Carrot Soup

I came across this soup at a holiday party some 15 years ago.  I had never had carrot soup in my life and screwed up my face at the thought, but I had to make the choice between carrot soup or chicken and prunes, or risk offending the host.  I chose the soup (to this day, I still can't bear the thought of chicken and prunes) and was mighty surprised at how much I liked it.  I begged the

Fried Cauliflower with Garlic Dip

There is a Mediterranean bistro close to where we live that serves the most excellent cauliflower.  For the longest time I could not figure out how they did it, and then a friend told me they fried it.  I couldn't believe it!  My favorite dish was evil in disguise.  I shunned it for years, thinking of all those fat calories and how they would likely end up on my hips.  But then I decided to make