I wished I had a hat.
The sun had already surrendered to the night, and a fierce wind nipped at me as I left work and hurried to my car.
I got inside, cranked up the heater, and headed home with one thing on my mind—dinner.
The cold had seeped into my bones, and I sought a very specific remedy. I planned on making tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.
The soup I had in mind was not fancy. Just sauté a shallot and some garlic in olive oil, add cans of both diced and crushed tomatoes, pour in a few cups of stock, bring it all to a boil, and then let it simmer for about 15 minutes.
I got home from work, tired and very hungry. My son and husband had already eaten. My husband—who is the superior cook in our family and a prince of a man—kindly offered to make my dinner.
I asked him to add some kale to the tomato soup to make it a little heartier and nutritious. He cooked the kale with the shallots and garlic and chicken stock to soften it before adding the diced and crushed tomatoes.
I usually make my grilled cheese sandwiches in a frying pan, but my husband took the time to use our Panini press.
Whether it’s simple or elaborate, nothing is better than a good meal made by someone you love.
(Except maybe the smell of butter browning on bread.)
The title says it all. A problem-solver in itself. Add tomato soup into the mix and that’s a winter dinner I can work with.