creamy substitute

i have been passionately learning the art of substitutes for a few years now. every time i go to a restaurant, eat something so rich i cannot even think about finishing it, then leave with a stomach ache, i sit there and brainstorm ideas to make the same thing at home ~ only without rich ingredients that i just can't digest. plus, i am starting the pixywagon biz again in the fall, and want to have lots of great ideas.

here's my latest love.

i love creamy soups. i love how classy they are, and you can also literally throw in everything in your fridge, give it a whirl with your handheld mixer, and you have a soup that's got great flavor and texture. but, of course, the last ingredient is usually heavy cream. that's not so terrible, but tonight, i made a creamy soup without any cream! and while i wouldn't be mad at myself if i put a little cream in this soup on the 2nd day, i'm really enjoying this healthy bowl o' good without anything getting in the way of my ideal goal weight. tra la.

the trick is garbanzo beans. you know how creamy they are in hummus? well, there you have it. they are ridiculously good for you. put them in a food processor with a touch of olive oil, or even a little laughing cow cheese, if you really think you'll miss the cream. i would have used some this time, but i didn't have any. meanwhile, in a dutch oven, throw in lots of carrots and whatever is not yet fermenting in your crisper. i had broccoli slaw and shredded carrots. i also added some green olives. amazing! cook with a little butter and olive oil, add garlic, a little stone ground mustard, i don't know. that's what i had. add a can of artichoke hearts.

everything is caramelizing a little and getting some great color. imagine if you added prosciutto! ugh!!

add some white wine, if you have it, and bubble away. then add some chicken stock, a bay leaf, and i had a frozen parmesan rind in the freezer. not sure those last two ingredients made any difference because the flavor of those veggies is already sensational!

then you add the garbanzo mash and let it bubble some more. i added a touch of olive oil on the top, some grated parm, fresh cracked pepper, and voila! yummy, healthy soup.

it had a german flavor to it, with the white wine and the stone ground mustard. very tangy, but creamy. and it's a beautiful soup, with bits of orange from the carrot, and the cracked pepper.

yummmm....