garbanzo silliness

On Sun 19 Mar 2006 09:20:06p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it serene?

Quoted message said:

So now and then in a hummus thread, someone will say that the way to
get really smooth hummus is to peel the garbanzos.

Yeah. As if.

Anyway, today I was stressing about getting all the housework and
cooking done in time for my wife's surprise birthday party. The
garbanzos were done cooking and I noticed that maybe thirty of the
peels had come off and were floating on top of the cooked beans.

Suddenly, in a blinding flash of enlightenment (ha!), I decided that
the way to unstress about the time/work/cooking thing would be to step
back, sit down, and take a half hour to peel garbanzos.

So I did.

It did indeed take a half hour, it was pleasant and meditative work,
and it did indeed make the smoothest hummus I've ever made. If I ever
feel like I have the time to spare, I'll probably do it again.

I'm amused that the pile of peels was almost as big as the pile of
peeled beans. See?
http://pics.livejournal.com/serenejournal/pic/00034rp9/g5

serene

Beulah, peel me a grape! :-)

Gawd, I would never have had the patience for that, medtative or not. I
commend you!

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

On 20 Mar 2006 05:36:09 +0100, Wayne Boatwright

wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com said:

On Sun 19 Mar 2006 09:20:06p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it serene?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm amused that the pile of peels was almost as big as the pile of
peeled beans. See?
http://pics.livejournal.com/serenejournal/pic/00034rp9/g5

Quoted message said:

Beulah, peel me a grape! :-)

Gawd, I would never have had the patience for that, medtative or not. I
commend you!

Sometimes the way to peace for me is to do something rhythmic and
repetitive. I know it drives some people (like my wife) bonkers, but
it works for me.

serene

Serene!
Visit an Indian Store in the neighborhood and buy decorticated split
chickpeas. They are readily available. Its called Chana Dal.. It might
work for you.
Yogi

On Sun 19 Mar 2006 09:40:45p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it serene?

Quoted message said:

On 20 Mar 2006 05:36:09 +0100, Wayne Boatwright

wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com said:

On Sun 19 Mar 2006 09:20:06p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it serene?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm amused that the pile of peels was almost as big as the pile of
peeled beans. See?
http://pics.livejournal.com/serenejournal/pic/00034rp9/g5

Quoted message said:

Beulah, peel me a grape! :-)

Gawd, I would never have had the patience for that, medtative or not. I
commend you!

Sometimes the way to peace for me is to do something rhythmic and
repetitive. I know it drives some people (like my wife) bonkers, but
it works for me.

serene

I've had friends who do repetitive work tell me they either don't mind it
or they enjoy it. It would drive me bonkers, too, though.

--
Wayne Boatwright o¿o
____________________

BIOYA

Thank you for sharing this. My attempts at home made hummus were pretty
unsucessful, but that was years ago. I didn't have an FP, nor much
knowledge, nor did I take the skins out. The hummus was dry and coarse
and not good at all. I gave up. After your story, I know what I did
wrong and I'll give it a new try some time.

Yogi Gupta said:

Serene!
Visit an Indian Store in the neighborhood and buy decorticated split
chickpeas. They are readily available. Its called Chana Dal.. It might
work for you.
Yogi

Wow, I had no idea that those chickpeas were different from the regular
ones. And they are sold 200 m from here. I'll go and buy them!

serene said:

Suddenly, in a blinding flash of enlightenment (ha!), I decided that
the way to unstress about the time/work/cooking thing would be to step
back, sit down, and take a half hour to peel garbanzos.

My grandmother said they used to rub a handful of beans together in
their hands to peel them. I think she was talking about lentils. Am I
to gather that the beans are cooked or partially cooked when this is
done? She didn't make it sound like it took that much time. (But then,
she was talking about growing up in a large family in the early 1900s
when there was tons of housework and everything took time.) I'm
picturing cooking the garbanzos until the skins split away, cooling,
rubbing them together, then putting them in water such that the skins
float to the top, but I haven't tried it.

