Soup is the quintessential food of January. Salads would be the obvious choice given the upswing in dieting and healthy eating which occurs at the beginning of each new year. However when it is snowing and the air is chilled to sub-zero temperatures a cold salad is about as appealing as a cold shower. Luckily soup fits the bill nicely, providing warmth, comfort, and a healthy dose of vegetables- without the well traveled lettuce and sad winter tomatoes.

This soup is one of those happy accidents that occurs when you have a random assortment of ingredients and a wicked craving for warm soup. It started with artichokes of course. Mr. B’s fondness for the large green thistles is well documented. Four large specimens called to us from the fridge and we proceeded to have artichokes two nights in a row. The first night we went the standard route of steaming the chokes. Sadly, the results were just okay, lacking flavor and tenderness. It was the fault of the chokes and not the method, but with two remaining we decided to try a different way of cooking. We brought out the big gun- the pressure cooker.

Hello dear readers and a happy 2012! While I am always happy to see the beginning of a new year, this one was welcomed with particular exuberance at our house. 2011 will always remain special thanks to the birth of our Anna- however there were also many months of flood fighting, living without furniture, and unpacking random boxes that I am eager to forget. The holidays crept up on me, whacked me over the head, and dragged me away from the computer for a while. Now with the dust settling I’m back and ready to dive in and share the healthy and fun new dishes we have been enjoying. Here is to a happy, healthy, and dry new year!