Leeks!

Yesterday, was incredibly productive! The hubby had yesterday as a holiday (Happy Memorial Day), and so he spent it working on building that sand box for the kids. In Louisiana it is already HOT! We had temps just over ninety degrees yesterday. I went out for a few minutes and I was pretty sure I was going to die. I'm a wilting Daisy. I used to be able to take the heat, but now, I think all my extra insulation traps it and I get overheated very quickly. That's my scientific assessment. I helped to spread the sand while my poor hubby played pack mule. He loaded up the sand into the garden cart and rolled it to the back yard. One load at a time we got the sand box done. (Mostly him.) The kids love it!

Look at how much fun they're having!

From a culinary standpoint, we had a very healthy day. Everyone got up and had their usual oatmeal or cereal. I had a breakfast shake made with banana, egg white and chocolate almond milk. It was delicious! I also had a half bagel and some cream cheese. Then, everyone set to work. My hubby started building the sand box, the kids started "helping" and I sat down at the computer to figure out what in the world I was going to do with all the leeks I've been getting! I have leeks coming out of my ears people. I froze some, that I have been using to put into everything: from stews and soups to stir fry. "Oh, we're gonna eat? Let me put leeks in that." Then, I got MORE leeks this Saturday. I had several people tell me "Leek and Potato Soup!!" So, I set out on a quest to find a good leek soup recipe. After searching for about 30 minutes and realizing I had ingredients from bits and pieces of several different recipes and a basic concept of what leek soup is, I simply said, "I reject your recipes and substitute my own." I'll post the measurements in the recipe on the recipe page. I used bunches and bunches of leeks, celery, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, butter, flour, chicken broth and white wine. I put it all together and let it simmer all day to get the flavors to marry.

Meanwhile, I needed something to feed people for lunch. My poor hubby was working in the heat so I thought I'd get together a light cool lunch, but it needed to be nutrient rich to replenish what he was losing. (He sweats gallons.) We got some spring mix lettuce in our CSA box this week (with the leeks...). What's cold and refreshing on a hot day? Salad! I had the spring mix and tomatoes from my CSA box. I also had sweet baby bell peppers. I boiled some eggs for protein, and cut up some fruit. Then, I blended up a frozen fruit smoothie. What a feast! And we ate it outside on our new patio; sitting under our new patio umbrella. It hit just the right spot.

After handling the clean up from lunch, I got outside and helped my hubby finish the sand box. He hauled  sand and I spread it. We got it done and it was time for supper, but first....baths! The kids were caked with sand. My house may never be clean again. We all managed to degrit ourselves and sit down to supper. I buzzed the soup with a stick blender to give it a creamier smooth consistency. I ate it as is and it was pretty good. The kids and hubby had the bright idea to put some leftover rice in theirs. The kids thought it was really good. Andrew (my tiny gourmet) said it was the best veggie soup I have ever made! The hubby said that he wasn't sure at first, but the more he ate it the more he liked it. By the end he was saying, "that stuff is good!" So I guess now I know what to do with leeks. It's a good thing they liked it because I have a huge bucket of it in the fridge. Leftovers for a week! Maybe I'll freeze some. Hmm..