New Year Noodle Soup
I am a total wimp in the cold. I hate it. Can't stand it. Growing up in Florida doesn't really lend itself to learning how to deal with the cold. So now I just avoid it. When I went to college in Boston, I showed up with a windbreaker and sneakers and thought that would get me through a New England winter. It did not. After 7 years of living on the East Coast in cold weather, I decided to swear off cold weather and move somewhere where it is warm. And sunny. So while the rest of the country is in a polar vortex, it is 50 degrees in San Francisco. I can handle 50 degrees. I cannot handle anything below. So for those that don't live here in California I am going to give you this recipe to get you through this polar vortex. It is the perfect cold weather soup to stay inside bundled up on the couch with.
For the record San Francisco gets cold, but just not when you would expect it. It just gets bone chilling cold in August rather than in the winter. The San Francisco fog rolls in and it is freezing. To the bone. That makes for lousy summers but I think in the end it all evens out. (As a side note, in true" techy" fashion the San Francisco fog has his own Instagram and Twitter handle - check it out. Karl the Fog is actually quite witty check him out)
Ok, back to this soup. I have been making this for a couple years now and it is one of my one-pot wonders. One of those dishes that is a meal unto itself. It is inspired by 101 Cookbook 's version although I have changed to be gluten-free. I am not sure where it gets the name New Year Noodle Soup, because I make it year round. The soup is filled with turmeric and cumin, chiles and kale, along with a medley of beans and lentils. It is healthy and hearty, my favorite kind of soup. It is vegetarian, gluten-free and all around good for you. It could also be vegan if you take out the creme fraiche. Make a big pot of it and eat it for days, it is delicious. Don't forget to make the toppings, especially the caramelized onions, they are the best part!
Stay warm and enjoy!
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