We spent a long weekend in Dallas for my niece’s 3rd birthday. It was really nice seeing her and my family. It’s amazing how kids grow up so fast… She’s now such a talker with a huge personality, and the cutest thing ever! Anyway, M and I didn’t eat much, and when we did, it was usually just snacks (hummus, chips & salsa, fruit, etc) – because while my niece could have a quick slice of leftover pizza and a hot dog, our choices were much more limited. And I didn’t want to spend a lot of time away cooking – and I don’t think she’d let me anyway!

Unfortunately, on Saturday, we got into a car accident. It was my mom, my niece, and me in the car, and some person going the opposite direction just turned in front of us trying to get to a parking lot (he didn’t see us coming – poor visibility). So boom! Thankfully all involved are OK – we were going slow enough that, though the airbags ignited, no serious damage to the persons. Anyway, long story short, my mom was a bit sore from the ordeal, so she had to take it easy the rest of the weekend. I had a killer headache and some sore muscles from the tension, but otherwise ok.

My niece was fine, thankfully (she didn’t even cry after the accident! Just asked why the car looks sick, and if she’s going to jail since there was a cop – otherwise running around and being her usual self). Her birthday party on Sunday went off without a hitch, at some little gym place – the kids had a great time! Again, M and I didn’t really eat much, as cake and pizza are off the approved list, so after the festivities, we snuck away to get some veggie sushi and tamari from the store. Not much, but better, and more filling, than veggies and salsa.

Then, due to a stupid accident on the highway, and even though we left early for the airport, we missed our flight home by 8 minutes. Thus stranding us at DFW for an additional 6.5 hours (and of course, there is very little to eat at the airport, at least for those with dietary restrictions).

Finally home, both M and I were exhausted, and ready to eat “our” food again. M actually was feeling pretty bad – probably some of the less-than-ideal stuff we had to eat didn’t settle too well, so for dinner I made a new version of the typical get-well chicken soup (sans chicken, plus awesome). It was with just stuff that was still in the fridge from before the trip, as we didn’t want to run to the store. And then this gem was born! It hit the spot, and we’re on our way to getting back to our normal.

The ginger is to help settle the stomach, the garlic is to help boost immunity (it being the superfood for sick), all the veggies are for both flavor and health, and the rice is just an easy-on-the-stomach carb for energy. So next time you feel a little down, make a big ‘ol pot of soup!

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2-3 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 5 garlic cloves, minced, plus extra for the bowls
• 1.5 T fresh grated ginger
• 1 jalapeno, minced (optional)
• 6 sundried tomatoes, chopped fine
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 t thyme
• 1/2 t turmeric
• 2 t salt (+/-)
• 1 t black pepper
• 1 15oz can crushed tomatoes
• 6 C vegetable broth (or mix of broth + water)
• 1/3 C chopped parsley
• 1/2 bunch kale (or chard), chopped
• 1 C cooked rice

In a large soup pot, add about 1 T olive oil and sautee the onion 5 minutes until translucent and starting to turn golden. Add the celery and carrot, cook another 5 minutes. Add the garlic through pepper and toast about 1-2 minutes. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and broth, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook 15 minutes. Add the parsley, kale, and rice, and cook an additional 5-10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.

If you’re actually sick – garlic is the go-to cure-all (supposedly). Growing up, whenever we were feeling sick, Mom would make us garlic soup – a fresh, raw garlic clove minced fine in a bowl, with a teaspoon of duck fat, a pinch of salt, and hot water poured over it. Sounds weird, but it worked! We always felt better afterwards.

Along those lines, you can do turn just about any soup into a garlic soup. What to do here is take a fresh clove of garlic and grate it in the bottom of your soup bowl. Pour the soup over it, stir it in well, then eat! You get the cooked garlic benefits from the soup, and the fresh garlic powerhouse added to it, to help boost your immunity and get you feeling better in no time.