Last week was the first time I checked out in awhile and I must admit that it took me getting sick to collapse into relaxation mode.  I have been going full throttle for some time and my body finally gave in. Thankfully it wasn’t a full-blown flu, but just enough to make me housebound. The funny thing was that I actually enjoyed it! 

I spent three days in my sweats, no workouts, no meetings, just the occasional trip to school to get my kids.  I cooked all week, which is one of my favorite pastimes.  I made a fresh healthy batch of chicken matzo ball soup and my favorite lentil soup. David and I cozied up one afternoon and watched The Trip which sent me straight into gourmet mode! For the next few days, all I wanted to do was cook and create new dishes.  I chopped so many vegetables that my pointer finger developed a cooking blister.

It was so relaxing – morning talk shows, hours in the kitchen and nowhere to rush off to.  I hung all the pictures that have been piled on the floor in my family room and even organized some photos on my computer to put into holiday albums.

I was hardly in bed resting, but I loved every sneezy moment of my sickness and laughed out loud that it took that to keep me down.  Trust me, I’m a lousy couch potato, but any time I can have at home is a blessing no matter the cost!

I read an entire cookbook, escaped with David on a trip to Williams-Sonoma and tried a bunch of new recipes. I really enjoy cooking with my kids; Rain has become quite the chef! I also saved a boatload of money eating at home all week long.  We played a fun restaurant game where my young ones took orders, played waitress and served the dishes. 

When I asked Rain, “What is your best dish?” she replied, “Blue!” She constantly cracks me up!  We transformed our everyday kitchen into the best restaurant in town and laughed over the comfort food – which is the best medicine I know.

My best cold remedy is ginger tea.  I boil chopped ginger root and drink it with lemon and local honey! This is my cure-all and quick fix when my energy is low and sickness is around me.

If you are looking for a yummy new recipe – try this grilled salmon and asparagus salad with shallot dressing:

Salad Dressing Recipe

• ½ cup Olive oil
• ¼ cup Balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon Salt
• ½ Chopped shallot

Whisk together all the ingredients. Note: Salad is best when tossed with your hands (yes, I saw that on The Trip!)