Black bean soup

This is the best black bean soup recipe in the world. Serve over rice with diced up onions, tomatoes, and cilantro. Save the left over black beans. There are more recipes to come that include the use of this soup! If you want it more spicy, add cayenne pepper or diced hot

peppers. My kids love this stuff! Enjoy and know that you are eating well.

Black Bean Soup:

1-lb bag black beans

2-10 oz cans rotel tomatoes

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 Tbsp. minced garlic

14 oz can vegetable broth, or chicken broth

water

cajun seasoning to taste (I add 2+Tbsp)

3 shakes Red Hot sauce

1 Tablespoon Chili spice

Cover beans with water and soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain well. Place beans in a slow cooker. Add everything else. Add water until all is covered. Cook on high 8 hours.

Leftovers freeze well (Candace).

Oh, how we need winter! Enjoy the last few weeks of this amazing season.

In the depths of winter I finally found there was in me an invincible summer.

-Albert Camus

My kid's favorite!

Here is my kid's favorite dinner! They eat until every scrap is gone.

Thai Lettuce Wraps:

Heat until slightly thickened: 1 can coconut milk

2 Tablespoons green curry paste

1/4 cup fish sauce

1/4 cup vegetable stock

In a saute pan, brown boca crumbles, sliced garlic clove, 1 tsp sliced ginger in olive oil for 15 min. Near the end, add diced green onion and 1/4 cup soy sauce.

Clean large leaves of romaine, cut up cilantro and lime wedges. Start with a leaf, add the boca mixture, the coconut sauce, and top with cilantro and lime. Roll up and eat like a hot dog! Enjoy.

A word from Coach Wooden:

"Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day."

Blenders ready!

Ok, ladies, get your blenders ready. It's time to detoxify! Tired of all those chicken and rice dinners that leave you bloated? This is the lunch for you.

Green Smoothies:

Blend the following:

1 banana

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

2 Tablespoons blueberry- pomegranate juice concentrate

1 cup soy or almond milk

1 ounce wheatgrass (if available)

fill the rest of blender with handfuls of spinach and kale

This is a raw (uncooked), natural way to receive nutrients, have your hunger satisfied, and feel energetic!

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

-Proverbs 15:17

This is our winter rest, right? Then breathe deeply and be rest assured that you are in His care. Take this time to appreciate what has been and what is to come.

Whole living choices

Welcome to the beginning of our whole living blog! The choices that you are about to make may strengthen your body, but I also wish for the words and suggestions in this blog to strengthen your mind and soul! Jesus is the basis for all of life. He created you and wants you to live fully in Him. That means being joyful in His hopes and promises no matter what is going on around you. Our choices today will allow for our relationship with Christ, our children, and our husbands to grow!

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:7

Recipe for today: Granola

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the following:

4 cups raw oats

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sliced almonds

Add:

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup oil (I use canola)

2 tsp vanilla

Spread out on a cookie sheet with a lip. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Take out and stir thoroughly. Bake for 15 more minutes, stir. Turn off oven. Place back in oven for 5-10 minutes. Leave out to cool 3-4 hours.

Enjoy with soy or almond milk, add fruit or raisins!