FIRST IMPRESSIONS (OF BLACK BEAN SOUP)

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: OY VEY!

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Cosmo just put out an article for the “6 Things Guys Notice 6 Seconds After You Meet”… according to some new study. (Why are there always some silly “new” studies? When are they going to go back to an old study and tell us what they found out about 5 years ago?)

Let’s go through their “discoveries”:

Your Smile- Duh Your Hair- Duh Your Cleavage- Duh
Your Makeup- Ehh
Your Skin - Duh
Your Bag – UMMMMM… 

 

My hubby said he has only three things he looks at when he (NEVER! How dare he!) looks at other women: Tits, Smile, Eyes.

In that order. 

Frankly, I am relieved because if I knew that Adam was too busy looking at my eye shadow blending job, or worse, the  stitching and beauty of my YSL bag, I would seriously reconsider his intentions.

**

• Olive oil
• 1 cup red onion, chopped OR green onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh jalapeño
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 2 cans black beans, undrained
• 2 cups canned low-salt chicken broth OR veggie broth
• Chopped fresh cilantro
• Sour cream and/ or Guacamole
• Blue corn tortilla chips
• Salt and pepper

 

In a pot on the stovetop: chicken broth, garlic,  black beans, olive oil and cumin. Mix and heat thoroughly. 

 

Move ingredients to a blender. Process thoroughly. 

 

Move back to the pot, adding the onions, jalepenos, and cilantro. 

 

Plate in a bowl, topped with sour cream and/ or guacamole, and serve with blue corn chips for dippin!

 

SKINNY SOUP

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: OY!

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Since I'm getting married in two months from yesterday (!), we have been trying our very best to eat healthy, low carb, and balanced meals.

I've been enjoying cottage cheese and pomegranate seeds for breakfast (delish) and making the below soup for some dinners, especially on cold, rainy nights.

Since we eat this as our main course, and our only source of protein, I add a lot of egg whites. It's really up to you how much you want in there.

**

• Chicken Broth (I prefer Better Than Bouillon)
• 2 large handfuls of Arugula
• Handful or Carrots (chopped)
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Minced Garlic
• Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (to taste… depends how spicy you want to go)
• Egg whites

In a large pot on medium-high heat, make 6 cups of broth. Add your minced garlic and chili sauce.

Let it heat up. Add the arugula and carrots. Mix until it starts boiling.

As the soup boils, shake your carton of egg whites (or stir if extracted directly from eggs into a bowl) and slowly pour into the soup.

Turn the heat to medium and wait for the egg to fully cook.

The great thing is that the eggs cook in the delicious spicy broth, making the usually bland egg whites rather tasty.

How to Plate: Spoon into big bowls and enjoy!

STRAC(CIATELLA) IT TO ME!

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: OY!

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Look, some days, I am just L-A-Z-Y.

Not just a little "couch potato" lazy.

I don't feel like writing. I don't feel like blogging.

And DARE I say, I don't feel like looking at shoes.

(GASP)

Yes, admitting it IS the hardest part.

But these are the days that ignite inspiration.

No, not the inspiration of a sloth.

The inspiration to make my fiance a hearty, healthy dinner that looks like I spent hours in the kitchen-- when, in reality, I was just being lazy.

The following recipe comes from one of those days. We all have them, and this is the lunch or dinner to make. It's delicious.

**

• 4-6 cups of Chicken broth - I am IN LOVE with "Better Than Bouillon" Vegetarian Chicken Broth
• Minced garlic (a tablespoon, more or less)
• Salt and Pepper (a dash)
• 1 cup Whole Wheat noodles (I like the twisty kind)
• 2 Eggs (scrambled)
• Handful of Arugula

Boil broth in a pot. Toss in a bit of garlic and pepper. Add pasta and cook through. They usually take 5-12 minutes.

Lower the heat.

In a separate bowl, crack eggs and beat them. Toss a little salt and pepper into the mix.

Then, slowly pour the egg mix into the pot and stir in with fork.

Add the washed arugula and let it wilt down, for a minute or two.

How to Plate: Spoon into a large soup bowl. Who needs style when you’re lazy?