I uploaded the photos of everything I am taking.

Why?

Stel informs me that his beautiful wife, Angela, is pregnant with her first child (his third.) Hoorah! I would like to celebrate with bacon and eggs! But will probably have yogurt, granola and a banana as is my usual.

This is the recipe I made this evening.
Kathryn made it for me the other night. So good.
And it actually looks like that, too.

Sweet Potato and Red Lentil Soup with Mint
Makes 4 to 6 servings

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/4 lbs sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
1 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1 whole star anise
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2/3 cup red lentils
2 3/4 pints water or vegetable stock
Juice of 2 limes
Salt and pepper
Greek yogurt or sour cream
Leaves from 5 sprigs of fresh mint, sliced

1. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan, and add the onions, garlic and ginger. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes. Do not allow to brown.

2. Stir in the sweet potato and star anise, reduce heat to low and cover tightly, leaving to sweat for 10 minutes. Then add the tomato paste, cinnamon, lentils and water or stock. Bring up to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils and sweet potato are very tender, about 30-35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Remove the star anise, then liquidize the soup with an immersion blender. Stir in the lime juice and taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Spoon into bowls, topping each with a spoonful of yogurt or sour cream and some sliced mint leaves.

From The Wednesday Chef

Just heard from Jesse’s cousin Jay. He has a spare room for me with a fancy bed for the two nights in DC that I am not with Joey.

Imagine my friends,
122 nights with a mp3 player and very expensive ear buds; 100+ GB of love songs.
A kindle and a slew of books; detocqueville, proust and friends.
A DS lite; electroplankton, princess peach, final fantasy, mario kart, Korg DS-10, NYTimes Crosswords.
Digital cameras and audio recorders; microphones; fancy lenses.
A keyboard, protools and Ableton Live; pitch n time, t-racks, Kaoss pad.
Winter, cold and gloomy, a strong desire to stay inside and do nothing but read and write and listen and make.
Train tracks across America in the snow.
A hundred friends to visit.

Dreamy.