Imaginary Soup
Let’s play pretend. Because I’m an expert. It’s pretty much my job.
I pretend to be oblivious to the fact that I have a closet full of clean clothes and have just worn the same jeans, hoodie and flip flops several days this week. And it’s only Wednesday.
I pretend that “Tire Rhea” is a perfectly fine name for Sleeping Beauty’s horse.
I pretend to be Captain Hook chasing my little rapscallions around the kitchen with my potholder claw and dirty jeans. I do it to keep Gigi from being too disappointed that she is going to be a pirate in the upcoming Peter Pan ballet performance. Not a fairy or a mermaid or a flower. A pirate. In pants.
I pretend that Major League Baseball is thrilling and that I didn’t see you help Lulu cheat at Yahtzee!. You know who you are. And it’s not Tire Rhea.
I pretend that even though I can’t make Gigi chicken noodle soup to end her seemingly permanent case of the sniffles, I do have everything in my cupboard to make her a delicious chickpea version with all the magical healing powers of the original.
If only I weren’t out of noodles.
Almost Chickpea Noodle Soup
Makes 4 servings
- 1/2 c. celery, chopped
- 1/2 c. carrots, chopped
- 1/2 c. onion, chopped
- 4 c. vegetable broth
- One 14 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 t. dried basil
- 1/2 t. dried oregano
- 1/4 t. dried sage
- 1 t. minced garlic
- 1/2 t. vinegar
- 1/2 c. frozen peas
- 2 c. cooked pasta noodles or egg noodles (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
Spritz the bottom of a medium pot with cooking spray or oil and place over medium high heat. Add chopped celery, carrots and onion, and sauté until tender, about 4-5 minutes.
Meanwhile, drain your chickpeas and reserve half.
Eat a few. I’ll pretend I didn’t see.
Place the other half in a blender with your vegetable broth, and blend until smooth. This makes for a heartier, thicker broth. Which is how we like it.
Add the basil, oregano, sage, and garlic to the pot with the vegetables and cook for an additional minute.
Add the bean broth mixture to the pot, along with the remaining chickpeas and the frozen peas.
Bring soup to a simmer and continue to cook until heated through and flavors have melded, about 10 minutes.
Stir in noodles (if you happen to be a good mother and always have some on hand) and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
And serve it to your scurvy crew.
Noodles or not, this is soothing and delicious.
Just perfect for a pirouetting pirate
“Hey, there’s no noodles!”
Aye, matey.
Some people just have no imagination. You know who you are.
And it’s not Tire Rhea.
Wow! That broth definitely looks hearty!! G’s face is hilarious in the last shot. I need the energy to cook a real meal!
Who knew girlfriend liked noodles so much?
Tire Rhea….BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!!
That second picture is so pretty with it’s perfect piece of basil
I was seriously busting up over that one. I had to ask Lu to repeat it three times. Yup, “Tire Rhea.”
Was she looking for the noodles or practicing a pirate look?
I absolutely love your family, u exist in real life, right? you’re not from my wild imaginations?
Hello to the rest of the Pea family!
She’s real! I’ve met her AND Pea Daddy
Yes, it’s the children that are totally made up. Every time I see you, they aren’t with me!
You’re right…I think she has the pirate face down.
MAMA PEA!
I’m BACK! In AMERICA! And we have a LOT of catching up to do!!!
I’ve missed you and the little Peas!
Xoxo,
Erin
Helloooo! Welcome home!
That’s kind of brilliant that you blend chickpeas with veggie broth for a heartier broth. *puts it on endless list of things to make*
Also, I’m sure Gigi’s going to be the prettiest pirouetting pirate, and I don’t have to pretend. Btw I’m seriously jealous of her eyelashes. They’re SO dark.
Gigi said not to use veggie broth. So I didn’t. I used bean broth.
Oh my goodness! We had a baby wielding the potholder claw this morning, haha! She’s only a year and a half and gets a kick out of chasing me and her brother around with it while we scream and run away. LOL. I hope Gigi feels better! I will make that soup at some point, it looks super yummy. I love that it’s nice and thick from the chickpeas.
