Golden Autumn Soup...and Saturday Flu Update

Last week I was checking out the contents of my fridge and decided to make a vegetable soup based on what I had on hand. This versatile soup was such a big hit that I've made it three times already. The ingredients are flexible and can be adapted to many tastes. The sweet potatoes thicken the broth and the spinach adds that nice green contrast, plus more vitamins.

Golden Autumn Soup

1 onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tomatoes, chopped (or 1-14 oz. can diced tomatoes)
1 butternut squash, peeled and chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
chopped fresh spinach, or frozen spinach*
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste

In a stockpot, heat the olive oil. Saute the onion, garlic, and celery in olive oil until vegetables are softened and onion is translucent. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for about 45 minutes, or until vegetables are softened. Serve with grated cheese.

*I keep bags of organic frozen spinach in my freezer. They make an easy, nutritious addition to most soups. I don't even thaw before adding, and amounts depend on your taste. You could use any green leafy vegetable like swiss chard or escarole.

If you grate your own Parmesan or Romano cheese, save the rinds in a bag in your fridge. When you make soup or tomato sauce, add a rind and let simmer with the other ingredients. It adds a depth of flavor advocated by both Cook's magazine and my mother.

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DS12 woke up this morning with a slight cough and wheezing. He develops asthma every 4th cold or so, which translates to roughly once or twice a year, so I wasn't worried except he seemed slightly warm. My thermometer is broken, so I made an appointment to bring him into the pediatrician's this morning. He had told me that 100 students were out sick with flu-like symptoms yesterday at his school.

He was given a mask at the office, as were other children in the waiting room. It was not crowded, as it was limited Saturday hours. He tested negative for the flu (although the quick test is only 30-90% accurate, according to the pediatrician). He did not have a fever, and she suspects it's just the remnants of the cold earlier this week. We will start using the inhalers for a while, in hopes of clearing out his lungs and getting them healthy enough to withstand the flu that has arrived in our state and town.

A friend did go to our pediatrician's H1N1 flu clinic this week, and the office did run out of shots before her child could get one. Guess it was good I didn't bother. Although I am slightly worried about our exposure to the flu sitting in the doctor's office...you just can't win.