this soup is for the birds

as nora bird mentioned, she is feeling under the weather. i decided that nothing helps a sick bird feel better (besides copious amounts of nyquil) than a little "chicken" noodle soup and good ol'-fashioned tlc. both of us being vegetarians, i had to improvise the chicken part, but for all you sick snifflers out there...try this soup to keep your spirits up...


bring one big pot of water to boil (i'm guessing I had 8 – 10 cups)

when it comes to a boil, add:
four vegetarian bouillon cubes
one teaspoon turmeric
two bay leaves (kiss the cook if it's in your bowl!)
one teaspoon garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

add a half cup each of diced baby bellas and shitake mushrooms (I happened to have leftovers of these...any mushrooms could be used)

simmer for about 20 – 30 minutes

meanwhile,
sauté in olive oil:
one diced purple onion
one large diced carrot
one tablespoon diced garlic

add carrot/onion/garlic mixture and one package of firm, diced tofu to the broth and cook for a few minutes longer

add as many packages of gnocchi (I used two – one spinach and one cheese flavored) cook for a few more minutes, at the last minute, add fresh basil (or a big squeeze of this awesome invention ~ found at target), and voila...bird soup for the soul!

image via here