Monthly Musings
This time of year is always a bit of a challenge for me. And it actually has very little to do with the weather. But January always feels, well, a little blah to me. By mid-July I am one of those people who is already itching to get to the fall. Three out of four birthdays in my house happen at the beginning of fall, and I also get to celebrate my wedding anniversary. Then come the holidays. I’ve always loved Halloween and my love for it has grown as I get to now experience it with my children. Then the weather starts to turn colder and I look forward to seeing family and celebrating Thanksgiving. Color palettes become rich and vibrant. Decor and fashion start mirroring the foliage outside. Meals become heartier, and I get make soup to my heart’s content. I love to savor the days of fall because it always blurs together and disappears faster than I’m ready for it to. But the goodbye is always bittersweet because then I get to step into Christmas. Time starts being marked by how long is left until “the holidays” and the final anticipation of the season begins to build. As my kids get older, it feels like there is a little more of that ever-elusive Christmas magic in our house. Decorations go up, the tree gets trimmed, and Spotify is switched to Christmas music only. The winter cold feels cozy and festive. And then on Dec 26th it feels like it all comes crashing down.
I’ve tried to let Christmas stay up. I’ve tried to be someone who can enjoy the cheer past the 25th. And I think I did a bit when I was younger, pre-kids. But now I just want to get things taken down and packed away. It’s partly just being ready for a refresh and partly hating the visual reminder that things are done until next year. And, honestly, it always really puts me into a real funk. It feels silly to read Christmas bedtime books or turn Rudolph on for the 15th time once Christmas is over. I’m no longer holding on to the excited anticipation of giving someone a gift I know they’ll love. I’m not planning my Christmas Eve menu or baking up a new batch of cookies. And as weird as this sounds, only then does the time change really hit me. Winter starts to feel a little bit more drab and dark. Then you throw in all the new year/new you messaging and I’m inclined to stay in bed and take a nap. I suppose you could say I’m a post-Christmas Grinch.
So this year I’m trying to rewrite the narrative for myself and shake off the funk: enjoying the extra park days I get with my kids during the holiday break, starting a new book series to cuddle up with in bed. While I’m not big on Valentine’s day, I picked up some kitchen towels and a pillow with hearts on them. And I’ll admit that bringing that little bit of cheer truly has brightened up my space (and mood). Perhaps it’s just chasing the high of anticipation. But in the end maybe I’m okay with that? I’m looking towards the future and feeling excited to look forward to something. I’m trying to savor and enjoy these days as much as I do the last four months of the year. So if you’re also finding yourself in a new year slump, know that you’re not alone. Pick something and mark it on your calendar to look forward to. Finally try out that new recipe you’ve had saved forever. Schedule a dinner date with yourself and anticipate it all week. I’ll be doing it with you.
xx Emmy
Soup of the Month
This month’s soup is one from my own kitchen! I’ve “developed” this recipe over the many months and years I’ve made this soup but you can find plenty of other great takes on it with a quick Google search. This is my go-to when I want something quick, comforting, easy, and don’t want to go shopping. I almost always have these ingredients on hand, but the beauty of this soup is that you can sub in whatever you have in the fridge, and I promise it will still taste delicious.
Gyoza Soup
Ingredients
1-2tbsp sesame oil
Half a block extra firm tofu, cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1tsp ginger paste
1tsp garlic paste (or ~3 cloves fresh, minced)
1tsp Sambal Oelek, add more or less for desired spice level
1-2tsp coconut aminos (can sub soy sauce)
4c stock of choice (I use vegan chicken bouillon)
1c shredded carrot
3c baby spinach
1 bag frozen gyoza (my fav is Thai veggie from Trader Joe’s!)
1tbsp yellow miso paste
toasted sesame oil, optional
sriracha, optional
Method
Start by heating your sesame oil in the bottom of a large stock pot over medium heat. Add in your cubed tofu and let is sit undisturbed for 2-3 minutes. Stir tofu once you begin to see it browning and then let it rest again to develop more color. Repeat until tofu is starting to get golden brown on all sides.
