It’s Time to Celebrate Chanukah!!

Inspired by lunch at the Olive Garden, yesterday (thanks to my girls), I have already put up a pot of homemade vegetable soup, this morning.  FYI, the minestrone soup at the Olive Garden is both vegan and very low in fat and calories.  According to the

Internet there are 100 calories in a bowl.  I asked the waiter to bring the salad naked (the salad, not the waiter) and with vinegar and oil, it was low cal and vegan, too.  I  passed on the croutons since I didn’t know if they were vegan, and didn’t need the calories.  Anyway, this morning I chopped some celery, carrots, string beans and an onion and threw it in a soup pot with vegetable broth, canned, rinsed cannellini beans, canned diced tomatoes and and some bay leaves, dried thyme, dried sage, and pepper.  I am gonna let it cook for a few hours (covered) and then leave it until about an hour before I am ready to serve it.  Then I will add some ditalini pasta and diced zucchini.  It looks great after just a few minutes  but will let you know my verdict after tasting.  Soup and winter.  Love the combo, even here in Sunny South Florida.  Trying to have lots of food prepared for when the kids arrive…

I will be subbing for Ellen (SS) this morning at 10 and then staying to teach my regularly scheduled SS class at 11:30.  Be back at the gym tonight for our last Tuesday night classes of the year…cardio/sculpting at 6 and Pilates/yoga/stretch reduction at 7 with Jon hopefully bringing his flute back to play for us.

There are no words to properly thank everyone in my world for making the holiday season so special.  It is a year round gift to have you all in my life and then you turn around and spoil me even more.  It’s crazy and I am not entirely comfortable with the whole situation, by certainly I am appreciative beyond words.

Finally, I can’t end without saying this…to Derek and Pete:  Go tell ‘ronica, it’s time to celebrate Chanukah!  I couldn’t resist……Happy Chanukah everyone.  Always remember that miracles do happen!