Where do Garbanzo Beans Come From?

Every now and again – at least once every summer – I get a hankering for a good Three-Bean Salad, so I pull out my trusty “The Good Housekeeping Cookbook” circa 1976 wedding shower gift and turn right to page 395. (I’m baffled as to why I can remember something as obscure as a page number in a cookbook I use once in a blue moon, but can’t remember where I put the book I was reading a few minutes ago). 

Momma and I aren’t the only ones who have difficulty keeping our thoughts on track though. Case in point.

We were sitting down to a lunch of BLT sandwiches today (Momma’s favorite) and enjoying a side of my Three-Bean Salad. Momma was munching on her sandwich and enjoying a little chat with our resident house guest, a guinea pig. Keeping a wary eye on Momma (who will try to feed potato chips to the vacationing guinea pig), hubby and I attempt a little conversation. It went something like this:

W: [Using his fork to point at the 4th bean in my 3-bean salad] “So, what’s this hard bit in the salad here?”

C: “A garbanzo bean.”

W: “What plant does a garbanzo bean come from?”

C: [With a stymied look] “A garbanzo plant.” We both laughed at my cheeky attempt to cover up my ignorance with humor. “I guess we will need to Google that one,” I suggested.

W: [Asks his cell phone to find more information on garbanzo beans.] He then reads out loud what Wikipedia says about the subject:

“The chickpea or chick pea is a legume of the family Fabacaeae, subfamily Faboideae. Its different types are variously known as gram, or Bengal gram, garbanzo or garbanzo bean, Egyptian pea. Its seeds are high in protein.”

[Short pause]

W: “Chocolate chip cookies would be nice.”

Author: barefootlilylady

I love sharing about my barefoot gardening adventures, hence my blogger name. As I write, some of my other passions might spill out -- like fun with grandkids, baking and sewing endeavors, what I'm studying in Scripture, and the like. My readers will notice that one of the primary things I write about is Alzheimer's. May what I write be an encouragement to anyone who is a caregiver for someone they love with memory loss. View all posts by barefootlilylady