Add the chopped white parts of your green onions and reserve the green tops for later. Next add in the ginger and garlic paste and Sambal Oelek. Let the mixture cook for about 1 minute, stirring regularly to ensure the aromatics don’t burn.
Add the coconut aminos and give everything another stir, using the liquid from the aminos to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Now add in your stock and bump the heat up to get the liquid to a boil. Soup tip: If you’re using bouillon cubes, I like to add them to the pot first and let them melt. Then give everything a quick stir before adding the water.
Once boiling, add your carrots and frozen gyoza. Stirring every so often, let the mixture return to a boil. Let the mixture boil for 1 minute and then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Add the spinach and stir again — be sure to be gentle so you avoid breaking open any gyoza. Let this mixture simmer while you prepare the miso (or about 3-5 more minutes).
Add your miso paste to a bowl and then add a ladle of broth. Stir the mixture until the miso is fully dissolved. Take your soup pot off the heat and add back in the miso liquid and reserved green onion tops.
Ladle into bowls and top with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil and sriracha. Try to wait patiently for it to be cool enough to eat. Enjoy!
Share the Good
Stick with me on this one. This month we’re going to focus on saying yes. And before you get alarmed, I promise I’m not prompting you to do anything that goes against any of your boundaries. This should be a small yes — something that you usually say no to where the stakes are low. Something that maybe you’ve said no to for so long you’re not actually even sure why it’s a no anymore. Something like your kid asks for 10 more minutes at the park or your dog always wants to go one block further on your walk. Maybe you always eye a pastry to get with your coffee but you never end up buying it.
And beyond just saying yes, regardless if it’s a yes to yourself, a pet, or a friend — make sure you spend time enjoying your yes. Sit and savor every bite of your pastry. Take your time walking down the extra block or two, letting your dog sniff to their heart’s content. Find the joy in an unexpected yes.
Let’s Do it
Say yes to something this month! Let it be something low stakes and something that still feels comfortable to you. Try to keep yourself in the moment of your yes. Reflect on how it made you feel. See where else in your life you could be saying yes.
Hot Stuff
This month we’re all about the book recs 📚 Last year I set what I thought was a lofty goal to read 12 books in 2023. Not only did I totally smash that goal, but I also completely fell back in love with reading. I’ll plug the Libby App again because having a digital library right on my phone was a game changer for me. I almost always have my phone on me which means I almost always have access to a book. Happy reading!
The List
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas [series] - Yes, I’m totally outing myself as an SJM mega fan. I fell in love with her ACOTAR series and then became truly obsessed while reading Throne of Glass. There’s seven books in this series so you have plenty of time to get know and fall in love with the characters and the world Maas creates. Unfortunately, that also means you’ll feel tremendous heartbreak and might find yourself crying like a baby throughout the series. This series made me realize I’d found a genre that makes me excited to pick up a book again.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna - This one came recommended to me and I’m surprised by how much I loved it! I found myself eager to get back to this story each time I had to put it down. While you can probably guess the ending, there’s still some good plot twists to keep things interesting.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Like so many, I ended up reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo during the height of its popularity last year. I liked it so much I decided to pick up other books by Reid, and Malibu Rising was such a good read for me. As a reader you’re brought into the often private world of strained family dynamics and Reid captures all the real life emotions from joy to grief to heartbreak. This one totally kept me hooked.
The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - Clearly fantasy is really having a moment. This is book one of the Empyrean series and is a good mix of young romance and action— think Hunger Games with a little more lust! Fourth Wing explores themes around courage, sacrifice, loyalty, and friendship in a way that feels surprisingly grounded and often made me wonder, What would I do?
Super You by Emily Gordon - This is an oldie but a goodie. It falls under the self-help umbrella and offers really practical advice on personal growth and empowerment. Although Emily Gordon is now a writer and producer (she’s the woman behind The Big Sick), she’s a former therapist and hails from Winston Salem NC!
Til next time…
If you have a monthly musing or a soup recipe you’d like to share, please email us at hellogoodsoup@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you!
If you’re local to the Winston-Salem area keep an eye out for upcoming soup offerings! We’ll keep you updated via email or through our Instagram.
You can find us on Instagram @itsgoodsoup or coming soon to TikTok @hello_goodsoup.