Intentions
...and a healthy turkey soup
As I thought about this newsletter earlier this week, I thought I would write about intentions. Because I started the year with a sackful of them. Not resolutions, mind. Resolutions are finite, hardbound, empirical: lose 20 pounds, exercise three times a week, get eight hours of sleep. By design, they breed a sense of failure the first time you miss the mark, and from there it’s an easy slope down the mountain of despondency to giving up altogether.
And really – didn’t we just come through a year where we resolved to do a whole lot of things that were hard and joyless?
Intentions instead
Intentions, on the other hand, have purpose, and a desired outcome. Best of all, they live in the realm of possibilities and options. If my intention is to take better care of myself, I can achieve that in myriad ways that aren’t tied to a specific task. It could be as simple as turning off my phone at 8 pm, or going for a walk in between meetings.
So that’s what I wanted to write about, and perhaps share some of the things I’m intending to do. But in the promise of a new year, when, as my friend so elegantly put it, we dropkicked 2020 to the curb, this first full week of 2021 has reminded us that simply passing a calendar date is no guarantee that the normalcy we crave is close at hand. No matter what our intentions.
Once again, we are seeking comfort. This week especially, we’re in need of comfort.
Comfort in a bowl
While it may not solve the world’s thorny and complicated problems, a heartwarming soup may be just what you need right now. Put aside your resolutions and intentions for now. In the making, be in the moment. Put on your favourite music. Turn off your phone. Breathe deeply. Concentrate on creating deliciousness.
I hoped you saved the rest of the turkey. Maybe the bones are in your freezer, with the delicious meat carefully wrapped and stored separately. Use it for this.
Richard's Turkey-Vegetable Soup
serves 6
This soup is a meal in a bowl, and also freezes well. The recipe is Richard’s perfected version of an old favourite of mine from Weight Watchers. So you can feel comforted and virtuous at the same time. And maybe fulfill an intention or two while you’re at it.
Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
½ c diced celery
2 c sliced carrots
2 garlic cloves, minced
Shitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced thinly to make a generous 2 cups
Swiss chard, tough spines removed and leaves thinly sliced to make a generous 2 cups
2 c cooked turkey or chicken, white and dark meat combined
6-8 c homemade or low-sodium chicken stock
1 c corn kernels
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ c parsley
In a large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add celery, carrots and garlic, and sauté, stirring constantly, until just tender, about 8-10 minutes.
Add mushrooms and Swiss chard and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until the chard is just wilted and the mushrooms are tender.
Add the cooked turkey and corn, stir to combine, and then add chicken stock, starting with four cups and increasing until you have the desired consistency. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in the parsley, and serve.