some weeks go by here when i can count the amount of times that i go outside on one hand. (sorry, vitamin d levels.) i'm usually on the way to one of five places:

1. target

2. the farmhouse

3. the egg parents' house (to eat soup and watch blu-ray)

4. the back of the bakery (to make macaroons)

5. the front of the bakery (to fetch day-old sourdough)

i'm past worrying about what my social skills have sunk to, i think they're just beyond help. it's not that i'm a totally lame friendless doofus, eggboy and i just get into these patterns where we work work work until we can work no longer and then we realize that we haven't showered in days and in that moment pizza delivery and vikings seem way friendlier than putting on deodorant and sitting in public. 

*i know, i know*

today i'm addressing reason number 5 for going outside. it's a fun thing to do. the bakery that i work at makes a killer sourdough and i can trust that i'm not going to get completely judged for popping in and out wearing turquoise velour pants, dark green wellies, a hooded sweatshirt of another shade of green, and a big black parka, in 60 degree weather.

the reason for my fashionably intensive sourdough runs is usually so that i can make this soup that i'm obsessed with. it's the tomato sourdough soup from jerusalem and the best way i can describe it is that it's just like eating a bowl of that yummy stuff you scrape from the bottom and sides of a bread bowl. really really soggy bread that just melts into the soup in the best most delightful way possible. 

since eggboy won't go near its gluten-y qualities, i've reduced the recipe to an easy single serving that doesn't leave me with a bathtub full of things that i (and only i) need to eat before we move. it's super simple and fast and comforting and a great way to use up your bread before passover starts! wahhhh!

single serving tomato sourdough soup

based on yotam ottolenghi's recipe from jerusalem

ingredients

1 tb olive oil

1/2 small onion, chopped

1/2 tsp cumin

1 clove garlic, minced

1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes

salt + pepper

1 tsp sugar

1/2 c vegetable broth

1 slice sourdough, ripped into pieces

2 tsp chopped cilantro

clues

heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. cook the onion until it's soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. add the cumin and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

add the tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste, sugar, and broth, and bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. add the sourdough and simmer for 5 more minutes. (if the soup gets too thick because of the sourdough, add a bit more broth.)

add the cilantro and whiz it up in a blender, keeping it a little bit chunky, if desired. enjoy in a super cute mug...

but wait, this all gets better! do you see this mug that the soup is in? the one that's giving you smiley eye? it--he--could be yours! he's one of only 50 and he's handmade in brooklyn by helen levi and sold through of a kind, an awesome site with cool stuff from emerging designers. go on, little mug, give us a twirl:

i am very jealous of whoever wins him because can't you imagine how wonderful soup for one would be with this little guy by your side? 

to enter this giveaway, sign up for the of a kind newsletter and then tell me what would be the first thing you'd enjoy out of this mug! i'll choose a winner at random next week!

update 4.21.2014: a giveaway winner has been chosen!

-yeh!