And yeah, I’m not even commenting on Tire Rhea… Ahah..ha..
We call that game “Peencher Peencher.” It’s an old family favorite.
oh boy. i’m just racking up the recipes for my vita. this one might get made tomorrow, i’s perfect for these dreary grey so cal days we’ve been having (i know, i know, cry me a river…)
Mmm…this is right up our alley! (And not the shady one, don’t worry — a few blocks over.) You don’t see sage much in recipes these days (<– "these days"? Really, Katie?), but I think I actually have some. It's fate!
I LOVE sage. I was going to use thyme, but the sage jumped out at me.
Chickpeas beat noodles anyway – particularly when the most enjoyment from the eating is in the faces your gorgeous kids pull!
I ended up adding rice to Pea D’s bowl to make it more of a meal. He loved it!
Mama Pea,
Where did you go to law school? I am considering taking a year off and studying the LSATS…..any suggestions….or considerations you could recommend?
THANKYOU!!
Pea D and I both went to Willamette University College of Law. But I usually try to talk as many people out of going to law school as possible.
Email me if you want to chat about it!
My dad is an attorney and tries to talk people out of it, too!
Some people are totally cut out for it. But far fewer than the number that think they are.
Another lawyer here… just wanted to add there are many more fulfilling careers! Almost every lawyer I know wants out! Lol!
go to med school! (so says one almost doctor)
There you go! Listen to Carin!
Yuumm, this made my mouth water. The color of the soup is so pretty!
Gigi can use a can opener…I am impressed! I can hardly use one. lol
The soup looks amazing, noodles excluded. Gluten is overrated anyway, right?
Have a wonderful evening with your scurvy crew. haha!
I cannot wait to try your recipes! Thank you for breaking it down for us who are not as talented in the kitchen.
Could you share what types of pots and pans you cook with? Do you use non-stick, cast-iron types or something more fabulous and fancy that I should save up for.. ?
Thanks!
Oh gosh, I’ve had these pots and pans since we registered for them eight years ago! They are just non-stick Anolon pans from Macy’s.
The 2nd to last photo os Gigi is priceless! Skepticism. That one eye is perfect for playing a pirate, too.
I love that the kids love chickpeas. And the pic of the soup with three green peas on it.
I’ll pretend I didn’t see the word egg in there.
Ha ha!
At dinner Ben said, “What’s up with MamaPea, you haven’t talked about her in a while?” Apparently, he misses me raving about you and your girls all the time. Random, but kinda sweet?
Aww, very sweet. Tell him we say hello
Doesn’t the ballet teacher know that Gigi never ever wears pants?? I’m going to send her a link to the blog. Tire Rhea? That’s a crappy name!
“Gigi said not to use veggie broth. So I didn’t. I used bean broth.” LMAO!
Crappy name! LOL!
I would love this soup!
Hi Mama Pea,
I love your blog!
I have to say, I feel Gigi’s pain. For my first dance recital, when I was her age, we were all dressed up as spiders. MALE spiders. Green and black. With striped bow ties and black caps covering our hair. It’s pretty cute when I think about it now, but I remember us all feeling very embarrassed, even ashamed, standing backstage next to other dancers in pale pink tutus and purple gauzy skirts. The weight of the world was on our shoulders.
Being told by my mom and dad that we were the best performance helped though! It didn’t erase all of the emotional scarring right away, but it helped. I’m sure she’ll be great
Oh, you poor thing. Lulu finds out her part today and I think it will kill Gigi if she’s something girly!
Can’t say i’ve tried chickpeas straight from the can (your kids are hardcore
BUT I think i’ve fallen in love with them just as much as your petit pois (small Peas in french because i’m so elegant 
Tire Rhea…I will be thinking about that all day.
My original comment looked like this:
“YUM! Tire Rhea..I will be thinking about that all day.”
Somehow that didn’t seem right…(the “yum” was in reference to the soup and not Tire Rhea).
Ha ha ha!!!
Your girls have the best facial expressions! How old are they?
