Long ago,
a Moroccan woman made soup like this,
in Mediterranean climes
stirred spices into her pot
(here mirroring Autumn leaves)
cinnamon red and saffron gold
yellow split peas and pumpkin,
symbols of success, simmering,
signaling the turning of seasons
tasting sweetly of tradition
Pumpkin-Yellow Split Pea Soup
This is a quadrille for dVerse. Mish asked us to use the word spice—or some form of it.
I make this soup every year for Rosh Hashanah—though we’re having it a bit late this year. It’s based on a recipe from Claudia Roden, a Moroccan soup. Mine is vegetarian and spicier. The golden color is supposed to symbolize a prosperous new year. The photo is from last year’s dinner.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Is this the soup they make during Ramadan? The mother of my third daughter’s best friend made it for us one year.
I have no idea, Jane. Claudia Roden says it’s traditional for Rosh Hashanah, but perhaps it’s also made for Ramadan.
It certainly looks like it. Culturally the whole Mediterranean area overlaps in many areas.
Yes–and foods and spices travel the world and get reconfigured. I thought it was Egyptian, but when I went back and looked at the recipe (because I don’t really follow it), I saw it was Moroccan. But this is the Merril version. 😉
You are a true cook. When you don’t follow recipes because you don’t need to, you know you’ve mastered the art.
I’m hardly a master, but as long as we enjoy the food. . . 🙂
What’s a master? It’s the enjoyment that matters 🙂
🙂
Your soup looks and sounds so delicious. I love that it has meaning, too.
Thank you, Robin.
does look prosperous, or at least the coming possibilty 🙂
And it’s delicious! 🙂
Happy New Year! May it be a spicy one even if you celebrate it a bit late. I hope your soup making is a sign you are closer to your writing goals.
Thank you, Marian. Yes, almost completed! 🙂
Yum! Sounds delicious!
Thanks, it is! 🙂
The rich colours in your poem are so appetizing I’ve looked up the recipe 🙂
I hope you enjoy it, Janice! 🙂
Thanks Merril…I’m sure I will! 🙂
Same here.
Thanks–enjoy! 🙂
Your warm soup of gold is a feast for my eyes. Visual food 🙂
Thank you, Rose! 🙂
Beautifully written with nice SP alliteration
Thank you, Derrick.
The poem is delicious!
Thank you so much, Robert!
And the soup! Beautiful.
Thank you–it’s delicious! (Especially with homemade challah!) 🙂
Mmmmmm.
🙂
Eye-ing the pumpkin in the corner right now! 🙂 Happy new year.
Thank you, Shirley. 🙂
Mouth watering in the morning…have a wonderful holiday with your family! (I know you will). (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe!
Looks (and sounds) great.
I love the imagery of “mirroring autumn leaves”
Thank you very much, Ken.
thank you for a nice post!
Thank you!
Such a warm and inviting quadrille, infusing autumn colors and tastes into a traditional dish…and leaving me very intrigued about this soup. 🙂
Thank you very much, Mish. Everyone enjoyed the soup last night. 🙂
It’s interesting that the golden color of the soup has a traditional symbolic meaning.
There are all sorts of foods with symbolic meanings for Rosh Hashanah, but it is interesting. 🙂
I like that it is “tasting of traditions,” Merril. I loved the use of spices and colors together, adding to the season and the holiday.
I probably have shared that my youngest brother tutors at a Hebrew school. He drives an hour and a half to get their every day, then again to return home.
Also, how our family was included in my Dad’s good friends’ family holidays. Mainly, we learned of Hanukkah and went to Bar mitzvah’s for his sons. I’m not sure if we ever were invited to other holidays.
I used to include in every month’s calendar (for at least two years on my blog) any celebration I could find of international and religious holidays. I’m not sure why I started this; but do know it was time consuming! 😊
Thanks, Robin. We’re not religious, but I do like the traditions of Rosh Hashanah. (And this soup is delicious.) 🙂