Last night I was determined to have a relaxing, yet productive, evening. Can those 2 things really coexist, you ask. Well, yes. Yes, I believe they can! I was hoping I had a new issue of
Vanity Fair waiting for me at home... but instead, something better was there... the new, 2010 Ikea catalog!!! More on that later...
I was trying to figure out what I was going to make for dinner with few ingredients, little hassle, and minimal preparation/cook time. I also wanted something filling and comforting. Hmm. Got it! My new favorite, go-to recipe! It is quick, easy, and so tasty and filling I feel like licking the bowl when I'm finished.
Black bean soup. So simple. So lovely. And healthy to boot. Here's the original recipe:
Puree 1 19-oz can of black beans (no need to drain the beans) in a blender or food processor. Gently heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a medium saucepan and toss in a small minced onion and clove of garlic and cook until onions are soft. Add the pureed beans and 1/2 cup chicken broth to the saucepan, bring to a boil, stirring occasionally allowing it to thicken. Add a dollop of sour cream (optional) and enjoy!
Six ingredients!! That's all you need! However... I can never just leave a recipe alone. I have to tweak things. I can't help it. I'll tell you what I've done and let you make up your mind...but I should say that the 2 times I've made this, it was a bit different each time, depending on what I had available in my cupboard and fridge.
The first time I made it, I had a mildly hot pepper from my neighbor, G. I chopped that and threw it in with the onions and garlic and it added a lovely mild flavor. If I had a pepper last night, I also would've added it. I almost always increase garlic whenever I make things... I love me some garlic. I also usually add some cayenne pepper to the mix at some point, for a little spice, also a little salt and black pepper to taste. Depending on your beans, you may want to add part of the chicken broth to the blender to help it puree nicely. Last night I used 2 smaller cans of beans and one was very watery...I think the majority of the weight of the can was liquid, not beans, jerks (not buying that brand anymore!). Anyway, eyeball it and use your best judgment. I think that this needed some acidity the first time I made it and so I added lemon juice (lime would work too) and it was awesome and definitely a permanent change! You can add that to your own taste preferences... I didn't measure the citrus... or the cayenne pepper. Last night I didn't add sour cream and the soup was amazing all by itself! Oh! I almost forgot! I also added cilantro! Yum. Let me know if you make this and what you think.
I ate my lovely, comforting bowl of black bean soup on my deck while I flipped through a new psych publication and watched the dogs play. Ah, relaxing. I told myself I could not look through the Ikea catalog until I did some licensing reading (that's the productive part)...urgh, torture. But I got some reading done just before a good friend called to chat...it's been too long, so I talked for quite a while, then crawled in bed with the catalog.
I admit I didn't get through the whole thing and had to turn out the lights by 8:55. I was asleep by 9:00.
I actually slept pretty late this morning, spilled coffee just before I was supposed to leave (thankfully NOT on my white linen skirt), cleaned that up, barely got a parking spot in the nearest lot, and was taunted by K-Dog for being late (who is late nearly 95% of the time).
But it's Thursday! And I get paid tomorrow! Woohoo!
No, I'm not talking about cookies or other delectable holiday goodies. Fooled you, didn't I? I'm not even baking cookies... I never do since I have to travel for Christmas. Besides, last time I tried making a ton of Christmas cookies, they didn't look pretty (they tasted great), so 
