Three Simple Soups

Soup is a staple in our household from November to March.  Every weekend you will find a soup simmering on our woodstove.    I have about 12 different soup recipes that I hold close to my heart, but for the purpose of this blog I decided to try 3 new soup recipes.  Initially I was going to blog about my top 3 soup recipes, but I really can't narrow it down to even 6, so I'll have to do some more contemplating or maybe I'll take a family poll.

Green Bean Soup was the first on the list.  I was excited to try it because I've been looking for ways to use up some of my summer produce occupying my freezer.  One of my favorite combinations is garlic, onion, red pepper, and vegetable broth.  I swear, you could add almost anything to that combination and it would be good.  Anyway, this has that same base and it was AWESOME!  I made it spicy just for me, and ate it for my work lunches all week.  Did I ever tell you the story about my long-time staff who told me I needed to lay off the garlic?  After that uncomfortable conversation I started eating my super garlicy meals on the weekends.

I digress.  The soup was awesome!

INGREDIENTS:

2 T. EVOO
3 garlic cloves
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 medium onion
2 carrots
2 celery ribs
1 small zucchini
2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 15 ounces can tomato sauce
1 can white beans (I used cannelli)
1 1/2 cups green beans
salt and pepper
Grated Parmigiana-Reggiano cheese

Heat EVOO to a large pot.  Add garlic and red pepper flakes, stir then add onions, carrots celery, and zucchini.  Cook for 10 minutes then add the stock, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and both kinds of beans.  Bring the soup to a boil.  Simmer for 5 minutes.  Turn off the heat and add grated cheese on top.  Yum!

Green Bean Soup

I have never made Cheesy Broccoli Soup until this weekend.    The caloric count of this soup is 280 calories per cup.  You've been warned.  And, let me tell you - this soup is OUT OF THIS WORLD good.  I loved it as did everyone else.  This is going to be my new recipe to bring to those who need a meal (you know sick, just had a baby, job loss, which I vow to do more of this year.)

INGREDIENTS:

Melt 4 T butter and sweat:
1 cup onion
1/2 cup carrot
1/2 cup celery

Stir in and add:
2 T flour
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Add:
4 cups shredded cheese (I used cheddar)
6 cups blanched broccoli
1/4 tsp cayenne
Salt and pepper to taste

Sweat onion, carrot and celery covered for 3 minutes.  Stir in flour to coat vegetables and cook for 1 minute.  Slowly add broth and temperature until you have a rolling boil.  Cook for 5 minutes, reduce heat.  Add cheese. Simmer soup for 3 minutes (do not boil) add blanched broccoli.  Season with cayenne, salt and pepper. 

Cheesy Broccoli Soup cooking on the woodstove

Last but not least, I tried this corn tortilla soup.  Yummy! Here's the link:  Corn and Salsa Tortilla Soup

I left the cooked peppers on the side so that the kids could eat this soup.   We plan our meals out for the week (everyone gets a day of the week) and someone invariably picks tacos, so this week we had Mexican Soup in addition to taco's.  I love taco night too, because it's so quick and easy and everyone loves them.  It's hard (maybe impossible) to 100%  satisfy a family of 5, let me tell you.

There you go, 3 new soups I have added my list.  What's your favorite soup recipe?
Today I'm looking forward to a ski on Hospital Trail and then to the Para-Olympics up in Cable.

Peace and Love,

Kristin

Sprouts, Salads, and Dressings

Recently, I watched "Forks Over Knives" on Netflix, and it got me thinking that eating raw, fresh, local vegetables will allow me to live a long, healthy life.  But, let's face it, it's 15 below today and our growing season is almost hard to imagine.  I received a sprouting jar and sprouting seeds from my friend Debi Defoe-Greene and I felt inspired to give it a try!  Greta has the sunniest room in the house, so I have been growing them in her room and on Thursday she came out of her bedroom crying.  When I asked her what was wrong she told me about a "yucky, gross jar" - apparently my jar of sprouts freaked her out.  When I explained my experiment to Graham he said, "only you mom, only you."  But guess what, my kids love them.  Greta ate 2 bowls of salad for breakfast this morning (that's my girl).

