This post is part of a series called Thankful Thursday, where I list some things to feel thankful for. To some extent, focusing on what is wrong appears to come naturally to most people, who often complain, complain, complain when they get together with family and friends. (I’m no exception, that’s for sure.) So focusing on things to feel thankful for seems like good spiritual practice, a way to counterbalance the tendency toward negative thinking.
Still Life with Tomatoes
In my garden, my four little tomato plants are at the end of their production, and soon I will be pulling them. However, our own Farmer Kev’s tomatoes are still going strong, and this week I got a wonderful selection from our farm-share box. I like the way they look lined up on the kitchen window sill. Also, with this picture you can see how our yard sits on the edge of the woods.
Chickpeas, Chickpeas, Chickpeas
Clif, Dee, and I are huge fans of the the humble chickpea aka garbanzo beans. They are delicious, economical, and good for you. What more can you ask for? I buy them dried, in 16-oz bags, soak them overnight, and then cook them in the morning.
One of the ways I like them best is mashed up in a food processor with thyme, salt, and pepper. Clif uses two cups of chickpeas, 1 tablespoon of dried thyme and salt and pepper to taste. After which he scoops the mash into a bowl and adds a few tablespoons of mayonnaise. I know this comparison is overused, but the chickpea salad really does taste a little like chicken.
This is a wonderfully versatile salad. For those who like a little zing, onion or garlic could be used. Don’t want the Mediterranean flavor? Add curry. Or smoked paprika. Or whatever pleases you.
I scooped some of the chickpea salad onto one of Farmer Kev’s fresh tomatoes. Wicked good as we say in Maine.
Music
From—where else?—NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts—featuring Jenny and the Mexicats. If they don’t pep you up, nothing will.
Thankful Posts and Simple Pleasures from Other Blogging Friends
Derrick of Derrick J. Knight describes how he and his wife Jackie brought garden refuse to a recycling center, came back with some treasures for their garden, which, in turn, will be recycled when their time has passed. Yay, Derrick and Jackie!
Kate from The Cozy Burrow shares her October Reading list. I’ve already requested two of them—Moon Tiger and The Ministry of Time—through my library.
Barbara from Thistles and Kiwis celebrates her twentieth wedding anniversary with her husband Karl. Happy, happy and cheers to twenty years!
Dorothy from The New Vintage Kitchen features a mouth-watering pasta dish using autumn’s bounty. I could have some right now.
Ju-Lyn of Touring My Backyard finds beauty and serenity at Round Pond in Kensington Gardens in London. How lovely to find such a place in a big city.
Cimple from The Curious Introvert praises the world of books and reading. Her own words say it best: “This week I’m grateful for a lifelong love of reading and books. A day doesn’t go by without reading or adding new books to my want to read list.” Hear, hear!
Notes From the Hinterland 
I am a fan of chickpeas too 🙂 I made a delicious meal today of roasted aubergines, tomatoes and cauliflower with mozzarella cheese and roasted pepper pesto. Who needs meat when such a tasty and filling meal can be enjoyed. Thank you for the tip about adding mayo to the mashed chickpeas.
My oh my, that sounds good!
I love the music selection, Laurie, and that chickpea salad looks delicious!
I was thinking about you when I posted that video! That chickpea salad is pretty darned good.
Those tomatoes lining your windowsill look scrumptious! I didn’t plant any tomatoes this year, but I might have to remedy that next year. There’s nothing quite like a fresh tomato — for a salad, a sandwich, or just by itself!
Love fresh tomatoes!
I must pay more attention to chickpeas.
They are mighty good.
Something delightful about tomatoes on the window sill.
Thanks so much!
Thanks for the mention and wishes! Roasted chickpeas are nice too. Lovely view from your window.
My pleasure! Yes, roasted chickpeas are delicious.
I love chickpeas too… all mashed up with a little bit of lemon and salt… delicious. It is interesting that so many of us love chick peas..😊💕
Sounds very tasty! Neat that so many of us are part of the chickpea fan club.
