Celery "Soul Food" Soup, Ori Dagan and Windfall

Still on the Horace Silver kick.. Very exciting news - Ori Dagan is having a CD release event at Chalkers on Saturday October 24th. Unfortunately, social butterfly that I am - prior engagement to see "The Toxic Avenger". It should be great with always delightful scat stylings and rich baritone of one Mr. Dagan. Congratulations Mr. D! It's a rainy afternoon and since I have a large "bouquet" of celery as the handsome clerk at 4 Life called it soup is in order. Cream of celery.... here's what I did... CELERY "SOUL FOOD" SOUP 2 Tbls. olive oil or half margarine if you want to be French 2 - 3 stalks of celery including greenery, chopped 1 onion chopped 1 zucchini chopped 1 carrot chopped 2 cloves garlic minced 6 cups veg broth (homemade, canned or bouillon w/water) 1/2 cup chopped parsley 1 tsp celery salt to taste Lavish dusting of black pepper 1 can black eyed peas (that's the soul food part and optional) 1 cup soy or rice milk Saute celery, onion, garlic, carrot and zucchini over med high heat until wilted/onion is translucent. Stir in veg broth and spices and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook about 30 minutes until carrot is cooked. Removed from heat in batches and process in blender or food processor. Return to heat and add milk until heated through. Listening to Horace also helps with the cooking.. And now a shameless blug for effervescent Jazz Festival volunteer, wonderful singer and aspiring PR person - Rucsandra Maria Saulean. She will be performing at this fundraiser for Windfall, a worthy cause...it's called "Tea Talk" The Event will Feature: Live jazz performance Interior Design talk from Karl Lohnes about “What’s in and out for 2010” Followed by a Q&A period Outstanding silent auction featuring items for the home Amazing tiers of tasty delights Endless supply of tea and coffee Cash Bar A tremendous Gift Bag When & Where: Sunday, October 25, 2009 The Granite Club 1 pm – 4 pm Buy your Ticket Today: Reserve your ticket today, only $50, space is limited! For tickets please call 416 703 8435 and speak to Kelly, or fill in and return the form below by fax to 416 703 8437 or e-mail to kelly.carmichael@windfallbasics.com. Another teeny plug, although it has been a while (since IAJE in fact) that I have been to Azure Restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel on Front Street I may be tempted to go down there again to listen to the jazz stylings of Dan Bodanis, Bernie Senensky and Steve Wallace on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:30 - 10:30 p.m. I believe different people sit in as well as this week it's Brian Dickinson at the piano.