Gigi will be 6 in a month and Lulu is 3 1/2.
I have a container of Imagine chickpea broth I was wondering what to do with…I think I know now! This soup is so pretty and looks great, noodles or no. I love those pictures of Gigi at the end…she’s going to be one adorable pirate!
i love how you blended some of the chickpeas with the broth…i love heartier broths, and that’s a great way to achieve it!
Great idea with the chickpeas!! I love how carrots, onions and celery can be used in so many different soup recipes with so many different results – I swear, they’re in almost all of mine! This chickpea (almost) noodle soup looks better than any chicken noodle soup I was served as a sick kiddie.
Shh… I won’t tell your mom
The soup looks amazing and right up my alley! I just printed the recipe and can’t wait to make it this weekend! Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your blog. It’s witty, charming and the girls are adorable.
Thanks, Vivienne! And thanks for reading!
Love that tip to blend the reserve and broth for a thicker soup!
I love the idea of thickening up the broth with cickpeas! Sounds delicious! Of course a girlie girl would not get a “girlie” part in Peter Pan. What’s the luck.
Especially after she was a soldier in the Nutcracker. Sigh.
Soup looks great.. as all of your recipes do, but I must admit.. my favorite part is always seeing Gigi and Lulu helping you out and being soo cute!
I am definitely making this .. it looks delicious and I love the idea of using the chickpeas to thicken the broth. Noodles or not — it looks yummy!!
“tire rhea” – cracking up in my office here
i love chickpeas, especially in soups. this looks great!
ha! Her face is too funny!
I really am not a ‘noodle ‘ gal , I would love this soup! I just like a soup with lots of veggies!
Oh and I pretend I like baseball too, and also pretend I am listening when Mike tells me his fantasy baseball/basketball updates, lol, the only thing I hear is if he says he is Winning, the rest is blah blah blah!
Have a happy Wacky Wednesday! Im sure it’s still wacky even though you didn’t do a wacky post ; ) xoxo <3
Often times when I make soup, after everything is cooked up I’ll take a couple of cups out and blend them and stir it back in to thicken the soup, so I am totally loving your idea of blending the beans into the broth! I made an amazing vegan baked potato soup recipe last night that I specifically bought an immersion blender for… why have I not had one of those things all this time?!
I do that too, but I wanted the rest of the veggies to be whole, so that’s why I blended the beans in before adding the broth. In case you were wondering
I love that you bring your kids into the kitchen! SO important
You crack me up!!!!!!! Yesterday I made another double batch of your Spicy Peanut Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew in my crock pot in my makeshift kitchen. Thank you, I’m obsessed with this stew!
mmm that broth looks so savory and delicious!
Thanks for sharing!
Everytime I read your blog I crack up! hahaha that soup looks amazing!!!
Haha–”Tire Rhea”. It sounds oddly close to…er… something else.
I never have noodles on hand either. And, noodles or not, this soup looks great. I wish I could have some for breakfast today! Seriously. Use your imagination, it could be good.
That looks delicious!
‘Tire Rhea’ is hilarious. Wish I’d thought of it!
I make a similar soup but with lentils and you’re sooo right about thickening the broth, makes it so much better!
And tell little GiGi to hang in there, some day she will get her dream role of fairy princess but until then she can be the pertiest little pirate on the stage. (I too got wack roles in all my childhood plays, except for when I scammed my way into the good ones. Don’t tell her that. You can tell Tire Rhea.)
Mmmm this looks heavenly. Gigi’s face has me convinced:)
Such a witty post – Tire Rhea =bahahah! I definitely know what it’s like to play a “man” part in a ballet. Tell Gigi it must be because she has exceptional acting skills; that always made me feel better, and I had a few of those parts when I was a teenager! So not cool! The soup looks delish.
Love that last picture of Gigi… you can totally tell she’s saying NO NOODLES ?! lol
That soup looks delicious, even though I always thought noodles were the best part
I wonder if Sleeping Beauty will let Avan take a ride on Tire Rhea.
LOL!! Avon is currently missing a foot. I don’t see horseback riding in her future.
Eating MMM Sauce poured over raw and steamed vegetables for lunch today. resisted urge to just bring in a bowl of it with a spoon.
Thanks for cracking the code on this sauce and dispersing it to the masses.
I am starving and want your lunch right now!!! Alas, it is a Wacky Wednesday…
Sarah ….. as usual, adorable post! Your girls are sweeties!
The soup? Fantastic! Healthy! All those ingredients look familiar. I often purchase the same @ TJ and WF. What would we do without those grocery stores?
FYI ….. your post header …. “Imaginary Soup” ….. got me thinkin. For years, I’ve purchased Mollie Katzen’s cookbooks. A huge mentor. Mollie was one of several vegetarians I definitely looked up to, tried to follow. We loved watching her television shows.
One of Mollie’s books …. “Pretend Soup” is a favorite. Fun for children too. Most likely you own a copy Sarah!
Love to reference Mollie’s books all the time. One purchased in 2010 is …. MK ….. “Sunlight Cafe” …. another winner. So many great recipes/foods to try and enjoy. Go veggies!!
Happy Passover ~
Happy Easter ~
Hi Marcee! Sadly, I own none of Mollie’s books, but Pretend Soup looks like it’s right up our alley. I will have to check it out and Sunlight Cafe as well. Thank you for the recommendations! I hope you have a nice holiday as well.
Noodles, schnoodles. Who needs em? I know Gigi must be sad she has to wear pants. I can’t imagine getting through my first few years in ballet without being able to wear a pretty tutu. She seems to be handling it well, but I think I would too if I got to run around the kitchen shouting “Arrr, matey!!”
So sorry about her neverending sniffles. Is she an allergy sufferer?
No, she’s a nose picker. But then again, what five year-old isn’t?
Just bought a Vitamix and ready to blend anything in sight. Looks like a good option for a home full of runny noses. Thanks!
Congrats on the new addition to your family! You will LOVE it!
What kind of vinegar did you use? Just regular white?
I used ubemoshi plum because that’s what was sitting on my counter, but you could use any kind: white, apple cider, red wine, etc. You just need a tad of acidity to balance the flavors.
That soup looks delicious! It would be perfect for a rainy spring day. Healthy comfort food. Yum!
It took me till the second mention to get the “Tire Rhea” hilarity.
Then I laughed out loud….for real. Not LOL. I laughed.
PS- Get Mulan out of the DVD collection….that may help with the pants situation…but even Mulan didn’t fake “a noodle”
Hah. No I make myself giggle.
Imaginary soup? But I’m hungry!
that soup looks so hearty and delicious! your kids are so lucky to get these great, healthy, delicious meals – no wonder they smile so much!
We laugh a lot in this house too.
I made this tonight and it was so good! I loved the stock blended w/the chickpeas..it almost made it seem creamy. Thanks for another great recipe that I didn’t have to make a last minute run to the store to make! We aren’t vegan or vegetarian yet but we are working on it and your blog is great motivation!
Oh, this makes me so happy! I love when people make the kind of “lackluster” recipes and still tell me they are good. Sure, it’s not dough balls or brownies, but these are the staple recipes that most households need! I’m so glad you liked the soup.
Tire Rhea!!!! AHAHAHA! What little comedians! And eating those chickpeas straight out of the can? My kind of people!
Apparently I’m a little slow to catch on to why everyone is finding “Tire Rhea” so funny…. There is a county nearby called “Rhea County” but it is pronounced “Ray”, so in my head I was saying “Tire Ray”. It finally dawned on me that this is more like “Ree-uh”! Now I get it! So funny….
I’m glad it sunk in
hahahaha the noodle comment is great
This is delightful, I loved it! I am a devoted soup eater!!! Will you post a split pea soup recipe? Do you like split pea soup?? Have you ever thought of using an immersion blender for this soup? I am going to try the next time I make it, i will keep ya informed of the results
I do like split pea soup! Even though it’s not really soup season, I’ll try to come up with a version soon!
AMAZING was the response from my family! Thank you!!!
YES! I love it!