In order to sprout, you will need seeds and a jar with a lid containing holes.  You can find these supplies at a health food store.  Here's some more detailed video instructions:  Cute Couple Demonstrating How to Grow Sprouts  After 4 days of rinsing sprouts you have a whole jar full of sprouts packed full of vitamin C.  Sprouts are great in a pita pocket or on a salad.

Sprouts and Greens - the fabric is actually a dress I bought in NYC this summer:)

Easy, delicious, cheap and HEALTHY.  Yum!

Back in 2008 I went on a vegan cleanse for 3 weeks, I lost 8 pounds and never felt so energetic and AMAZING.  But, after 3 weeks I was also HUNGRY and so I went back to eating dairy but never ate meat again (I was never really into meat to begin with so it was easy).   After I'm done with this crazy training for the Birkebeiner ski race, I'm going to do another cleanse because it's so healthy and makes a person feel like a million bucks.

Now, let me give you my opinion on lettuce salads.  The organic salad mixes that are available at every store (yes, even Walmart) taste so amazing, contain the dark leafy greens that contain all vitamin A and C as well as fiber, calcium, iron and are not covered in crazy chemicals which raise your estrogen and make you super hungry (aka fat).   Recently we went to a nicer supper club for my oldest son's birthday and I ordered a "not-so-cheap" salad.  Forgive me, now I'm going to sound like a food snob.  The salad consisted of the white / light green lettuce you find in the cheap bags, at least 1 cup of bleu cheese (1 ounce is a serving) and 1 1/2 cups of walnuts (again 1 ounce is a serving).   Yuck.   Not everyone is aware of the fact that salads should be dark green and should not have taken a bath in pesticides.  Yes, the quality is better in the organic salads but the taste difference alone will blow you away.  Totally.

Dressing Mixer, Pasta Jar, Balsamic Vinegar and my sprouting jar

Now how cool is this, I was shopping at the Thrift Shoppe this week and I found this cool, antique pasta holder AND this awesome salad dressing mixer.  The salad dressing container has recipes for 4 different kinds of dressing which means I might not ever buy dressing again.   Most dressings are made with crap, but I like the fact that with my new mixer I can whip up a dressing made with olive oil, garlic, spices, etc.

Even the kids can help make our salad dressings

Here's my favorite Italian Dressing:

1 cup Olive Oil
1/2 cup white wine or balsamic vinegar
1 T sugar
2 pressed garlic cloves
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp salt


Talk about easy, economical, healthy!  I'm so excited with my new find.

Gus mixing the dressing

My kids were in a car accident last weekend and it has had me totally looking at life in a whole new way.  I was at gymnastics with Greta last night and I teared up 3 times with both joy in watching her perform and the realization that she had one close call.   I'm convinced that there was an angel in the car protecting them. 
This quote seems perfect for this moment: 

I better get skiing!  The Birkie is coming up :)

Kristin

Book Geek

I have a crazy, passion for books and there's a few fantastic books I must recommend for your 2012 winter reading pleasure.  When my last book club experienced difficulties getting together, I found myself "bookless" for 6 months and I was all out of sorts - I'll never go back to that.    Now I have a new book club, Read Book Society, in full swing and my old book club, Reading Diva's, is trying to resurrect so I have plenty of books to read.    I alternate between a fiction book and then a self growth book, because I figure I'm on this planet to evolve and so, what the heck, I try. 

