Impromptu Lunch: Soup for the Soul

I am not someone who is comfortable writing about food. Don’t get me wrong, I love food.  I love to eat, love to read about food and love watching food channels in TV.  That love shows quite well on my midriff. I do cook reasonably well.  It’s just that I am not organised enough to write a recipe or plan a meal.  I just make do with whatever is in the pantry and the fridge and cook up a reasonably savory dish.

After my visit to the dentist yesterday, I was pampering my teeth with soft foods to ensure that the temporary crown stay in place till next week when the permanent crown would be in place.  So for lunch today I had bought a carton of butternut squash soup from Trader Joe’s.  I opened the carton and poured a cup of soup into the bowl. One look at the color of the soup and my appetite went south.  I knew I had to do something.

I did not have much time on my hand.  My tummy was growling.  Some frozen and fresh ingredients from the fridge, added spices here and there and about 10 minutes later I had a hearty bowl of soup ready.  It tasted really good.  It soothed my appetite and calmed down my soul. I hope my readers will indulge me in my endeavour in penning the recipe.
 The ingredients were ( in order of cooking):
1. Four medium size frozen shrimp
2. Half cup frozen mixed vegetables ( carrots, sweet peas, cut beans, corn)
3.Half cup vegetable broth
4. Fresh ground black pepper and pinch of salt
5. Heat all of the above in  microwave(1100 watts) for eight (8) minutes in 50% power.
6. In a separate bowl, mix one diced large baby bellas mushroom, one half diced roma tomato, quarter cup thin sliced onion, one green chilli diced and a handful of baby kale with one and half teaspoon of soy sauce.
7. Once the shrimp and the mixed vegetable is done, mix the mushroom, onion, baby kale etc. into the shrimp and mixed vegetables.
8. Mix quarter cup of pre cooked barley ( pearl barley ).*
8. Pour a cup of butternut squash in the bowl and heat everything in the microwave for two and half (2 1/2)minutes.
9. Soup for the soul is now ready to be enjoyed with few pieces of thinly sliced french baguette.*1

Note:   Ingredients were based on what was available.
*  Barley was pre-cooked in a slow cooker for breakfast
*1 Thin slices were to favor my temporary crown so that I did not have to bite hard.  I am sure the soup will taste good with any other bread.