It's officially bowl season and this soup is one of my all time favorites to kick off the cool weather with. Chicken Orzo Soup used to be one of my favorite dishes to eat when I worked in a little Greek restaurant called My Greek Kitchen back in my college days. It's so warming and bright, nourishing and satisfying that when I moved to the city, and stopped eating meat I had to find a way to recreate it. I'm sharing an easy flexitarian recipe for the meatless and chicken version.

I'm a little embarrassed at how long it's been since I've written, so don't mind me as I sheepishly wiggle my way back into this space. But, whoa lots has happened. Birthdays, graduations, internships. Seasons have changed. Twice!
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Nonetheless, I've found my way back and after last week's heat wave I'm not hesitating to stock my freezer with some refreshing and satiating cold treats. I've been gobbling up my favorite summer fruit for many weeks--CHERRIES. I've also been on a big tahini kick. It was only a matter of time before the two of them came together to create beautiful and delicious cherry-tahini babies. Both have been the stars of my smoothies this summer, and after nearly bursting into flames while walking the sweltering New York City sidewalks I had a revelation-FREEZE IT.

Remember a few weeks ago when I was a bit complain-y about things feeling slow and not having much momentum in the new year? I've been so busy since then that I barely do. Between school, cooking for clients, and the teeny tiny social life that I'm trying to maintain, I haven't had much time to come up for air. 

I did, however, make time to develop this super creamy, gluten-free, vegan recipe for Banza. 

It's officially the New Year and as far as I can tell, or at least based on what social media tells me, everyone is sprinting out of the 2019 gates with one arm raised in resolution glee and the other clutching their new Whole30 cookbook. Or paleo. Or keto. Or a Meditation Guide, or Atlas or whatever new thing they've pledged themselves to this year. And I'm just sitting over here groggy and foggy wondering what day it is and how I'm going to create a blog with interesting content and make enough money to live the comfortable life I'm used to living, and learn new things and meet new people, and be happy doing what I thought I'd be happy doing instead of the thing I was doing and generally down spiraling in my mind while Instagram images of everyone that seems to be doing it better wash over me.

Hmph. 

Every year in December, for as long as I can remember my family has gathered around the table for one of our most cherished traditions--making Christmas cookies. For over 30 years we've cut out sugar cookies together and decorated them with festive frosting, sprinkles and sparkles. My parents started this ritual when they were first married in 1980, and continued it with me and my sister so we could choose our favorite creations to leave out for Santa. Some years flour wars broke out, while other years called for our full attention to make the most impressively detailed treats, which usually lead to gingerbread men with globs of frosting dunked in sprinkles by the time we reached for the last ones. One year, under the mischievous guidance of my dad, we coated a tree shaped cookie with cayenne pepper and watched giggling and wide eyed as a family friend popped the whole thing into his mouth. Tears formed in his eyes and his face turned bright red as we ran away laughing, leaving a glass of milk on the table.