I am alive. Not much worse for wear either.

To be more precise, I just returned from a skiing holiday trip. Week 3 is always girl’s week. And despite my lack of any skills when it comes to skiing, that favourite sister of mine (yes, I know … I only have one sister) always wheedles me into a cross country skiing trip. What can possibly go wrong?

I look like a smurf.

Hmmm. A flood of memories washing over me. Soup is certainly not very impressive when it comes to memories, but the ‘normalness’ of it all keeps it lingering on. Solyanka is a soup from Eastern Europe, easy to make (leftovers if you have those) and it should fit most tastes.

This ketchup / tomato sauce / dip is as simple as they get. Make it as spicy as you like, but keep in mind that it will get hotter (and spicier) over time. Especially when left to simmer for a little bit. So experiment a little. Adding more spices always works. However, adding fresh tomatoes (and other vegetables) will take the edge of it.