No Cook Tomato Soup

I'm one of those people whose work schedules mean that I eat lunch and dinner at work. Trying to think of meals that are easy and portable had been challenging up until recently. I used to live on Lean Cuisine or Weight Watcher's meals because they took the guesswork and messwork (I made that word up) out of one meal of the day. I could eat one meal with a piece of fruit and maybe a side salad if I was feeling up to it. Or hungry.

"Wow - those Lean Cuisines make me feel stuffed. Said no one. Ever."

Seriously. Am I the only one to eat one of those things who afterwards felt like driving to get a cheeseburger because they felt shorted in the lunch department?

One of things I love about the raw food lifestyle is there's no cooking, no reheating, the food is easy to pack, it's fresh and colorful, and my hunger is always satiated. There's minimal mess in making food too, which is exactly what I need right now. I need easy. I need uncomplicated. I need fast. I'm just in one of those moods where I don't feel like using my brain cells to make dinner.

Know what I mean?

This tomato soup has become one my new favorite meals because there's minimal prep work, everything goes into the blender, and it's done. I pack it up into a mason jar, and that's dinner. It's also very inexpensive to make right now since tomatoes are in season and gardens are overflowing with herbs - I know mine sure is! If you have an abundance of tomatoes from the garden, this is an easy way to use them up.

I've written out a basic recipe but consider it to be freeform. The only thing I measure when I make this is the olive oil, just to be sure that I'm not going too crazy with it since I'm still working on reducing my body weight. Not all fat is created equal, so keep in mind that olive oil is one of the "good guys" - a healthy, monounsaturated fat that has polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants. In addition to the antioxidants in the extra virgin olive oil, you'll be receiving lycopene from the tomatoes, which protects the cells from free radicals. Tomatoes are also very high in Vitamin C and potassium.

Make sure you are using the best ingredients you can get your hands on, preferably organic. The quality really comes through in this soup. You may even want to make a really big batch to freeze and reheat on a chilly winter day.

No Cook Tomato Soup
2 large tomatoes, seeded and roughly chopped (around 4 cups chopped)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
1/4 of a medium red onion
1/2 - 1 garlic clove
5 large basil leaves
3 stems oregano, leaves removed and stems discarded
1/2 tsp fennel seed
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbls extra virgin olive oil
Crushed red pepper flakes, optional


Directions:
Put everything in a blender and blend for at least one minute or until smooth.

Serves: 2

6 Weight Watchers Points+ counting veggies

4 Weight Watchers Points+ not counting veggies

Death By Laundry OR Open Faced Tomato & Herbed Goat Cheese Sandwich

I'd like to state that laundry washed with detergent smells awesome. Laundry washed without detergent, doesn't. That's a little tip from yours truly. I learned that the hard way. You're very welcome.

This open faced tomato and herbed goat cheese sandwich was my reward after doing three loads of laundry today.

THREE, MASSIVE, GINORMOUS, SUPER DUPER, HUMONGOUS LOADS OF LAUNDRY.

I hate doing laundry.

Have I mentioned that?

Yeah, I think maybe I have.

My mother would tell me if I did it more often, I wouldn't have Mount Laundrious in my room.

She's probably right. Probably.

But then I'd have to find something else to whine about. It's not like it would take me long to find something else to whine about; I am female after all. (Ba-dum-dum! That was for the fellas and understanding women.) But, I really want this strained relationship to work. So I try. But the laundry bit back at me today.

As a matter of fact, my laundry nearly killed me.

Savory Oatmeal: Sausage, Tomato, & Parmesan

Let's admit it: oatmeal is bland.

Unlike some other grains, which may have nutty or wheaty flavors, oatmeal tastes, well, like nothing. An oatmeal pessimist tastes bland. An oatmeal optimist? Aaaaaah, they taste a blank canvas.

Since I eat oatmeal just about every day for breakfast, I'm working hard on my optimism. It occurred to me that oatmeal doesn't have to be tied to sweet - cinnamon, fruit, sugar, etc. Why not try something savory? I mean, rice can be sweet and savory, right? Quinoa can be sweet and savory, too. Why not oatmeal?

Broiled Tomatoes with Goat Cheese

I'm unusual.

If you haven't figured that out by now...well...where have you been??

{Family - you can stop laughing now, K?}

My parents, who recognize their daughter is wired a little different, ventured into an Asian market to get me one of the coolest birthday presents ever: a kiwano melon. They didn't know what it was, I didn't know what it was, but we tried it.

And we lived to tell about it.