When I was growing up, there was still a whole lot of talk and comparisons of the feminine form and femininity in general, to the flower. Girls were “precious flowers” going into puberty was “blooming” and becoming a woman past adolescence was “blossoming”.
In my husband’s family’s culture, women are frequently compared to fruit. Girls are sweet as peach blossoms, and delicate as a cherry. Young women are like the sweet lychee, now protected by a peel/rind of wisdom, and older women are the full peach; soft, tender, and sweet.
I am fairly certain when I first got my period, I felt more like I was being stabbed in the lady basket, and hemorrhaging violently, than “blooming”. I also don’t remember feeling as pretty as a peach blossom. I felt like the awkward young duckling who was more likely to turn into a chubby pigeon than a graceful swan.
Yesterday, at the gym, in my kickboxing class, my sparring partner made the mistake of telling me “you are strong for a woman.”
Strong for a woman? Really? Men still say this shit? I may never have the upper body strength of some men, but I have been pregnant, given birth without drugs, came back from a relationship in my late teens/early 20s where my boyfriend thought my face was a speed bag, gone to college, grad school, ran more miles in one stretch than some people run in their entire lives, auditioned in front of some of the scariest directors in show business and GOT THE GIG, changed my own tire, paid my own bills, and just kicked YOUR ass. I’m strong for a girl? NO, you asscandle, I’m just STRONG.
I ripped my mom a new one.
Do you know something else about women? We might not be able to be stronger than you can, but that drives us to fight smarter. When you’re going for our face, we’re going for the low-blow, and we’re going to connect. In the ring, in fights, in life.
It makes me proud of the STRONG women I associate with, and the STRONG men that stand beside us.
I only hope I can pass this knowledge onto my son. Seeing as how he’s growing up with parents who are equally strong in different areas, I think he’s got a good start.
Now for the food. Rant over.
Do you know what not to do? Don’t take pictures of soup at 8 am. Because, when you are half finished, your son will come out, think it’s breakfast when you’re putting new batteries in your camera, and dig in. I took far fewer pictures this morning. On the bright side, my son started his day with a crap ton of veggies and protein. I also got a big smile and a
“MOMMA, I GET SPICY SOUP FOR BREAKFAST???? OH, THANK YOU!!”-totally worth my crashed photo shoot.
I had a LOT of leftover stock and pulled chicken from my matzoh ball soup, and I was plum outta balls. What I did have was a lot of other ingredients that I could throw into the soup to make it new, different, even MORE healthy, and delicious. I made Healthy Tortilla Soup.
Healthy Tortilla Soup
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Keywords: soup/stew entree gluten-free
Ingredients (serves 8-10)
- 40 oz boxed or homemade chicken stock
- the meat of one chicken (can be rotisserie)
- 1, 15.5 oz can of black beans
- 1.5 cups corn kernels (I used fire roasted)
- 15 oz chopped tomatoes with the juice
- 2 cups sliced carrots
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 poblano pepper, diced
- 5 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp cumin
- juice of half of a lime
- salt and pepper
toppings
- tortilla strips (I made mine by spraying strips of tortilla with olive oil and baking until crisp)
- mozzarella or monterey jack shredded cheese
- cilantro
- sour cream
Instructions
chop the chicken or pull the chicken into bite sized pieces.
heat a evoo on medium-high in a large stock pot
saute the carrots, garlic, pepper, and onion until just tender
add in the stock, tomatoes, spices, lime juice, chicken, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
after it is boiling add the beans and corn to the pot. Alternatively, you could do all of this in a crock pot.
serve with tortilla strips, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, and lime wedges.
There are so many things I want to say in regards to the first part of this post. I love it. F- yeah, you are strong. Period. There’s no need to add “for a woman” onto that statement.
I need to make this recipe. ASAP. I’m actually craving it now. Wanna swing by and drop me off a bowl or container? =)
PS. Your son sounds like the older version of my little guy.
be right over.
As you tried to through my tired of pregnancy ass into labor with Kymara with reflexology I can say from first hand knowledge that you are strong. I’ve met men with weaker grips. LOL. Now I’m craving that soup too. I’m with you on this blooming crap too. I think it’s a testament to how long we’ve allowed ourselves to be described by the men in our lives and simultaneously how deluded they must be.
it was the NYSC in Midwood. I know you aren’t surprised now.
“Oh thanks. You’re pretty misogynistic for a 21st century man”.
Douchecanoe.
total douchecanoe.
Tortilla soup is definitely one of my favorites.
This recipe looks excellent!! YUM!
you could totally make it vegetarian!! use veggie stock, more beans, and add a poached egg!
ummm I’m convinced you’re my long lost twin! This is exactly how I make my tortilla soup!!! Though I dont add the corn or carrots — but you bet your ass I will now! =)
also, asscandle is my new favorite word. ever.
ever ever!
<3 your face off girly!
asscandle just describes so many people.
xoxox
Looks really yummy! I’m loving soup right now
me too!
Looks delicious!
thanks!!
INCREDIBLE POST!! You are STRONG. I didn’t know about that relationship that you had..that breaks my heart! LOVE that you gave birth without drugs…I don’t know how you do it. Now come make me spicy soup for breakfast.
thanks, Janae! I only did the drugless thing ONCE. I got smarter with my daughter and DRUGGED UP. That epidural? Best.Invention.Ever.
LOVE this post. Hell yes you are strong. No need to qualify that. Asscandle might be my favorite word now too. Soup looks delicious. Can’t wait to try it!
thanks, Christine!!