What IS the Zucchini Chickpea dance? Seriously? You don’t know? Fine, I’ll tell you. You step to your left, clap twice, yell ZUCCHINI! Step to your right, clap twice, yell CHICKPEA. Clap your hands up in the air over your head and yell TAHINI. If you don’t know what tahini is, ask your neighbor. Then you shimmy your hips around and around like you’re an immersion blender. Keep shimmying! Don’t stop! Then you roll your shoulders back, clap twice and yell SO AWESOME. Hey – I didn’t invent the dance – don’t blame me! Then when you are done you eat a bowl of Zucchini Chickpea soup either hot or cold. Only dance I’ve ever heard of that ends with food consumption. For that reason alone, I request it at all the weddings and bar mitzvahs that I attend.

I think we all remember Ice Ice Vichyssoise’s fall from grace back in the 90’s. He totally lied about his background – telling everyone he came from a creamy family in the soup hood. Truth is, Ice Ice Vichyssoise has no cream. Nope. No dairy. And the truth is, he’s beginning to recognize his natural talents. Why lie, Ice Ice? You are cool and refreshing. You have carrots and garlic scapes. Heck, most people don’t even know what a garlic scape is! But not you – you embrace the scape! And you are so smooth and refreshing – perfect for a hot summer day. Ice, Ice Vichyssoise, welcome back. We’ve missed you.

When I first tasted this soup, I was so overwhelmed with joy that I put on my roller skates, my skin-hugging polyester shorts, and my tube socks and hit the roller rink. Going round and round I kept singing… XANADU!! Who knew that white beans, tarragon, garlic, and tomatoes pureed up tasted so divine!! Then Soupermom grabbed her skates and followed me around the rink singing how the soup is so creamy, yet healthy!! Come rain, come snow – you’ll love this soup!!  We both lit up in neon and danced and danced and danced. Then the security officer came and escorted us off the rink because they don’t allow neon dancers in polyester shorts at the Rollerworld in Gaithersburg. So lame.