Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your kind words following my last post. It helps to think of so many people sending messages of support and sympathy to Jerome’s family and friends. I’m grateful that my words were able to convey even a little of the fantastic fellow Jerome was – and remains in the memories of those who knew him.
It also helps to focus on the moments in each day that sing of joy and sunlight, the moments that overlay the creeping bleakness. Moments like a coffee catch-up with a friend I haven’t seen in months. Or cuddles with my dog, who has become a little old lady almost without me noticing. Texts with friends that skirt (and at times fully cross) the borders of appropriateness, and thereby make me gasp with laughter.
A beautiful rose in my parents’ garden, seen for the first time upon walking outside to chase the warmth that was trickling through the kitchen window.
A forest of rosemary growing near the rose; a forest that enveloped me with its heady, spicy, perfume, and then lent its aromatics to the dinner I made for my brother and me.
Laughing so hard with my brother than I almost choked on the below spicy vegetable lentil soup, twice. The comfort of having my brother here for the weekend, both for Easter (Happy Easter/Passover, by the by) and the funeral.
It helps to know there is light still, even if it is ephemeral.
And though we can’t grasp intangible light, we can at least let it suffuse us when it shines.
Spicy Vegetable Lentil Soup
Serves 2
- 1 tb olive oil
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tsp (or more; I’ll do more next time) fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 large (150g) carrot, chopped
- 1 tsp sambal oelek, to taste
- 1 tin (410g) chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup (100g) French puy lentils
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- half a medium head of broccoli (150g), chopped
- salt, pepper, fresh herbs, or any garnishes you’d like, to taste.
- In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat and then add the onion, garlic, and rosemary. Stir until the onion begins to turn translucent. Add the carrot and sambal oelek, stirring until the carrot begins to soften.
- Add the tomatoes, lentils, and stock, and stir well. Bring to the boil and then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add the broccoli and cover again, cooking for about five minutes more or until the broccoli is cooked to your liking (I prefer my broccoli to have some bite to it).
- Season to taste, then serve. Once you’ve sat down at the table, I highly recommend whipping out a little tub of yellow powder, piling several spoonfuls of said powder into your bowl, and then leaning towards your dining partner to offer, in a low and somewhat creepy voice, “nutritional yeaaaaaast?”. If your dining partner is anything like my has-no-idea-of-wacky-vegan-condiments brother, much hilarity will ensue.
Question Time: Can you believe I just posted a savoury recipe? No, me neither. And here’s another question, for good measure: What did you get up to on Easter Sunday?
Good to know you’re coping okay. That is one luscious looking soup… spicy and chunky, mmmmm. Probably not getting up to much today. I’ve been amazingly unproductive lately.
It’s so nice to take a step back and be consciously quite and unprocdutive sometimes
The rose above looks so beautiful.
Thank you, Dienna. It was lovely to stumble across such beauty.
Good girl. I try to see all the beautiful things in life too when the going gets tough. The bees collecting pollen, the hummingbirds with nectar.. the glimmer of sun rays.. that’s all that pulls me through most days
Thank you, darling Angle Babe, that’s beautiful. Singing Disney helps too
xo
Disney always helps… last week for one morning I was feeling particularly sad (for not much reason at all), the coffee place started playing Hakuna Matata… which literally made me laugh out loud. There must be a Disney God out there somewhere
xoxoxo
My Disney God appeared in the form of a newly-discovered relative with whom I was able to sing all the way back from Gundaroo yesterday
xoxo
You are so lucky to have your brother, it must be fantabulous to have that bond, I feel very envious, and just thinking on it makes me smile, so it is a happy thing. It’s good to know you can still laugh, laughing is really the best. This soup looks delicious, but I don’t know about the yeast, or the creepy delivery of it…
Hugs.
Thank you
I know how lucky I am to have the wonderful brother that I do. And yet, right now, this makes me feel even more devastated for Jerome’s sister, for I know she had the same relationship with Jerome. Thank you for the hugs.
I love the look of this soup. I don’t think I’ve ever added brocolli to my lentil / soup type mixtures but I will definitely do so next time.
I think the small moments, the glimpses of light, are almost more important than the ‘big’ ones sometimes – and certainly so crucial for keeping on going. They’re also frustrating hard to notice at times, and certainly easy to skip over when things are tough, so this post makes me happy in a sad sort of way: happy that the moments are happening even as sad that they’re needed with such need. My default seems to be to get stuck in the past or the future, or any time but the now, so I know it’s not always an easy thing.
