\

Sometimes you just need a little tenderness.

I feel as though I have been sick since the end of August -- tired, achy, chest congestion and headaches seem to keep me company more often than not these days -- I suppose it's the change of weather or something. That, along with working more hours than there really are in the day lately and devoting very little time to cooking and eating properly, my poor poor, pitiful body is crying out for nourishment.

I spent a week in bed (well actually on the sofa in front of the television) recently, with Kleenex piled up beside me, Tylenol with Codeine my constant companions and a glass of orange juice always at the ready (thanks to S.). While the coughs rumbled throughout my chest and the whole-body-spasm sneezes came at very tiny intervals (once or twice I sneezed WHILE I was still sneezing the previous sneeze) I continually pictured a bowl of hot, vitamin-rich, creamy soup - sitting there, steaming away all that was attempting to fell me. The soup couldn't just appear out of nowhere, and while S. kept asking if he could make me something or get me soup from the store I just didn't want it.

Then one morning, miraculously, I felt well enough to cook. Not just cook, but indulge my senses in a delicious, steamy pot of Butternut Squash Soup. Luckily my best girlfriend Andrea sent me her recipe for a scrumptious, creamy, sweet but still quite savory soup made from squash, sweet potato and of all things, apple! I gathered up the necessary ingredients and set down to work. Amid a few slightly faint spells and some serious breaks to just cough (I kept running to the bedroom to cough so I wouldn't cough on the vegetables I was chopping) I made it. I have to say, although S. will roll his eyes (he thinks I give soup entirely too much credit), I think this soup helped me kick my cold in the butt. While I wasn't cured after indulging in a bowl, I certainly was happily smacking my lips and quickly getting another, second, small bowl to have immediately following the first.

It really was delicious -- and perfect cold weather, sick body food...chock full of vitamin C, protein and just enough carbs to aid your body in trying to fight off various attackers.