Recipes & Food-Related Ramblings
The evenings are starting to roll in earlier with a distinct chill in tow. I am equal parts depressed and elated by this shift. I am, of course, sad summer is drawing to a close. But I’m also excited to wear sweaters I forgot I owned and tuck into bowl after bowl of soup. I don’t, however, want to rush summer out the door. As a Canadian, I know what waits for me come December and it’s depressing as hell. But with this Street Corn Chowder, I can have the best of both worlds.
Today’s recipe is a pretty piece of fusion. Yes, I know, what a surprise. This Lobster Curry Noodle Soup is yet another product of simultaneously food cravings. In this case, my brain zeroed in on the seafood chowder of my youth and curry laksa. To my mind, this is almost poetic. The chowder is a taste of my childhood, while the laksa represents all the dishes I was introduced to when I moved to Toronto. My past and present are contained in this soup. But that’s not particularly important to you. What is important to you is how this soup tastes. And I can assure you, it is beyond divine.
The past couple of years April showers have been showing up in May. Not a complaint – just an observation. But regardless of when the rains arrive, one thing is for certain – spring is a messy season. But you can’t really tell that from the food. Peruse the Internet for spring recipes and you’re liable to find vibrant pasta dishes, exuberant salads, and even the odd grilling recipe. But one thing you won’t see a whole lot of is soup. Sure, there may be the odd brothy bowl but thick, stick-to-ribs stews? Not so much. And I just think it’s a shame. Here in Canada, springs are not the warmest, and what is worse than cold rain? Not a whole lot. So I gift you this Golden Chickpea Stew because let’s face it, it’s not summer yet.
We’re knee-deep in snow, so we might as well be knee-deep in soup season. I know my stockpot has been getting a workout these past two weeks. And if your backyard looks anything like mine, I think you should follow suit. It’s wall-to-wall snow in this city of mine and I am feeling all the claustrophobic feels. But I have found in my thirty-something years living in Canada, that having a pot of something good simmering on the stove, can really take the edge off. But cabin fever edges – particularly pandemic cabin fever edges – are sharp, so it pays to bring out the big guns. And by “big guns” I mean this Chicken Parm Meatball Soup.