Easter Sunday and I am reading a harrowing book, wondering how I will drag myself to the market this morning. Groggy grey day. Your soup looks delicious perhaps I should aim for something like that?
Big squashy hugs again and good on you for being so brave xxcat
Soup can be wonderful for grey miserable days. Hugs are even better. Thank you, dear Catherine. xo
I, too, am so overwhelmed with sadness for the past and anxiety about the future right now that clinging onto these moments of present-joy are proving somewhat of a saviour. Thank you for helping remind me to keep myself in the present.
What a beautiful looking soup Hannah and I love the ingredients including the sambal oeleck – the more the merrier I say! That soup must have wonderful flavours. Lovely that you have your brother with you and that you can support each other through this very emotional time. Best wishes for his sad farewell xx
Thank you. I must admit the sambal oelek was mighty powerful this time, but luckily my brother and I both like intense spiciness
I hope extra time with family is helping and I’m so glad you have your brother! You are in my thoughts and I’m sending you good thoughts!
Gabby
Thank you Gabby. It’s much appreciated.
Hannah, I’m glad to hear that you’re focusing on the positive. There is a lot of beauty in the world (as well as funny things) and without knowing Jerome, I’ll bet he was part of both of those things
Oh, he absolutely was. Thank you, Lorraine
xo
Oh glad to hear that you’re feeling better now
It’s always hard to say goodbye ~
This soup looks great and I can’t believe you posted a savoury recipe too
Take care of yourself!
Thank you Daisy.
My best friend was just down this past weekend to attend a memorial for a dear friend (he was a former boyfriend that became one of her closest friends). It was such an unfortunate reason to see each other but it was nice all the same. Like I said to her, I cannot imagine losing one of my best friends but it always reminds us of how important those we have really are to us. I am SO sorry for your loss but happy you have such fond memories are those are the most comforting in times like these.
As far as Easter celebrations go, I have had a great day of doing absolutely nothing! I’m on break from school so I have no obligations to study and didn’t make the trip to visit my parents this year. I think a special dinner will happen tonight and more relaxing before the looming work week.
Hope you are finding your peace Hannah.
Thank you, Shannon. I hate how common such loss as this is. Deepest sympathies to your friend, too.
A relaxing, quiet, self-caring night sounds perfect, Shannon. I hope you schedule in more of such nights in future
xo
Easter morning rose to Peruvian cappucino with coconut milk and a few chocolate covered pretzels. I am so sorry about your friend Hannah.
Oh, that sounds like the most wonderful breakfast! I want that. All of that
And thank you, Tammy.
This recipe looks divine, lovely. I want a bowl now & it’s 8:30am! Look at me, being all crazy with my eating – soup for breakfast! “And though we can’t grasp intangible light, we can at least let it suffuse us when it shines” – beautiful. Hugs.
Heidi xo
Thank you, Heidi. I felt a bit self-conscious about that line – not quite the tongue-in-cheek I often write here. And hey, nothing wrong with soup for breakfast! It’s just like having pho in the morning in Vietnam
xo
hurrah for savoury recipes – the soup looks delicious – would be wonderful with my latest kitchen love – french lavender salt! And it seems like great comfort food. Almost as good as having a brother close by!
The rosemary forest looks amazing – every time I see that much rosemary I think you could use some for aromatic skewers for kebabs! Now I would love to see more of your parents’ garden
I’m very envious of your French lavender salt; it sounds wonderful
If you ever want rosemary, you just come to my parents’ place. They have endless supplies!
Hi Hannah. Glad to see you’re doing a bit better since your last post. Your strength and optimism is really admirable! And that rose really is picture perfect! Anyway, this soup sounds delicious. I like a bit of “kick” and heat in my meals so I love this! I don’t think I’ve had sambal in soups so you’ve really opened my mind to endless possibilities here, Hannah =D
Teehee, thank you Winston. I’m a bit of a chilli fiend; I add it wherever I can
I used to be more of a nature photographer and I often wonder where that part of me has gone for the time being, it used to be so much easier to stop and notice the beautiful little things. It’s nice to take the time out to do that though, your parents grow beautiful roses!
Got to love lentils with a bit of bite, I think you have the same savoury tastebuds I do! So I’m all for more savoury recipes!
