Food, Glorious Food...

Name the musical that song is from! 

Any guesses? 

[Click here for the answer....]

With all the snowy weather we've been having lately....

.....there is a tendency to hole up indoors, where the fire is warm, toes are snuggled into fluffy slippers, blankets cover laps, and there is an occasional leap up off the couch to check on the latest food being mixed by the Kitchen Aid, mashed by the potato masher, stirred by a wooden spoon, browning in the oven, sauteing on the stove, or bubbling in a giant soup pot.

There is also a tendency, along with cooking food, to let the laptop warm your legs as you browse for even more comfort food recipes.

Like chocolate ones. (go here) 

Add peanut butter and you just may hear angels singing.

 

Or hot chocolate (with mini marshmallows, of course!) to sip as the temperature drops.

 

There may even be a tendency to buy chocolate while shopping at Costco for vegetables because it calls to you and of course, celebrating a birthday is a good excuse, right?

Ah winter. Where late evening suppers of homemade pesto and tomato pizza

are just not the same without an accompanying glass of Shiraz, now are they?

 And, it would be exceedingly rude to say no 

when your husband makes you a splendid breakfast on 

this beautiful and frigid Sunday morning, wouldn't it?

oh, yes.

And did you know that 3 perfectly ripe avocados

literally beg you to be made into guacamole?

Oh, yes, they do.

But nothing, nothing, beats winter comfort food on snowy, cold winter days like soup.

My brother in law has been telling Jim and I about this soup for months; probably since late last summer.

It sounded so good, I have been begging him for the recipe ever since...and finally, he delivered.

And, so, without further ado....

Rosemary Chic Pea Soup with Tomatoes and Barley

Begin by mincing 3-4 cloves of garlic and sauteing them briefly in 3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil.

 

You want the garlic barely golden, and definitely not browned.

1. 

Next, open a can of diced tomatoes

 and drain the juice into the pan with the garlic.

 

Rinse 1/2 bag of barley, drain, and add to the tomato juice and garlic mixture.

Stir.

 Dice the tomatoes,

 And add them to the barley mixture.

 Stir.

 Open a can (yes, a GIANT can) of chic peas (aka Garbanzo Beans).

This can was purchased at Costco...for $2.77

Rinse and drain.

 Meanwhile chop about 1-2 Tablespoons of fresh rosemary very finely...

 ....and add it to the barley/tomato mixture.

 Measure about 6-8 cups of chic peas

and add to the pot, along with 8 cups of water.

Add 4 (or more if you prefer) bouillon cubes. 

(Or use chicken or vegetable stock in place of the water)

 Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cover.

After about 45 min, you will see this...

 Most of the water is being absorbed by the barley as it cooks.

You can't even imagine how good this smells...

Another 30 min or so...maybe less, it will be ready to eat.

Add pepper and salt to taste, and mash the soup just a bit with a potato masher.

 Does it get any better than this?

I think not...

 Unless, of course, 

you add a slice or two of homemade sesame bread.