Do you ever just want to relax by the fire and eat something that has lots of flavor and not too many calories?
That's how I felt today. I went to work at the university and the temperature was 1 degrees with a wind chill of -15. I had on my warmest down coat, gloves, ear muffs, and a hood. The walk from the car to the building was so very cold and windy. I must just love teaching to endure this! Class was great, it's a new semester and it's always interesting to meet and work with new students.
Then came time to bundle back up and commute another 45 minutes home. As I was driving, all I had on my mind was getting back to the warm house and relaxing by the fire. The temperature was now up to 12 degrees but I felt chilled to the bone. The fire was calling me but I needed something to eat too. Luckily, there is a Panera Bread close to the house but I need to watch my calories.
Here's what I came home with: Cream of Chicken with wild rice soup and a French baguette. The soup is long grain and wild rice, celery, onions, carrots and diced chicken simmered in chicken both embellished with cream and herbs. The soup is 310 calories for a bowl but the Pick Two menu is a smaller cup of soup and a half sandwich. I may need to just eat the soup for now and save the rest for tomorrow. The soup had a great flavor and met by need for something warm to eat.
For the sandwich part of the Pick-Two menu, I selected a bacon turkey bravo on tomato basil bread. The sandwich looks delish but I could save some calories and remove the bacon or the Smoked Gouda cheese. This is a half sandwich but still 415 calories so I better think it over and remove the bacon or cheese and eat it for lunch tomorrow .
When you order, you get a choice or bread, chips or an apple. I have cut the apple in half for a little less calories.
If you don't have to watch your calories as closely, you might like a brownie. I cut this brownie into three pieces.
If you have been shoveling snow for hours, you may want to eat all three pieces of the brownie and not share a bite. I'm giving the brownie to my grandsons for a treat.
These indigo salad plates are one of my favorite blues, you can read a little more about the plates and napkins here.
Let's get back to the fire now. After I eat and get warm, what shall I do? I might take a short nap, read a good book, look at a magazine
or think about Spring and the sweet birds coming back!
Stay warm and take care - Judy.
Linking to:
It's Valentine's Day and my husband's very favorite cakes is Red Velvet. 
Red roses are always a wonderful way to say "I Love You," any day of the year but especially on Valentine's Day. 