It’s also a little git genetic, I think – my parents have taken about four billion photos of flowers in my lifetime alone
Teehee, I love adding chilli to everything. Dessert recipes tend to be more popular but I should post savoury recipes a little more frequently
I made this soup today and it is delicious! Very flexible too – I added a heap of extra veggies that were languishing in the fridge
Oh Kelly, I’m thrilled!! And yes, it’s a perfect recipe to clear out the fridge with
I’m glad to hear that despite what you’ve been through, you’ve still managed to focus on positive and happy things! And yay for the savoury dish! Are we going to see more of them?
Teehee, I’ll try. Although now that it’s getting dark again by 5pm… I need someone to build me a lightbox
looks like a brilliant savoury recipe too. all my love xox
Thank you
Yay for brother time!
At first glance I saw ‘Texas with friends that skirt’ and was incredibly confuzzled. Why would she choose Texas? Is she talking about wearing skirts, or skirt steaks? I could get into verb-izing my outfit. You know, wearing a skirt, skirting about. This is a super random comment… let’s make it a bit more concrete.
I had a lovely Easter day spent with the fella’s family, including his niece and nephew who are beyond cute. Like eons beyond, that’s how cute they are. Ate good food, enjoyed great company, counted my lucky stars to be living such a sweet life.
xoxo dear one.
I am so delighted that your Easter was such a magnificent one, regardless of whether you were skirting, pantsing, shorting, or skorting (the horror!) around for it. My Easter lunch was equally wonderful and full of joy and love, although I fell apart somewhat that night. It gives me great happiness that you Easter = reminders of sweet lifeyness.
It’s always hard saying good bye to loved ones, but it does make me take stock of life, and realise how lucky we are to be here. So glad to hear you had your brother for company. Snorting vegetable soup sounds like just the kind of dinner you needed
Oh yes. The funeral was today, and it was both beautiful and devastating. Holding myself together with the memories of snorting laughter in various forms. xo
Thoughts are with you Hannah xo
Thank you Nic.
cuddles with my dog – hells yes! Have you watched the move Hatchi? OMG….I cried and cried! So sad.
Oh, I’ve just looked it up and I don’t think I could bear it right now. I can’t cope with any more loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss Hannah. That is far, far to young. It is so strange when the world outside looks just the same and yet is changed forever. But it is only changed because you got to experience someone wonderful, so hold on to that.
I hope the soup helped, sometimes that delicious warmth really does help heal the hurt.
Thank you Lisa. I can’t really stand it right now, but he did bring so much wonderfulness to so many people’s lives. Holding onto that.
Hey Mizz Hannah. Thrilled to pieces that you have good people/animals around you to make you laugh and comfort you.
Gosh, I NEED to go out and find some nutritional yeast! I keep hearing delicious things about it. And of course, then I can offer it to someone in a creepy voice, which is the sort of thing I’m always looking for more opportunities to engage in.
When you and I have our raw truffle/granola party, we can offer EVERYTHING to each other is creepy voices. “Peeeeeeeecan, my dear?” “Don’t mind if I do. Coooooooconuuuuuuut flooooooooour?” Great times will be had by all. xo
I’ll be more surprised the day you post a savoury meat recipe (that’s not roo)
x
Bahaha! You know me too well! I’ve cooked meat a few times lately… all roo.
I’m always looking for a recipe that only serves 2, I usually make too much! I suppose leftovers are always a quick next day meal, but I would like something that’s gone in one day. This looks so tasty!
I know what you mean; I get bored with leftovers really quickly too
I know it’s economical and forward thinking and yadda yadda… but I like me some novelty every day 
I’m happy you can enjoy those little moments of light! This is what keeps me going as well.
The soup looks wonderful. I might throw in some chicken, lalala …
Thank you Kath. Light does help break up the anxiety and sadness
I’d be more likely to throw in kangaroo
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. That’s awful. I’m glad that there are little moments of joy to help cheer you up, and keep going.
Thank you Louise. It’s hard to believe it’s almost been two weeks now. I miss him.
I can’t believe no one has asked what s on the other plate at the table in the photo with the soup! Unless they did, and I’m just not reading carefully enough.
Do you mean the Cape Seed Roll, or the pat of butter? Either way, I totally just answered your question, which means I WIN AGAINST ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE. Life is awesome.
Yes, that must be it. The roll, I mean. For some reason, it looked to me as though it might be a giant vegan truffle of the sort you’re so fond of making.
Oh dear heavens. A raw vegan truffle the size of my head. That is the greatest idea of all time.