Sick Soup

I am feeling under the weather. On top of soreness from an invigorating run yesterday, I have general woman-related malaise. And. Last night. The dreaded sore throat.

Dammit.

So I immediately fizzed up some Emergen-C ('Lite' Lime) with some sparkling water and put myself to bed early. I slept in, ate some fruit, had another Emergen-C (Super Orange) and then layed in bed for another two hours listening to archived episodes of The Splendid Table.

But now I'm hungry....a little bit actual hunger and a lot craving-something-warm-and-brothy. Having finished Mario Batali's companion book Spain: A Culinary Road Trip earlier this week I recalled a Sopa de Ajo that had caught my eye and decided to take a crack at it.

However, I do not have 3 cups of staled bread (luckily), nor do I feel like going out to buy smoked pimenton (though I would like some). So, I'm making do.
I have a huge fresh head of garlic from the community garden, of which I sliced up about 6 cloves. I pricked holes in a tiny, red hot chile I had in the freezer and sauteed them both in lots of olive oil. Then I poured in about 2 cups of stock I'd defrosted. Now they are all simmering together and causing a nice aroma to waft around the apartment.

It got me to thinking though about how, lately especially, I'm doing a lot of that kind of culling of the pantry/fridge/cupboard to create nearly-instant dishes. I've always loved having this ability...to open the door, look inside at a myriad of randomness and extract...a meal!

I think mostly it has to do with always having the big 6 on hand: salt and pepper(we'll count that as 1), olive oil, garlic, onion, parmesan and lemon. Also, if you have eggs, potatoes and pasta around you will never, ever go hungry. I am almost never without these things in my kitchen.

For example, earlier this week I had a pile of leftover beet greens, so I pulled together a quick, yummy pasta. Frittata/omelets are always in the realm of possibility, as are fried or poached eggs atop damn near anything. And clearly I can make a soup out of garlic, oil, and a chile. Hurray. It gives me such a nice sense of self-sufficiency. When the larder is a little more full, I love the feeling of luxury that comes with being able to putter around for a few minutes and turn out something rich and delicious and palate-pleasing without having to run to the store. And if people are around, they think I'm a damn genius. Which makes me laugh.

*******

I just tasted the "soup." It's slick from the oil, with a simultaneously biting and soothing flavor from the chile and pungent garlic. Oh, so good. And the heat (temp and spice) feels wonderful on my throat. Here's hoping it kicks my cold to the curb.