Soothing Winter Soups

January is National Soup Month

The winter solstice was a week past, yet it still felt as though the days were shorter and the nights longer; it had been alternately raining and snowing for nearly a month. Earth was in a restorative mood, and so was LJ.

“This is the time to slow down, go within, and just be,” he thought while walking through the quiet streets headed home. There was no traffic, so he ignored the red lights; he wanted to get home to Annie and whatever she was cooking for dinner. It was twilight; only a few others were walking too; a bicycler peddled past their headlights, making way for them.

Earlier, Annie had eyed the soba noodles and leftover chicken. “It’s looking like a Chicken Soba Noodle Soup night around here,” she thought while chopping mushrooms and putting the recipe together. The aroma brought out a smile; I love the way this, “ohhhhh LJ, your lips and hands are so cold,” she squealed as he reached around her with a kiss.

“I’m just expressing gratitude for your incredible ability to read my mind,” he said. “How did you know I wanted a nourishing chicken soup tonight?”

Annie laughed as she kissed him back, “well, baby, it’s cold outside, so I figured this would make you happy. Besides, we have all the ingredients, so it was a no-brainer. Did you know the U.S. population consumes…