Thursday night is the Community Unity International Christmas party. After the meeting, we have a pitch-in late supper of international dishes. I’ve been thinking about what Imma take, and I’ve decided to take a French dish: white bean cassoulet.

Naturally, I’m not going to make it like any of the recipes I’ve found for it. Here’s the plan:

SORT OF FRENCH NOT EXACTLY WHITE BEAN KIND OF CASSOULET

• garlic-infused olive oil
• green onions (because I have some)
• mushrooms (ditto)
• carrots, cut into pieces
• potatoes, ditto
• canned beans, prolly navy, Great Northern and maybe garbanzo
• herbs (bay leaves? marjoram? lemongrass?)
• veggie bouillon/water about a cup
• white wine

Heat oil in large skillet to medium heat. Cook onions until soft. Add veg and some bouillon. Cover and let simmer about 5 minutes. Put into slow cooker. Drain and rinse beans and add. Add herbs and a slurp of white wine. Cover and cook on low a couple of hours. If it’s too sloppy, I might throw in a handful of quick barley.

WRITING PROMPT: Your main character is decorating for a winter holiday. What is the most important decoration and why?

MA