A Cure For the Common Cold

AhhhhhChooo! That is me, over and over again. My nose is runny and raw. My joints ache and I am living in a fog. I hate being sick. Honestly, I hardly ever succumb to it. I can usually feel it coming on and pound the EmergenC, the Advil and the power of positive thinking. But not this one. Scott got off a plane over a week ago and said his seat mate was coughing and hacking the entire trip, the type of virus transmittal that hand sanitizer just can't touch. It took a good 4 days to incubate and then hit him like a ton of bricks. He did a dandy job of self diagnosis and started a ZPak. It took 3 days, but then I got it. A milder version, no psychedelic snot, so no infection, just a nasty cold. Blech.

So this is the reason I have no Daring Bakers Tiramisu post. I'll get there, it'll be excessively late. This is the reason we are eating thawed and reheated Minestrone, ordering pizza, turkey burgers. I don't feel like cooking, baking and certainly not doing dishes. But oh, that Minestrone. Then I realized I have never blogged my soup. My yummy Tuscany Bean Soup. There is always some in the freezer for times like these.

Tuscany Bean Soup
2 T Olive Oil
1# Sweet Italian Sausage
2 Medium Onions, peeled and diced
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
3 Carrots, peeled and diced
2 Celery Ribs, peeled and diced
1 can Canellini Beans, rinsed and drained
1 Qt. or more as needed Chicken Stock
1 can Quartered Artichoke Hearts
1 can Diced Tomatoes
1 small can Black Olives
1 Small bag Fresh spinach
1/4 cup chopped Fresh Parsley
1/4 cup chopped Fresh Tarragon
¾ cup Sherry
¼ cup Sugar
¼ cup White Vinegar
Salt and Pepper

Heat the oil in a 6 qt. pot and add sliced sausage. Add onions and garlic and saute until translucent. Add celery and carrots and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Add beans, broth, tomatoes and olives.. Season to taste with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes on low heat. Add artichokes, vinegar, sugar and sherry. Cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add parsley and tarragon. I like to add tortellini or mini ravioli too. Sometimes I add and subtract ingredients, zucchini, mushrooms whatever. It freezes very well although tortellini get mushy being reheated. I suggest adding fresh red bell pepper to reheated soup for a fresh crunch.

And don't forget the Queen of Condiments, Crystal Hot Sauce, that opens up the sinuses. The magic cure. Put it in everything, it even helps a sore throat. Make sure you have chapstick though, because it is murder on chapped lips!
I was feeing guilty hanging out in sweats all day. Watching movies, spending hours on theInternet, playing Bejewled, reading books. Then I realized, God, I love being sick.

I'll be back with Tiramisu when the sun is shining and I am breathing free and clear. Until then...Netflix upload!
My Movie Buddies