Here's hoping!

I'm tired of the kiddos being sick. I'm tired of being sick and allergy ridden myself. And I'm tired. My mother-in-law very kindly brought us some homemade chicken stock and chicken so we could have some hopefully curative chicken noodle soup. I used a bunch of veggies from the fridge (onion, garlic, zucchini, carrot, mushrooms) and the garden (tomatoes - yes, still!, cilantro, parsley) and boy did it turn out good. Here's hoping for a turn away from serial colds and towards health!

And, based on the look of the garden, it's time to make Swiss Chard! I noticed a recipe request on another blog, so I'm sharing my favorite recipe for Swiss Chard:

Swiss Chard with Shallots
1 bunch Swiss chard
1 T olive oil1-2 shallots, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 t each, salt & pepper
1 t cider vinegar

Remove the center stems/ribs from the chard with a paring knife and chop them in 1-2in. pieces. Steam 3-4 minutes (I use a large covered plate and 1/4c. water in the microwave).

Stack and chop the leaves. Add to stems and steam 3-4 more minutes.

Heat oil in a skillet. Saute shallots and garlic until golden (3-4 min). Stir in the salt and pepper. Add chard and the steaming water and
cook until tender (about 5 minutes). Stir in vinegar. Serve hot!

And hey - don't forget to Garnish! - Parmesan cheese is a tasty choice!