Greta's Artwork - perfect for this week's blog

Since the focus of my life has been "cooking in the moment", how about "living in the moment," duh, right?
My most recommended "self-growth" book for 2012 is Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, but, first I start with a story that lead to me to this book.  December 23rd, I went skiing with some of my Ski and Tea sisters and I decided to go for a challenging 10K with 2 skiers I love and really admire, but let's just say that I was huffing and puffing and could not keep up.  I wish I could tell you I was just happy to be out, but instead my ego took over and I left making excuses and feeling discouraged.  Then, the family proceeded to drive to Osseo for Christmas.  I was driving and the family was giving me a hard time because I drive slow when the roads are snowy ("hurry up mom").   We stopped to eat in Rice Lake, and my husband started giving me a hard time because I was checking the weather on my phone, ("how rude, you need to put your phone down," etc.).  Normally, this should not have been a big deal, but I lost my temper in the restaurant and raised my voice and I never lose my cool.  First off, Chad was right, it was rude of me to get be looking at my phone.  Secondly, talk about over-reacting - wow!  I got to my parents, and saw the book that significantly impacted my life in 2008 "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle and then realized, "yes, my current misery is related to my inability to connect to the present moment and my defensive ego is in overdrive."    I then purchased his book Awakening Your Life's Purpose and since reading it have started feeling so incredibly happy, peaceful and blessed again.  I really needed to be reminded to put my ego and crazy thoughts at rest and live in the now.  When I find myself connected to the present moment, I feel happiness to my core:  mainly because I'm not worried about the mistakes of yesterday, worried about what will happen in the future, and my head is not swimming with negative thoughts.  And, what a way to live.  If know me and you saw me a week before Christmas compared to now, I guarantee you would see a difference in me.  So if you want to be truly happy, I recommend running out to read his books.  Wow!

Rhonda Bryne also really put into words something I'd known and felt since childhood, but her book The Secret really confirmed it and improved my ability to make the Law of Attraction work for me.  She has a new book out called The Power.  I purchased it at Redberry Books in Cable (my favorite book store) and I LOVE it.  It's a nice refresher.   Each goal, wish or vision that I've set for myself I've been able to achieve.  It amazes me every time.  It reminds me again of The Power within us!

Some of my newest dreams include skiing the Norwegian Birkebeiner, moving to a house on a lake, bringing the family on a week long WARM vacation, participating in a triathlon, going to a Super Bowl, and making plastic bags illegal, yup, that's all.    Guess what though, based on the results of my previous "law of attraction" work, I know I will be able to make my dreams come true.  How cool is that? 



As for my recent fiction picks, I LOVED Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman.  It's a book based on the Roman take-overs of the Jews in ancient times.  What a GREAT story based on historical fiction.

Last but not least, the book The Paris Wife by Paula McClaine was a wonderful book about Ernest Hemingway's first wife.  I learned a lot about Hemingway!  After the kids go to bed tonight I'm going to watch "Midnight in Paris" which is a Woody Allen movie based on Hemingway's life during his "Paris years".

And since this is a blog about cooking, I must share my share my favorite cookbook of all time, 30 Minutes Meals for 2, 4, 6 or 8  by Rachel Ray. 

Now that is a well loved cookbook!

This weekend I'm starting sprouts in my kitchen and I'm looking forward to the Packer playoff game on Sunday.

Happy Reading,

Kristin

Black Bean Bonanza

Black Beans Bonanza!          

I have never met anything with black beans that I don't like.   I will share with you four of my favorite black bean recipes:  black bean soup, black bean burgers, black bean salsa, and black bean brownies.  Yes, you read that right, black bean brownies.

Black bean soup is one of my favorites in the winter.  This soup is yummy, comforting goodness that fills me up and leaves me feeling oh-so-good.  If I were to make one recipe in this black bean treatise, I'd choose this one.  Yum, yum.

Here's the link to the black bean soup:  The Best Black Bean Soup

The beginnings of Black Bean Soup

Here I am sauteing the onion, garlic, carrots and jalapenos in my new fry pan.  My Aunt Paula bought me the soup pot shown behind the fry pan which I used to simmer the soup on our wood stove.  I love the soup pot since most of the winter I have some sort of soup simmering on the wood stove.  Love it!

The one thing I miss since becoming a vegetarian 4 1/2 years ago, is a good burger on the grill.  I’ve experimented with Bocca burgers and they are o.k., but black bean burgers are so good that I do not even miss eating regular beef burgers with the rest of the family.  I’m so grateful for our new fancy schmancy grill that we received from Chad’s parents for Christmas.  Works like a charm!  Here's the recipe:  Black Bean Veggie Burgers

Black bean burgers for supper

 Here's a GREAT winter salsa that I LOVE because I can use my fresh corn from this Fall's harvest.

