Soup Week

I've been fighting a bi-lateral ear infection this week, using soup as my antibiotic of choice...plus, soup tastes better.
...
Started Sunday with Leeky-Potato soup, in chicken broth with a little bit of cream added at the end. Yummy, but not strong enough to knock out the bugs.







Monday night, I made another favorite, Italian Bean and Sausage, in beef and chicken broth, with extra spicy sausage and both white and black peppers. Also made a pan of cornbread, which feels good and scratchy against a sore throat. Used Swiss chard instead of broccoli rabe and was surprised to find I like it very much in soup.






Today, I left work early because my ears hurt so bad I was ready to smash something. Since my bosses were the first things I saw, and because I need them to sign my paychecks, I thought it might be better to just leave work early.

Today's soup is something new, made up from things I could find in the fridge and the pantry. I used chicken broth, some leeks and baby portobello (crimini) mushrooms. This time, I used lots of peppers - black, white and Chipotle chili pepper to up the heat. While searching the freezer for anything else to add, I found the container of orange zest I was saving for cookies or a cake.

I remembered Plutarch's poem, in which he writes:

• "...in that lacquered Chinese box,
  Where, hard and dry, curled segments
  Of tangerine peel are stored
  (To perfume ice cream or soup)..."

Some of the orange rind went into the soup, lacking tangerine. The Chipotle chili heat almost overpowered the orange zest, but the zest was an unexpected pleasure in the mix. I'll have to buy some tangerines to see what they will add to soup. Perhaps citrus zest is meant for dessert soups or puddings, but I liked it in the Leeky-Mushroom broth.

After a couple of bowls of soup, I fell into bed under extra covers, hoping to sweat out the fever and perhaps open my ears. I slept for almost five hours. The fever is gone and ears feel better, but not clear yet.

Time for more soup, I think.