23.january: sunshine, on a cloudy day (IMBB #11)

It's terribly cold outside today and I certainly do NOT have the "month of May", so I thought bringing a wee bit of sunshine in would be in order. Sometimes when you don't get outside for a few days you start to feel much like a mushroom, cool, dark and a bit like fungus...you need something cheery and healthy to give you that kick you need to get your butt outdoors, no matter how horrible the weather might be out there.

Of course, it's time for IMBB once again - Alberto's creation wherin we all cook from a theme or ingredient named by a chosen person each month. This time around it was declared Beans and Legumes month by Cathy of My Little Kitchen and of course, I had to think of something good. I go through this a few times each month; what to make for IMBB? What to make for SHF? What to make for Paper Chef? What to drink for WBW? It's a bunch of food conundrums that are fun to work my way around, with usually a great dish, dessert, meal or beverage for S. and I at the end of each designated day.

This IMBB was of course, no different; I hemmed and hawed over recipes for falafel, bean casseroles, chilis and dips. I thought about refried beans, baked beans and spicy beans. S. and I did (finally!) decide on falafel a few days ago and left it at that. However, as usual, I stumbled across the quintessential bean recipe last night while convelesing from a mini-migraine on the couch, watching Rob Feenie (a fellow Canadian!) work his usual magic in his kitchen. His theme was Turkish Delights (without actually making Turkish Delight) and his first recipe was none other than a very delicious-sounding, happy-looking creamy chickpea soup.

Needless to say, I scrapped the falafel idea this morning and instead made us a nice pot of gorgeous and delicious and healthy chickpea soup...which S. explains as tasting somewhat like "liquid falafel". Not too bad, if you ask me. Creamy and rich without having any cream in it...good for you, easy to make and scrumptious...who could ask for more when it has snowed more than twelve inches outside and you can't find your balcony anymore...?