Happy New Year!

A Happy New Year toast to all!

  May 2014 be full of health, luck, and love....
 

While vacationing in Italy and the Amalfi coast this summer, I learned from the Italians how to properly toast to someone, which was:  Health, Luck, and Love, in that order.
Makes sense, no?

 

1) Health: Because you can't expect to optimize anything in life unless you feel healthy.

2) Luck:  We all need good luck and blessings (whether in finances, career, or personal life).

3) Love: Can't live without love.

 

For me, health, luck, and love, converge in this perfectly traditional Armenian New Year dessert called, Anoush Abour. The recipe was featured in my December 24th entry: http://myfarmtotable.blogspot.com/2013/12/veronicas-kitchen-day-24-anoush-abour.html)

This dish is full of vibrant nutrition, therefore very healthy. It sets the tone to a new year because of its association with prosperity and luck. And it's made with lots of love!  Anoush Abour could also be considered a complete meal. Wheat berries alone contain lots of protein and complex carbohydrates, as well as major Vitamin B content. The fruits and nuts add minerals and vitamins

essential to the body's disease-fighting system.
 

So, as the dawn to 2014 approached, I already had soaked the wheat berries overnight. One thing I changed in the preparation was that in the morning, I transferred the wheat to a crock-pot(with lid off), set it to "high". I added the remaining ingredients and let it cook for about 3 hours. This allowed for a perfect, controlled simmer, letting the ingredients develop flavor and absorb the remaining liquid.

 

I then transferred the thickened soup into a pretty ceramic serving bowl, and decorated the top with whole walnuts and a prune.

 

The final result: