Fun Times, Fun Flavor

‘Skating Rocks!’ First time on hockey skates. So fun!. Twenty days later with a new opportunity to work out with a skate hybrid called Softec and humbling is the only word for catching the figure skate blade toepick on the ice.  All cocky confidence comes down when your face suddenly finds itself ONE with the ice!. However, the figure skate blade for balance with the sturdiness of the hockey boot is not to be chastised.  A new humility pushes its way into the learning curve.  I ain't no Tinker Bell on the ice but I have respect for working on your core balance and strength.   I could never skate as a chubby kid and washed my face on the rink many, many times!  Practice makes perfect, and practice and practice and practice.  Just like cooking, make it work.   There is a new order of the day: fitness and food. Try out the post skating workout soup, flavorful fun that says, ‘food and fitness are one!!’.

Winter Vegetable Soup with Thai Pesto*

Ingredients

Winter Vegetable Soup
1 cup  each peel sweet potato, carrot and acorn or butternut squash
1 red onion, cut into slivers
2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup  water
1 tbl Thai Red Chile Paste
2 cups coconut water

Thai Pesto
½  cup unsalted peanuts
2 garlic cloves,
2 teas  finely grated ginger
2 large green chiles, seeded and chopped
1 small bunch of fresh cilantro
1 large handful of mint leaves
1 small handful of basil leaves
2 tbl light soy sauce
2 tbl fresh squeezed lime juice
1 tbl light brown sugar

Method
For the soup, cut all the vegetables in 1 inch dice.  Add to a 2 quart pot and cover with stock and water.  Simmer until cooked through.  Add the Thai chile paste, the coconut water and blend.  If necessary, add additional salt and pepper to your taste.   Keep warm.

For the pesto, combine all ingredients in a bowl.  Chop by hand or in a food processor.

Ladel soup into large cups or bowls.  Top with tablespoons of the Thai Pesto.
Serves 4.

*adapted from market vegetarian, Ross Dobson, Ryland, Peters and Small, 2009