Simple Black Bean Soup

Homemade black bean soup without additives or preservatives.  A great lunch or with a salad as a dinner.  Eating 3 vegetarian dinners a week is not only healthy; it is very cost effective.  During the fall I like to eat soup, so each week I make a different soup.

Serves: 8

Cooking dried beans is low maintenance and a great value. Make sure to plan ahead and allow time for soaking the beans. Soak overnight in water 6-8 hours – rinse well before using

Ingredients: 

1 pound dried black beans (about 2 1/2 cups), rinsed

1 container of organic chicken stock (About 16 ounces)

2 medium onions, chopped

1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper or ground Chili Powder

1 tomato- diced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 Jalapeno - seeds removed and diced or 1 Tsp. red pepper flakes (Optional)

In a large stock pot, cook onion, peppers and garlic using ½ cup of chicken stock instead of oil.  Once onion is translucent, stir in cumin powder and Chipotle Pepper powder cook for 1 minute.   Add drained beans and the rest of container of chicken stock and 4 cups of water.  Bring soup to a boil, then lower to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until beans are tender.  Remove 4 cups soup and carefully purée in a blender. Return purée to pot and stir in cilantro and lime juice.  Serve with diced tomato on top. (Topping with Avocado instead of sour cream is another healthy option)

Notes: 

This is a good soup to make on your cooking day for quick meals during the week.  (I use Sunday as cooking day.  I make breakfasts like crockpot oatmeal, soups and side dishes.  This makes homemade weekday meals easier.  I plan my meals for the week on Saturdays before shopping and then make what I can ahead of time on my cooking day, which is Sunday.  Taking a couple hours of prep time on Sunday saves time, money and makes healthier weekday eating possible for even the busiest schedules.  Involve the family in planning the menu for the next week. It takes some of the pressure off of you helps them to feel involved with family decisions.  Children should be a part of the process from planning and shopping to cooking it so that they will eat the healthy food you are making together. 

Fall Harvest means soup!!

I love the smell of fall in the air.  In Michigan it means that soon the trees will be full of vibrant colors of yellow, orange and red colors.  If you have never been in the Northern Michigan when fall is at it's peak you need to take a trip.  It is the most beautiful site and a reminder that Fall Harvest is here.  Apples, pumpkins, squash, yams and soup!!!

I love fresh soup.  Compare my Butternut Squash soup recipe ingredients with that of a store bought brand of soup.   Homemade soup does not have to take all day.  My version of this homemade soup is quick, healthier, easy and inexpensive.

Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients:
Butter Nut Squash
1 - 1 1/2 cups Organic Chicken Stock
1/4 Tsp Celtic or pink salt
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
Nutmeg to taste

Directions:
Seed and cube squash.  Boil until soft.  Cool and peel.  In a blender add squash and 1 cup of chicken stock and spices.  Blend until smooth.  If soup seems thick add stock until desired thickness. (I like mine a bit thick) Heat in pot on stove until bubbling.

This soup should take less then 1/2 hour total time. From prep to completion. 
How many cups this soup makes will depend upon how big your squash is.  Serve with a salad for a great lunch.

Shopping Note:
Buy veggies that are in season when they are at their peak season, they taste better and are cheaper. When they are in season, it is easier to buy local produce which often does not require heavy use of pesticides because they are not being shipped.  Look for the Grown in Michigan signs and buy local whenever possible.
Buying Organic Stock in a box is quicker as gives the cooked all day flavor.  I buy organic stock in the box at Costco.  It is a cheap way to buy organic and I use it a lot for all day flavor taste without taking all day to cook.

 

Four Things

There are 4 things that I am praying and in faith  for when I get old.  One is that I don't walk bent over, two that I have all my teeth, three that I have all my hair and four that I do not have to take prescription drugs.  As a result of a fasting and praying, I realized that if I want this, things had to make some changes in my life.  Lose weight and change how I eat.  So I did a lot of reading on health and nutrition, gave up processed food and bought a bike.  Since then I have lost 20 of the 50 lbs I want to lose have felt more energetic, sleep better and know that I will have a better chance of not having to take prescription drugs in my old age.
During this change I had to adjust how I eat, shop and cook.  I realized that most of all health issues come from processed food or food that is lack of any nutritional value and all that our bodies are rejecting.  High blood pressure and cholesterol levels, type 2 diabetes all can be reverse by diet and exercise.  Now some people maybe saying, but it runs in my family.  I say try changing the way you eat and change the outcome. You have the groundwork for having those diseases, but if you don't contribute to the factors that give you the disease, you really can heal your body and have it function the way God intended it to.

I love to cook and eat fresh healthy foods and have come up with recipes many people have asked me to share.  So I decided to write a blog to share how you can cook healthy, cost effectively as well as quick meals that taste great that your family will love.

I will also be sharing healthy eating tips with every post giving info on certain foods you shouldn't be eating and why and others you can replace them with.  Enjoy the journey to your final destiny in good health.