Mireille's Magic Leek Soup

How I wish all the leeks at my local grocery store had as much "white part" as these, which I found at Whole Foods. I've never seen so much white part on a leek! The ones at Shaw's this past week were just the opposite - mostly green, with a tiny bit of white at the ends.

The minute I saw the prescription for nutritional detox via "Magic Leek Soup" in Mireille Guiliano's best-selling book French Women Don't Get Fat, I knew I wouldn't be able to stick with it. It's comforting to know I'm not alone.

I can see how detoxifying the program would feel, and goodness knows I felt like doing a little detox after the carbs and treats I'd been having earlier this month, but a) diuretics and my job aren't a practical combination and b) it's excruciating for food-lovers to go on what is essentially a liquid diet for 48 hours. I cheated in the first few hours and snacked on grape tomatoes and hummus. More diuretic.

It did work SOME magic into my culinary week, though. Although I abandoned Mireille's detox weekend, I did try to cook and eat more mindfully than I've been doing this month. I used the leek broth as a base for reduced-fat mushroom soup, a simmering medium for whole wheat orzo, a moisturizing and flavoring agent (instead of butter) for cooked lobster ravioli, and a warm beverage (I actually like the taste). It's been like a friend in my fridge, a companion I can use to remind me to put as much thought into the meals I prepare as I can. Even small changes can make one feel a little detoxified!

[Above photo: from the pastry counter at the Monoprix near La Motte-Picquet métro]