The "Opportunity" (also known as the Problem, or the Leftovers): 1. Fregola sarda bought for some recipe and languishing in the pantry for untold months. 2. Oven roasted fennel bulb and parsnip, slightly yucky looking. 3. Steamed green beans.
The Solution: Vegetable soup! Since the vegetables are already cooked, I just boiled the fregola in some chicken broth, then added the veg for a quick warmup. I used a spoonful of storebought pesto from the freezer to brighten up the flavors-- I find that one of the hard things about leftovers is perking up the flavors. The basil resonated nicely with the fennel, the green beans added a meaty touch of umami, and the broth made it great to slurp. Soup and a sandwich made a great lunch on this cold and sunny Chicago day.