--Lia

serene said:

So now and then in a hummus thread, someone will say that the way to
get really smooth hummus is to peel the garbanzos.

Yeah. As if.

Anyway, today I was stressing about getting all the housework and
cooking done in time for my wife's surprise birthday party. The
garbanzos were done cooking and I noticed that maybe thirty of the
peels had come off and were floating on top of the cooked beans.

Suddenly, in a blinding flash of enlightenment (ha!), I decided that
the way to unstress about the time/work/cooking thing would be to step
back, sit down, and take a half hour to peel garbanzos.

So I did.

It did indeed take a half hour, it was pleasant and meditative work,
and it did indeed make the smoothest hummus I've ever made. If I ever
feel like I have the time to spare, I'll probably do it again.

I'm amused that the pile of peels was almost as big as the pile of
peeled beans. See?
http://pics.livejournal.com/serenejournal/pic/00034rp9/g5

serene

😄 hope you have a great birthday party.. hummus.. makes me think of
avocado mmm..

serene said:

So now and then in a hummus thread, someone will say that the way to
get really smooth hummus is to peel the garbanzos.

But isn't that where most of the fiber and good stuff is?

Quoted message said:

Yeah. As if.

Anyway, today I was stressing about getting all the housework and
cooking done in time for my wife's surprise birthday party. The
garbanzos were done cooking and I noticed that maybe thirty of the
peels had come off and were floating on top of the cooked beans.

Suddenly, in a blinding flash of enlightenment (ha!), I decided that
the way to unstress about the time/work/cooking thing would be to step
back, sit down, and take a half hour to peel garbanzos.

So I did.

It did indeed take a half hour, it was pleasant and meditative work,
and it did indeed make the smoothest hummus I've ever made. If I ever
feel like I have the time to spare, I'll probably do it again.

I'm amused that the pile of peels was almost as big as the pile of
peeled beans. See?
http://pics.livejournal.com/serenejournal/pic/00034rp9/g5

serene

Wayne Boatwright said:

Beulah, peel me a grape! :-)

Gawd, I would never have had the patience for that, medtative or not. I
commend you!

An aside here. I spent 3 years teaching at a Quaker school Knew nothing
about Quakerism before taking the job.

Their religious services fascinated me. They meet weekly and meditate
communally. No preacher/father/reverend/leader; no servie; no hymns.
Just a group of people sitting silently together until the feel moved
to share a thought, idea, pryaer, song, poem, etc. They stand up, say
their peace, and sit down again. The meeting returns to silence.

Now, imagine the schoolchildren going to meeting once a week, beginning
in first grade. Thirty minutes of the children sitting silently, hands
folded in their laps, focusing on 'the light within'. Talk about
learning patience.

What I got out of the experience most of all was a change to VALUE the
peacefulness of meditation. After you get used to it, you can tune out
the laundry lists of your mind, which suit there and nag at you about
all the things you could be doing with your time. (Adult services are
90 minutes. 30 minutes was school length.) Eventually you realize the
value of the spiritual focus. But rarely did the kids catch on to the
value until at least middle or high school age.

Next time, take your garbanzoes woith you to the local Friends Meeting!
(no, please don;t actually. just a joke.)

"serene" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 20 Mar 2006 05:36:09 +0100, Wayne Boatwright

wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com said:

On Sun 19 Mar 2006 09:20:06p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it serene?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm amused that the pile of peels was almost as big as the pile of
peeled beans. See?
http://pics.livejournal.com/serenejournal/pic/00034rp9/g5

Quoted message said:

Beulah, peel me a grape! :-)

Gawd, I would never have had the patience for that, medtative or not. I
commend you!

Sometimes the way to peace for me is to do something rhythmic and
repetitive. I know it drives some people (like my wife) bonkers, but
it works for me.

serene

You know what? That's so entirely true. That's one of the reasons I like
digging crab out. My husband thinks I'm nuts when I get snow crab and dig
it out of the shell for hours. Somehow, to me, it's theraputic. Oh, and it
tastes good, too. :~)

kili

serene said:

So now and then in a hummus thread, someone will say that the way to
get really smooth hummus is to peel the garbanzos.

