Poetry Friday Recipe for "Beautiful Soup"

It's Friday. And that means my daughter has missed an entire week of school. (My son made it in on Monday and Tuesday.) The flu has hit central Maryland schools hard. So this Friday, I'm thinking about poetry and soup! Here is Lewis Carroll's poem, "Beautiful Soup," from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I think the Mock Turtle was just hungry, not sick, but my vegetable and lentil soup would have filled him up. Scroll down for my Flu Fighter Soup recipe. It has a secret ingredient that gives it a golden color and loosens congestion in the chest. Definitely a beautiful and delicious soup. Beautiful Soup Lewis Carroll BEAUTIFUL Soup, so rich and green, Waiting in a hot tureen! Who for such dainties would not stoop? Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, Beautiful, beautiful Soup! Beautiful Soup! Who cares for fish, Game, or any other dish? Who would not give all else for two Pennyworth only of Beautiful Soup? Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup? Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, Beautiful, beauti--FUL SOUP!

You can listen to the poem here, but my kids are tired of hearing me sing about Beautiful Soup.

Laura's Flu Fighter Soup 1 medium onion, chopped 1 cup dry lentils, rinsed 2-3 tsp. olive oil 6+ cups chicken stock 2-3 large handful spinach leaves, chopped to bite size 3 large carrots, chopped 4 ribs celery, chopped 2 cloves garlic, pressed 2 cups pressed or crushed tomato 2 pinches red pepper flakes 1/2 tsp. ground pepper (or to taste) 1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste) 1/2 tsp. tumeric (*super secret ingredient) 1. Sautee onion and lentils in olive oil until translucent. 2. Add two cups stock. Heat on medium. 3. Add spinach, carrots, celery, and garlic. 4. Add tomato. 5. Add remaining stock and boil. Then simmer until lentils are soft. 6. Add spices while simmering. 7. Eat and feel better! I hope you've avoided the flu and you're well enough to enjoy Poetry Friday. Anastasia Suen is hosting at Picture Book of the Day.