That kitchen window picture …lovely!! Tomatoes, chickpeas,curried and spiced, a bit of coconut milk…total winner everytime😊
Thanks! Those curried chickpeas sound delicious.
I am only a recent fan of chickpeas. Now you have me wondering about chicken. Adding thyme sounds a good idea. I must remember that.
Well, it doesn’t taste exactly like chicken. It’s more of a suggestion of a taste. 😉
Hi, Laurie – That is an awesome photo of your tomatoes lined up on the window ledge over looking your forest-lined property!
I am also a fan of chickpeas, although I usually buy them canned, I know, I know….but I do love the convenience! ❤
Thanks so much! Canned beans are very convenient, and I certainly understand their appeal.
I didn’t know all of those things about chickpeas, but I can attest to the rich flavor. Mike used to make hummus which is close to the recipe you’ve described in your salad.
Life sounds good, Laurie. I enjoy reading your Thankful Thursday posts.
I love the image with tomatoes and would love to try this chickpea salad recipe. We usually make curry.
Chickpeas are delicious any way.
I like the intriguing view through your window. Jackie and I are both thankful for the mention
Thanks, Derrick. A view to our backyard. And you are most welcome.
I love tomatoes too but not so much the ones from the supermarket which taste bland to me. My crop has been very poor this year but I have saved seeds from those which did come so there is always next year. But overwinter there will be no bottled (canned) ones so I will have to use shop bought tins. I like chickpeas too and they go so well with tomatoes!
Tomatoes and chickpeas go beautifully together. So sorry to read about your tomatoes. Very disappointing. Hope the crop is better next year.
those tomatoes and mashed chickpeas look delicious! And thank you for including me in this post 🙂
My pleasure! A most delicious lunch.
My kitchen windowsill looks similar only with cherry tomatoes. I pulled my last plant out this week. Happy fall!
Thank you, thank you! Love this time of year.
You also have tomatoes in your windows 🙂 Fresh tomatoes that is really something to be thankful for.
Jenny and the Mexicats! What an adorable group. It sounds both traditional Mexican and original. Thank you.
My pleasure! They are adorable. I listen to this concert a lot.
I loved the peppy music and added them to my library!! Thanks for including your chickpea recipe, I’m going to give it a try. Love the photo of your backyard and tomatoes!!🙂
So glad you like the music. Yay for Tiny Desk!
Chick peas are a staple in my house! I like them with tomatoes especially.
Yes, they are delicious with tomatoes.
Okay, does everyone’s digestive system manage chickpeas more calmly than mine? I read all of the comments to see if anyone else loves them like I do, but they are the gift that keeps on giving, so to speak.
Does soaking them overnight help reduce their gas content, similar to prepping beans?
No problems with chickpeas at all. Maybe it is the soaking overnight as we almost never use canned chickpeas.
I will give that a try then!
Good luck!
Many, many years ago I lodged for a while with a couple who were vegetarians. We ate together most nights, so I regularly encountered chickpeas. I quite liked them, but I must confess that the impact they had on me was like swallowing a scouring pad! Once eaten, never forgotten.
Again, so sorry they don’t agree with you. Especially as you do like them.
”Once eaten, never forgotten”!!! That makes me grin!
Have to confess that me and chickpeas don’t get on very well. They fight back more aggressively than just about anything I’ve ever eaten…except broccoli, of course, which in my humble opinion is a vegetable that should be outlawed under the Geneva convention! 🙂
If that’s the case, then it’s best to stay away from them. Fortunately, they don’t bother us at all.
Strangely, though, a couple of weeks ago we went to the couple’s 50th anniversary celebration. Chick peas were on the menu, and we thought it would be churlish to refuse, so I had a few and suffered no ill effects at all! Maybe, after nearly 4 decades, I’m cured! 🙂
What a pleasant surprise! I am learning that portion control helps, with the legumes and with broccoli. Maybe that is another reason they are called super-foods. A little goes a long way.