Rice

• Bring 2c water to boil; add rice, cover and cook on low heat for 20 minutes.

• While rice is cooking, chop and prepare onion, garlic, carrot and celery.

Soup

• In large pot, add onion and enough water to just cover the bottom. Allow onion to cook until softened.

• Add celery, carrot and garlic to the pot, adding more water if needed to keep the vegetables from sticking. Allow to cook for a few minutes, further softening the onion and melding the flavors together.

• Add chickpeas and spices, stir and cover with just enough water to keep everything together.

• When rice is done cooking, add to soup with a little more water if needed. Bring everything to a boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes, until carrots are soft.

• Serve- add pepper, salt, or even a dash of cayenne pepper as preferred.