TRIUMPH

Now, tomorrow when I have to go back to work, I may be dragging my tail between my legs, but since Friday I have been doing really well. SO well, in fact, that tonight I made dinner--real, honest-to-goodness dinner. Not a skillet meal, not salad, and not soup from a can. I made my potato soup, which is very tasty if I may say so myself. I'm even contemplating getting the ingredients together to make some Brunswick stew in the crockpot for tomorrow. I know it might be getting a bit warm for soup, but it's something I can make without handling meat.

For now, here is my favorite potato soup recipe--it's a loose adaptation of Alton Brown's (Food Network) recipe.

*3-4 slices of bacon

*half an onion, diced

*4 large potatoes, peeled and diced

* 2 c chicken broth

* 1/2 cup half and half (or milk, to save some calories)

* salt and pepper to taste

I do everything in one soup pot--fewer dishes. =)

On medium high heat, render the fat from the bacon in the soup pot. Remove bacon slices for garnish. Lower heat to medium, add onions to bacon fat, and sweat onions until translucent. Add potatoes and chicken broth. Raise heat to medium high and let soup simmer for 30-45 minutes, or until potatoes are very soft. Stir in half and half or milk, and add salt and pepper to taste. Crumble bacon on top and serve hot. (Makes 4-6 servings) It's also delicious with cheese and/ or diced red onion on top.

And now, the 17 week belly pic: