tunisian chickpea soup with za'atar ezekiel toast and poached egg

Il fait frette, and all I want to gulp is a bowl of soup or coffee.

Born and raised in Quebec, I can attest I've experienced my fair share of slushy driving conditions and gliding-through-rush-hour-traffic tales....  I've got plenty of winter car stories! I won't forget January 2015, I was on my way home back from work on schedule to get the kiddies from school, and out of nowhere my car went clunk... clunk.. clunk. "No-o-o-o!" That 'clunk' turned into a flat tire that left me stranded downtown in front of Square-Victoria in the World Trade Center's taxi-only zone during rush-hour. Two hours later, road-side assistance came to my rescue; luckily, Starbucks being everywhere,  I spent my time savoring an evening cup of coffee, making back-up plans for my kids, and roaming on my phone - ouch that Fido bill! I slept like a real mama that night only to wake-up to my usual morning routine until I hit a pot-hole, "BAM!" And there I was, stranded on Saint-Jacques Street with yet again, a second flat tire in less than a day. Luckily, I walked over to Tim Hortons for my morning cup of coffee waiting for my road-side assistance (that made it to me within the hour). Sometimes, I just want to get re-married so someone can manage my flat-tire and prep my car for winter driving (lol, just kidding).

Winter driving aside, there is nothing more refreshing than a winter walk, especially during a pleasant snowfall, gazing at an untouched and twinkling snowy landscape.  On a beautiful evening in December last year, my daughters and I opted for an evening walk under the stars at Trudeau Park in Cote Saint-Luc. It wasn't too cold, we had just finished dinner and we were looking forward to get some fresh air 'of some kind'. That night, the only sound that resonated was our laughter echoing in the park while making snow angels, and trailing a trio of boot tracks. We climbed-up to the mini-mountain where we began body sledding over and over and over again, à la queue leu leu and solo, "one more time Mommy!" The girls begged "Ok girls, one more time..." X 10, it was fun. That's what I love about being a mom, these kids spark fun and warmth. 

After the winter outdoors, all one craves is a nice warm bowl of soup. I've been exploring all kinds of soup recipes in the past weeks, and opted for a Tunisian chickpea soup. Whether you are a Sephardi from Tunisia or Morocco, no matter how cold it gets, our traditional foods come in handy 365 days a year. Enjoy this classic!

smokey sweet potato, 'bacon' and maple syrup soup

I had to. I just had. I needed to get a taste of bacon in a kosher kind of way.

While I have no clue what real bacon tastes like, I can only imagine. So when I crossed a bacon sweet potato soup recipe, I totally digged the idea of turning it into my own. I must say, that the challenge was deliciously met using Clubhouse bacon bits. The toppings truly rock the soup with crunch, sweetness and smokin flavor.  So hear it is balabustas, a 'bacon' and maple syrup soup that kosher foodies can enjoy!

INGREDIENTS
 50 minutes | Serves 4

• 2 tbsp of olive oil 
• 4 sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes 
• 1 yellow onion, chopped 
• 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• ½ teaspoon smoked salt (kosher salt will do if you don't have it) 
• Pepper, to taste 
• 1/3 cup of simulated bacon bits, plus more for garnish - I  used Clubhouse Simulated Bacon Bits
• 2 tbsp of maple syrup, plus more to drizzle on top 
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 
• 1 cup of milk 
• 4 strands of chive, finely chopped 
• Grated parmesan, to garnish 

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat a medium heavy pot over medium heat. 
2. Add 2 tbsp of olive oil, and tip and tilt the pot to coat. 
3. Add the onion, sweet potatoes, bacon bits stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon for about 4 minutes. 
4. Season with smoked salt and pepper, then stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg.
5. Pour in the vegetable stock and simmer for about 25-30 minutes until the sweet potatoes are softened. 
6. Pour the milk and with an immersion hand blender blend the soup. If you do not have an immersion blender, allow the soup to cool and then ladle it in batches into a blender.
7. Whisk in 2 tbsp of maple syrup into the soup and reheat gently over low heat.
8. To serve, pour the soup into bowls, garnish with bacon bits, a drizzle of maple syrup, and chopped chives. You can also top it with grated Parmesan cheese as well. 
9. Slurp,  savor, crunch the bits and enjoy this sweet and smoky soup!