It's a cold day.  One of the coldest we've had so far.  I'm not going to tell you how cold because some of you will think that it's beyond imagination and others will laugh and think that it sounds balmy.  Either way, it's cold for Toronto and I've been biking... and I need soup... or stew.  I'm not sure which.
Life has this funny way of getting away from me.  I have all of these plans.  Plans for my day, for what I'm going to do, where I'm going to go, what I'll clean, what I'll cook, who I'm gonna see.  Then something happens.  It can be pretty random.  Someone breaks a finger nail.  Someone needs a stamp.  Someone has to sharpen a pencil... and the next thing I know it's 6pm and the day has flown.  (Toronto is in darkness by 5pm these days so it truly does feel later than it really is) The kitchen floor still has those nasty spots all over it, the toilet is still gross, the laundry that I managed to get washed hasn't been hung up and my awesome new bread recipe hasn't been made and I don't know what the hell happened to the last 8 hours of my life.  Poof and gone.
Then there are these other times when life gives you a present.  There are no kids in the house.  There is no partner in the house.  There are no animals in the house.  There is just you and some music and you've just crossed the last thing off your list for the day.  You open that bottle of wine and sit down.  You open the gift and find that time stands still.
Yeah... doesn't happen very often.


Today time stood still for me while I made this soup.  I was starving.  It was cold.  I knew that it was quite possible that I would be the only one eating it but I made it anyway.  I don't know if it's soup or stew.  I guess that the way I've made it means it's stew - there isn't a lot of liquid.  So just add more tomato or stock then if you want.  I didn't even care whether it was soup or stew.  I loved every minute of the preparation and I had two bowls full of it after that.  Sitting on the couch.  Just me, a movie and my soup/stew.  Glass of wine optional.


Bacon, Lentil and Cabbage Soup/Stew
serves 8 - 10 (maybe more)

1 1/2 cups puy lentils (the dark, tiny, french ones)
3 cups water
2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
salt to taste
2 tbsp brown sugar or honey
2 bouillion cubes (chicken or vegetable)
2 400 ml jars of diced tomatoes
1 onion, diced
4 rashers bacon, diced
1 cup potato, diced
1 1/2 - 2 cups (about 5 small) carrots diced (parsnip would work too)
3 cups cabbage (red or green), coarsely chopped
1 1/2 tbsp each thyme, parsley, marjoram

Combine the lentils, water, Worcestershire and Soy Sauce together.  Bring to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer for about 1 hour.
Meanwhile heat a lg dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.  Add in the onion and the bacon.  Swish around for a few minutes letting the bacon cook and the onion get transparent.
Add in the potato, carrot and cabbage.  Swish that around for about 5 minutes, turning the heat down to low as necessary.
Once the lentils are ready add them to the soup pot along with the cooking water.  Add the tomatoes and stir well.  Season the soup with sugar or honey, the herbs and salt to taste.
Simmer over low heat for about an hour or until the carrots and potatoes have softened.
Enjoy with some crusty, chewy, grainy bread.