Evict the Swamp Hag and Feed the Soul

Some days are sad days, grey days, gloomy days.

We’ve all had them. Days when it feels as if you’ve wandered into the swampy precincts of Jenny Greenteeth— the old hag of English folklore, said to lurk in bogs and ponds, waiting to drag the unwary under.

Easy to feel alone in those moments, but we’re not.

Jenny Greenteeth and the Fog of Despair

There are a lot of us. We find ourselves in the swamp, water-logged and too bowed to look up. It’s too early for eye contact. We’re too raw to allow the intrusion of others.

We bend our heads and give in to the hag’s grasping claws and foul breath. Despair often feels like that.
But it is vital that we don’t give in to despair.

As Gandalf says in The Lord of the Rings: “…despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubts… we do not.”
On grey days things may seem hopeless, shocking, even dangerous, perhaps. But take heart because none of us can know the future.

Giving in to despair before knowing the outcome is giving up in advance.
Why would you allow despair to win out against all the possibilities that might be? I get it. When you’re bowed down and overwhelmed, it’s impossible to think you will ever lift the weight off your head and stand upright again.

Wave Goodbye to Despair

There is a trick you can try to overcome despair. Tackle it piecemeal rather than as one weighty mass. Cut the monolith into thin slivers and you’ll be amazed what you can do. Small steps.

One of the ways to do that is to get busy with small things.
Jenny Greenteeth might be prowling in the vicinity of your head, but a bowl of therapy soup can shoo her away faster than you can say “garlic bread.”

One of my go-to lift-me-ups is making therapy soup. If you like the idea of comfort food, then I hope this will be the vehicle to cheer you up.

So, what is therapy soup?

Just the most mouthwatering meal in a bowl you ever tasted. I mean a stick-your-spoon-upright kind of soup!
This is more than a meal you are preparing.

Shopping, preparing and cooking for it is done with intention. It’s an entire process that, served up with your favorite crusty bread, will satisfy you to the belly of your soul. The more fulsome your involvement in every task, the more you are doing to overcome despair.

The key here is mindful cooking so don’t use ready-cut vegetables or take short-cuts. Focus on each task rather than relitigating the troubles of your mind.

Therapy soup is based on hearty Provence Soupe au Pistou. All quantities are approximate. No need to be fussy, in fact I encourage you improvise and feel free to substitute any vegetables other than the holy trinity—onions, carrots and celery— that are foundational to the soup. As this is a Fall soup try and include some root veggies as they are best at this time of year.

Recipe for Therapy Soup

Here’s the shopping list:
Ingredients for the soup
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 large onion – chopped
2 cups celery – chopped
2 cups carrots – chopped
2 cups potatoes – chopped
2 cups sweet potatoes – chopped
2 cups green beans – chopped
2 cups parsnips – chopped
2 cups turnips – chopped
1 (13.8oz) can great northern white beans
1 (13.8oz) can dark red kidney beans
1 (8 oz) can strained tomatoes
Shin meat bone in, approximately 2 – 3 lbs
Stock 2 (32oz) cartons (quality, low sodium) beef stock
Seasoning S & P to taste, ½ cup chopped parsley, 1 cup fresh basil torn

Ingredients for the pistou
5 cloves of garlic
2 cups fresh basil
Salt & Pepper to taste
½ cup Olive oil
1 teaspoon horseradish sauce
½ lemon

Find your best playlist and gather all the beautiful fresh ingredients you’ve bought.

Ready? Let’s Go!

Prepare the vegetables. Wash and peel them with particular care then chop into smallish cubes. This depends on your own taste. If you like chunkier textures then 1- ¾ inch cubes but I recommend about ¼ -1/2 inch cubes.
Heat the olive oil in a large stock pot on medium heat.

Throw in the (holy trinity) onions, carrots and celery and also garlic. Cook on medium stirring (about 1 – 2 minutes) but make sure not to burn. Remove the vegetables from pot and set aside.

Gently brown the meat with the bone in it until it has good color, turning it every two minutes. The meat does not have to be cooked through, just nicely browned on the outside.
Return the holy trinity to the pot and add the rest of the vegetables. Add stock, the tomato sauce and seasoning. (I use only a little salt and adjust near the end as it can toughen the beans.)

Place the canned beans in a colander. Rinse with cold water before adding the beans to the pot.
Stir in the herbs.
Leave the soup to simmer at low heat. 2-2.1/2 hours. The vegetables and meat should be tender but not falling apart. Adjust salt and pepper.

Bringing the Magic

The magical pistou will elevate the entire recipe.
Put the garlic, basil, salt, olive oil and horseradish sauce into the processor and pulse a few times to a creamy consistency.
Transfer the pistou to a jar or bowl. Squeeze in the juice from half a lemon and stir well.
(You can keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week.)

No Red Meat?

This soup recipe can be adapted for vegans by omitting shin meat, adding 1 -2 cups barley and replacing beef stock with vegetable stock.

If you prefer, substitute chicken by omitting shin meat, adding in chicken pieces or a whole chicken, and substituting chicken stock for beef stock. Add in a cup of cooked pasta like orzo, or any small shaped pasta and 1 cup grated parmesan on top to serve.

Do not omit the pistou as it absolutely makes this dish sing.

Order Up!

Remove the shin meat and bones from soup. The marrow should still be intact and you can scoop it out and spread it on toast or bread for a delicious treat. Cut the meat into small pieces and distribute among the servings. Then, the final piece of magic, the pistou! Place a generous spoonful or two (or three) into each serving of soup. Yum!

Bring out the hot buttery garlic bread or crusty sour dough, seat yourself down, and enjoy! Spoonful by spoonful, you’ll feel those swamp claws loosen their grip. By the time your bowl is empty, your belly will be satisfied and your headspace a deal lighter.

P.S. Do you have your own version of Therapy Soup or a comforting ritual you use to shoo away Jenny Greenteeth? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.