Katy is Eighty – A Better Me Week Two

This has been a very successful week! I have exercised four times thanks to Louise and Charles. They faithfully go to exercise everyday and call me when they are on their way to the gym. Since I have added exercise and followed my vegetarian plan I have lost 2 more pounds!

I am not a person who likes to exercise, I’m sorry to say, because I do know how valuable it is. I was a hit and miss exerciser when Louise called to say they were headed to the gym before I became committed to loose my forty pounds. Now I’m dressed and waiting for their call.

I also want to share one of my favorite soup recipes with you. I am a snacker at night so now I have a bowl of warm soup when I feel a need to indulge myself at night. It’s great tasting and actually helps me get ready to go to bed.

Ginger-Lemongrass Soup- contributed by Candle Cafe’, New York

this serves to 8 people

8 cups of water, 1 stalk lemongrass. trimmed, peeled, and thinly sliced. Bring the water and lemongrass to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes; discard the lemongrass and strain, reserving the water.

1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 cup yellow onion, peeled. halved, and thinly sliced, 2 tablespoons minced ginger root. Heat the oil in a sauce’ pan and cook the onions and ginger until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. Transfer to soup pot and add the reserved water; bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Turn off heat.

At this point you are to stir in 3/4 cup of Miso into the soup and serve with 1 cup of enoki mushrooms and 1 cup of thinly sliced scallions (green part only) for garnish and serve immediately. ** (I will use a varieties of mushrooms in this soup)

You do not want to reheat the soup with the Miso already in the soup because too much heat can kill the good properties of Miso. So I add the mushrooms and scallions to the soup then pour a cup in a bowl and add a divided portion of the miso to my cup of soup. (Miso is rich in essential minerals and a good source of various B vitamins, vitamins E, K and folic acid. As a fermented food, miso provides the gut with beneficial bacteria that help us to stay healthy, vibrant and happy) Good gut health is known to be linked to our overall mental and physical wellness.

You can now store the remaining soup in refrigerator until you are ready for another bowl or two adding the miso again at that time.

I hope you enjoy this soup as much as I do and find ways to also change it up or add your twist to it. My daughter says she would like to add thin rice noodles to it. Thai Kitchen makes them and it is a great addition to this soup.