Corn and black bean salsa
Ingredients:
2 cups freshly shucked sweet corn (about 4 cobs) or 2 cups frozen
A 15-ounce can of black beans, drained or 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, drained
1/4 small red onion, diced (about 1/4 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapenos, seeds and stems removed, diced
1/2 small red bell pepper, seeds and stems removed, diced (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
Salt and cayenne to taste

Method:
Mix together the corn, black beans, red onion, garlic, jalapeno, red bell pepper, cilantro and cumin. Stir in the olive oil and lime juice. Add salt and cayenne to taste, and adjust seasonings.

Allow to chill for at least 30 minutes.



Black Bean Salsa



Last but not least, I will share my black bean brownie recipe.  Yes, these are a real great treat and are considered gluten-free because the beans are the substitute for flour!  Be open-minded and give it a try!  Here's the link:  Black Bean Brownies

Black Bean Brownies

I am LOVING January in Wisconsin!  Once the days start getting lighter and I have time to get out and ski and snowshoe, I turn the corner from my December slump (happens every year).   With peace and love, Kristin :)

Five Great All-Natural Products for 2012

Below you will find five “all-natural”, reasonable products that I absolutely LOVE and must share to my blog followers.  Check them out for 2012!! 

Swell Gal Creme

When I look for a crème I ask myself, “can I eat this product” because 70% of what you lather on your skin will eventually end up in your blood stream.  Scary if you think about it.   Swell Gal products work GREAT, they are super reasonable and can be purchased on Etsy or at any Ventures Unlimited location.  I swear by it!    I had eczema from the age of 29 to 39, and it has vanished since switching to SG Creme.

Even Gus likes Swell Gal Creme

There’s been a lot of research on the correlation between aluminum based deoderants and breast cancer.  Most women shave their pits, leaving behind openings in the skin and then apply an aluminum-based, synthetic chemical (deoderant) to the exposed skin.   Kiss My Face all-natural, organic deoderant is an affordable product that works well for me.  Most organic deoderants are spendy, but this roll on is less than $5 bucks and works very well.  I must admit that when I workout, I will actually sweat under my arms now, but sweating is a good thing though!    On the weekends I skip deoderant all together (gasp, I know) but I can usually go a few days before there's a smell.

Kiss My Face Deoderant





Next, I like to use home-made or all-natural soap.   Goats milk soap is my favorite, BUT the reality is that home-made soap is usually $5 to $6 a bar, and since we have a large family we use a bar about every 5 days.  That adds up!  I found Kiss My Soap organic cucumber soap that I LOVE. 

Regular soap contains crazy chemicals (petroleum based) that not only dry my skin like crazy but can’t be good for you or the environment.  Kiss My Face soap I can find at any organic store (even Marketplace Foods) and it’s only $1.50 per bar.  There's a study out there that I just read that shows a direct correlation between regular chemical bar soap and ezcema and psoraisis.  I sure am glad I found a simple fix for my eczema!

Graham with Cucumber Bar Soap

I am CRAZY for home-made laundry soap.  I buy home-made laundry soap for $2.50 a gallon at any Ventures Unlimited location, Pine Knoll store in Stone Lake, or 20 Mile Organic Store in Barronnett.  I have better luck with stains and I feel better using a product that’s made with ingredients from the earth versus crazy chemical-induced petroleum based poison.  And it's cheaper!

At least 25% of our house has oak hardwood and to clean them I use tea.  I boil water, add a couple of tea bags and get on my hands and knees and scrub.  The tea on the hardwood makes it so shiny, spectacular and no streaks.

Before Greta mops, she takes a sip (for real)

I really don't make my 6 year old clean the floor, but she likes to model for mom's blog

I also wish I could tell you that I make my own crème, deodorant, soap and laundry detergent, but there’s only so many hours in a day, right?  So , I’ve found some great alternative products that anyone can afford.  Anyone have a favorite “all-natural product?”

Happy, Healthy New Year! 

Kristin