Well, first off, why does it need to be smooth? I don't see
any problem with it having texture. There's no way in hell
I'd peel garbanzos. Not necessary. And I no longer worry
about rubbing the peels off of black-eyed peas when I make
akara. Ain't work the trouble. Taste just the same with
the peels left in. It all gets pureed in the food processor
anyway. I don't peel *anything* I don't absolutely have to.

Kate, the Lazy Cook

Kate Connally said:

serene said:

So now and then in a hummus thread, someone will say that the way to
get really smooth hummus is to peel the garbanzos.

Well, first off, why does it need to be smooth? I don't see
any problem with it having texture. There's no way in hell
I'd peel garbanzos. Not necessary. And I no longer worry
about rubbing the peels off of black-eyed peas when I make
akara. Ain't work the trouble. Taste just the same with
the peels left in. It all gets pureed in the food processor
anyway. I don't peel *anything* I don't absolutely have to.

My thoughts exactly. Few things are a match for the mighty Osterizer.
Unfortunately that includes spatulas.

Dean G.

On 19 Mar 2006 20:46:45 -0800, "Yogi Gupta" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Serene!
Visit an Indian Store in the neighborhood and buy decorticated split
chickpeas. They are readily available. Its called Chana Dal.. It might
work for you.

Thanks! I'll give it a try. I'll be in the neighborhood of the Indian
food stores on Wednesday.

serene

kilikini said:

"serene" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sometimes the way to peace for me is to do something rhythmic and
repetitive. I know it drives some people (like my wife) bonkers, but
it works for me.

You know what? That's so entirely true. That's one of the reasons I like
digging crab out. My husband thinks I'm nuts when I get snow crab and dig
it out of the shell for hours. Somehow, to me, it's theraputic. Oh, and it
tastes good, too. :~)

Yeah, exactly. Someone on one of my veggie groups said he couldn't
see wasting his time like that, but I figure that if I am enjoying it,
and at the same time preparing food for my family, that's about the
exact opposite of wasting time.

serene

Jude said:

Next time, take your garbanzoes woith you to the local Friends Meeting!
(no, please don;t actually. just a joke.)

*grin*

Thanks so much for the story.

serene

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 13:09:35 +0100, jake <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Thank you for sharing this. My attempts at home made hummus were pretty
unsucessful, but that was years ago. I didn't have an FP, nor much
knowledge, nor did I take the skins out. The hummus was dry and coarse
and not good at all. I gave up. After your story, I know what I did
wrong and I'll give it a new try some time.

Well, my normal hummus isn't dry or coarse. But I add liquid to it
(lemon juice and either the cooking liquid from the beans, or jarred
roasted peppers, which are mostly water).

serene

Julia Altshuler said:

serene said:

Suddenly, in a blinding flash of enlightenment (ha!), I decided that
the way to unstress about the time/work/cooking thing would be to step
back, sit down, and take a half hour to peel garbanzos.

My grandmother said they used to rub a handful of beans together in
their hands to peel them. I think she was talking about lentils. Am I
to gather that the beans are cooked or partially cooked when this is
done?

Yeah, they were cooked and cooled enough under running water so that I
could handle them.

Quoted message said:

She didn't make it sound like it took that much time. (But then,
she was talking about growing up in a large family in the early 1900s
when there was tons of housework and everything took time.) I'm
picturing cooking the garbanzos until the skins split away, cooling,
rubbing them together, then putting them in water such that the skins
float to the top, but I haven't tried it.

I might try that next time. Thanks.

serene

dee said:

😄 hope you have a great birthday party..

It was wonderful, thanks. Our new neighbors came, as well as a few of
our friends and family, and everyone had a good time. We played
Apples to Apples and chess and Mancala, and my five-year-old friend
charmed the socks off everyone.

Quoted message said:

hummus.. makes me think of
avocado mmm..

How come?

serene