I would like to call a do-over on this weekend. I had plans to sleep in, bake some muffins, go to yoga, go to Pt. Reyes, make some phone calls, enjoy some of the deliciously hot weather … but I was waylaid, unexpectedly, by some sort of cold/flu/unpleasantness that has kept me downing Cold Care tea and alternately reading and napping. Even my appetite has mostly disappeared, which, when that happens, I know I am really under the weather, no fooling. I would like another chance, please.
However, there is always room for a little something, n’est-ce pa? Friday was hot all day and I felt almost as though I was living on the East Coast again; when I walked to catch my bus home at 4 p.m. it was 94 degrees in the Financial District. Yes, that’s 94. I could probably count on one hand the number of afternoons San Francisco reaches such temperatures during the course of the year, so suffice it say, it was a bit, um, warm. So I made for dinner something summery and simple: a quick saute of chopped asparagus and sliced mushrooms, in a good amount of vegetable broth, with ladles of pasta water from the whole wheat spaghetti I was cooking on the other burner. When all was cooked to my liking, I drained the pasta, placed it in a large bowl, dumped the vegetables and some olive oil into it, and mixed well. A bit of black pepper and salt finished it off. I ate mine topped with some fresh mozzarella and parmesan, but last night for leftovers it tasted just fine without any cheese at all.
Yesterday I don’t remember too much of because I was feeling quite not-myself; even the farmers’ market couldn’t cheer me up. I think I had toast, and some noodle soup from a package, and leftover Friday dinner. Oh, woe.
Today was a little better: a hot, brothy, peppery, salty bowl of red quinoa soup filled with chopped green beans, zuccini, corn, garlic, and carrots was my first — and probably will be every — meal. All I ever want when I’m sick is soup, and this one (probably because I didn’t have to make it myself) really hit the spot.
And then because I’m a little bit of a nut, I made vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting because I saw a gorgeous piece of cake on FP Daily and I had to have it, sick or no. I mean, wouldn’t you want cupcakes when you’re feeling weak and tired and icky and like all the tea in the world won’t make you feel better?
I think so.
But now baking has taken all my strength so I must return to my book, and bed, and hope for a bright and early restorative start in the morning.
Hope you feel better! Even though you were feeling under the weather when you made these, they look delicious. The frosting looks especially yummy and fluffy :).
So sorry you haven’t been feeling well…
I’m amazed that you can bake while you’re sick. I’m no good to anyone when I’m in that state.
Hope today finds you on the mend!
Nice quinoa and cupcakes, though I can’t believe you did all that while sick. I hope you’re feeling better!
Thanks for the site shout-out Nicole. And while I’m partial to cupcakes, your quinoa looks quite tasty!
Hope you’re feeling better today.
Feel better! Being sick in this insane heat is never a good time. I’d prefer to be sick in the winter, where you can lounge around all day in the gloomy cold weather and sip on your hot tea. You just can’t do that in summer! Well, you can, but it just doesn’t feel the same.