Vegetable Soup-Morrocan Style and Mammogram Dinner Parties

Hi everyone. Soup is important to help us lose weight and stay warm which is why I am linking to an article for you: http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/23125/soup-therapy-detoxify-lose-weight-and-boost-immunity/

While you think about soup’s benefits, I also want to share my parallels of getting a mammogram and throwing a dinner party. The parallels of the stresses involved and overcoming the stresses are quite remarkable. Let me explain:

I almost had a panic attack while awaiting the results of my last mammogram in the waiting room. Remembering that reading feel good materials helped me a bit last time, I brought along the Dining In section of the NY Times and read it during my wait. Being aware of the fact that immersing myself in something with which I can be thoroughly engaged will help me stay distracted helped me remain calmer this time around.

Dinner Party Parallel: Being prepared for a dinner party by being aware of and thinking about what went wrong last time, like not enough marinade on a salad, and working on that for the next time -make more marinade to pour on at the final moment before serving, can help reduce stress at the time of the “performance.”

When offered the choice of a flowery gown or a white spa looking gown, I opted for the spa looking one so that I would feel like I was getting a massage instead of waiting for a breast cancer result. This was calming. I wore a shirt that said, “happy” on it to put myself in a better mood the day of the mammo as well.

Dinner Party Parallel: Setting the table the day before the party, making it look pretty can make you feel prepared and confident.

All was fine until the glitch: there was a question as to which boob was being flattened in the pancake machine which freaked me out. Would I end up like the man who got the wrong leg chopped off? I felt my blood pressure rise but asked the tech if I could clarify with the Doctor which calmed me down.

Dinner Party Parallel: There is always a glitch with a dinner party. Try to anticipate dinner party glitches like not timing the dishes well. To help with this, ask a family member or friend to be in charge of setting the timer and taking out the roast.

The results were fine this time so I was able to enjoy the rest of my day.
The dinner party will go fine too as long as you have fun, a positive attitude, and learn from the glitches for the next time. Enjoy the soup, especially for a vegan dinner party!

Morrocan Vegetable Soup:
4 cups water
2 cups cooked chick peas
1/2 cup washed cilantro
1 cup dried red lentils-Whole Foods
1/3 cup quinoa-can get at Whole Foods
1 large tomato, seeded and chopped
2 large carrots , chopped into thin discs and then cut into quarters
2 medium onions, chopped coarsely
2 stalks celery, washed and thinly sliced
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp salt
ground pepper to taste
toasted sunflower seeds

In a steamer, steam the carrots until tender and set aside.
In a big soup pot or dutch oven, heat up the water. When it is boiled, add the lentils and quinoa and cook for ten minutes over medium flame.
Add the chopped onions, cilantro, celery, carrots, spices, tomato and salt. Cook for about 15-20 minutes or until celery is wilty. Adjust salt and pepper, serve in bowls and garnish with toasted sunflower seeds. Enjoy!