SOUPer

Lap top still not fixed. I think I need to hold out for a Mac. However if I get a Mac it will be really hard not to want to buy the crazy software where I can make professional looking movies.....which will mostly be adorable flicks starring my dog:

Since my last several months of entries are about how stressed and busy I am (which couldn't be less fun to read about) I want to refrain from that this year. Same old stuff lately, although a huge project came to fruition last week and I am looking forward what I anticipate to be a much calmer week compared to oh, the last two months.

I am a fan of the mom/adorable seamstress/gardening blog Dig This Chick. She sometimes shares her delicious vegetarian eats. Please make the White Bean and Black Olive Soup she found in The Moosewood Cookbook. It's easy, savory, nutirious and wallet friendly. I know, I thought black olives in a soup would be weird, but it really adds something! Putting the garlic in at the end keeps the flavor so deliciously intense. Of course in BB30 fashion, I added way more garlic than the recipe calls for. I've made this soup twice in two weeks. The first time I forgot navy beans at the grocery store and the only thing my quick around-the-corner CVS had was  butter beans, and I have to say it was the happiest of accidents. I will always use butter beans from now on for the additional starchy punch they give.

Eat this.

White Bean and Black Olive Soup
Adapted from The Moosewood Cookbook.
You'll need:
olive oil
1 onion, chopped
5 gloves, garlic minced (I go Rachael Ray and grate mine in)
2 celery ribs, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 - 1 1/2 cups oven roasted tomatoes (I used Hunt's Fire Roasted since I don't have canned fresh ones)
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
4 cups water (I like using 2 cups of water and the liquid from the canned tomatoes and starchy bean water)
2 cups cooked navy beans (I used butter beans the first time and 1 can butter/1 can navy the second time)
1 can sliced black olives
salt
pepper

Throw a few tablespoons of olive oil in a soup pot over high heat, add onion. ( I did a spritz of oil with my Misto in a non stick pot and on tsp of Earth Balance.) Cook for a few minutes. Add celery, carrots and green pepper. Cook for five minutes. Add water and barely bring to boil. Add tomatoes, beans and olives. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add garlic, basil, salt and pepper. So good.

Here's mine:

Yep, I have to go heat some up now. YUM!!!