Our Chickpeas, Our Selves

There is no need to be embarrassed about your chickpeas. In fact, it is time to embrace your chickpea-ness (oh boy) and the best way to do that is with a small handheld mirror. 

Get into a comfortable position.  Take a can of your favorite brand of chickpeas.  Call Kathleen if you need a can opener as she has several extras in a drawer in her kitchen.  (see posting Invitation! from February 2010).  First, read the ingredients and the nutritional information.  Check the allergy warnings on the can before proceeding further.  If you are concerned about allergies, you might wish to put on a pair of latex-free gloves before continuing. 

Next take a few minutes just to feel the contours of the can.  Feel the weight of the can in your hands, on average about a pound.  But your can of chickpeas may be larger or smaller than average.  Do not worry about this, just embrace the size of your can of chickpeas.  (see posting Does Size Matter? from February 2010).

Now it is time to open your can.  There.  Be careful not to slice off any of your fingertips with the can opener.  Set the lid aside and look inside the can.  The first thing you see may disgust you.  It may make you feel sick to your stomach, or even want to take a photo to send to the website grossology.com (see posting Sans Tahini from March 2010).  IT IS JUST BEAN JUICE!  Don't be afraid.  Put your finger in and swish it around.  See, it can't hurt you.  The nuns were wrong.

Now drain off the bean juice, saving it for later if you plan to use this can of chickpeas to make hummus, and why wouldn't you?  There they are, those darling chickpeas.  If you are feeling Italian go ahead, call them your little garbanzos.  Take the mirror and angle it just so you can see all the way to the bottom of the can.  It's all good.

There, now you are ready to empty out the can into a bowl.  AHHH, aren't they just beautiful.  It's good to love our chickpeas.  And ourselves.