Holy SXSW recovery!  It turns out the reason why Ariel and I were so achy was because we caught some sort of mini-flu that knocked us out for a few days.  But now that I’ve found my way out of a sloth-like state and back to the kitchen, it’s all good.

Joy the Baker’s Spicy Lentil Soup seemed like the right, hearty choice for my first home-cooked meal in ages.

I followed Joy’s recipe almost to a tee.  Even though I’ve been venturing into the meat scene on occasion when I dine out, I’m still keeping a mostly veggie kitchen at home.  I subbed chicken sausage with Smart Sausages and quadrupled the crushed red pepper (addiction?).

From what my stuffy senses can tell, this is a darn good soup!  The kick and texture are a far cry from the mushness that I remember lentil soup to be (mom, why was your lentil soup so mushy??).

And then…  I headed to my first ballet lesson!  The class was so great that I found myself asking “whyyyyyy??” when the instructor announced it was time to pack up.  That never happens.  Perhaps I enjoyed my time suited in ballerina gear so much that I forgot I was in “class”?