Old Man Winter has knocked on our doors with great force and greater wind chills. Personally I am not a fan of the cold. I was born in the Midwest and in the month of December.

One would think that I am very comfortable in the cold weather. That is not the case. However, what I do find endearing about this season is the great batches of soups and stews that take the chill off of any cold dark winter’s night.

Cooking in the winter months is my favorite. I love soup making. They can be quick, healthy, and full of flavor, all you need is a blender. Here’s my recipe for an easy, fast soup:

Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Garbanzo Beans:
Cauliflower 1 head, cut into florets
Garlic 3 cloves
Onion, yellow small 1 chopped into small dice
Celery 1 rib chopped into small dice
Garbanzo beans 1 can, drained
Chicken or vegetable stock
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Heat oven to 400F. Place items in a roasting pan: cauliflower, garlic cloves, onion, and celery rib. Season with kosher salt and pepper, drizzle good quality extra virgin olive oil, and roast until vegetables are golden brown. 10 to 15 minutes.

Place all roasted vegetables into a sauce pan, cover with stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Put into blender, cover lid with a towel to prevent over flow, and blend until smooth. Do it in batches, at the end add the chickpeas. Season with salt and pepper, serve.