem. Here to help.
Soup on a spring’ish day is not something I look forward to unless we are talking gauzpacho or a cold melon soup. However, the freshness of leeks and thyme makes it a better option than cold weather veggies that are generally shipped 100’s of miles to us. Still IMHO, soup should be a cold weather thing. But if it does cool down later in the week, I’ll have to try this with the new immersion blender I got a week ago.
Sadly, it is supposed to be colder.
Oh my goodness, this weekend TOTALLY called for bare legs. I was that girl right alongside you, haha.
Btw, I just have to proclaim my blog-love. I love your recipes and witticisms.
Why thanks! That is too kind.
You can make something similar for the spring/summertime that’s a chilled version of a potato and leak soup called vichyssoise. Mmmm…
Good call…very good call.
So how was the weekend? We turned up the thermostat to 70 in anticipation of your arrival.
Any updates on what you ate?
I am coming in 4 days! 4 freaking days. There will be very many updates.
Oops - my bad…you might have meant this coming weekend.
So who is going to pay for this extra-warm weather we wasted on you?
Jesus will pay….Jesus himself.
i wanted so hard to put the tights away this weekend but i just couldn’t, i wish i had though. i’m starting to twitch from lack of sunlight on my skin.
I will be dreaming of this soup while in the frozen tundra for the next month. I will console myself with Stroganoff, blini and pelemini.
But you are there for an awesome reason…yay!
There is no wrong time for soup. No matter the weather, soup is my constant companion.
There are much worse companions in this world, I assure you.
Rockin flops, Shorts and a T-shirt. You should join in!
I don’t wear shorts.
this soup was deleesh and inspired me to consider conquering soup for the first time.
I was so happy you liked it, my dear.