This is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE recipes!!!  I can't tell you how good it is - you have to try it out!!!  It's very easy and quick.  You can make it with meat or without.  If you are going to add meat I suggest using crumbled italian sausage.  Whole foods sells an all natural, sugar free, chicken italian sausage in their meat case.  You can have them cut the sausage out of the links for you and then just brown it into crumbles to be used in the stew.  If you don't want to do that, you can always use extra lean ground turkey breast or ground chicken breast and some seasonings used in italian sausage.  If using meat, just brown and set aside then add it to the stew later. 

This soup is great when your sick because it has a little kick that can help open up your sinuses, the broth is soothing to the throat, and it's packed with nutrients!!! 

Here's the recipe without meat....it's vegan!!!

1 medium sweet onion diced

2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic (or 2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced)

1 small butternut squash - peeled, gutted and chopped into 1/2 inch cubes.  Or you can buy a bag of already cubed butternut squash.  You want about 3 or so cups chopped.

1 bunch kale - not the chopped up stuff in the bag.  (Walmart carries whole leaves of kale in bunches).  Remove the steams and tear the leaves into smaller pieces, wash well and drain. If you must buy bagged kale - make SURE to remove all the stems.  You have to pick through the whole bag and tear the leaf part off of the stems. 

1 can cannellini beans or other white bean - drained and rinsed

1 quart of broth (I like Imagine Organic No Chicken Broth - or if not vegan, Imagine's Organic Free Range Chicken Broth is THE BOMB!!!)
Italian seasoning (1-2 teaspoons)

Crushed rosemary (1 teaspoon)

Garlic powder (1 teaspoon)

Dried oregano (1/2 teaspoon)

Dried thyme - not the ground up thyme but the actual dried thyme leaves - (1/2 teaspoon)

Ground sage (1-2 teaspoons)

Red pepper flakes (I really don't know about the measurement on this one - I do it til it has a nice kick - maybe 1/2 tsp)

1) Heat a dutch oven on med heat

2) Drizzle some olive oil in the bottom and add chopped onion and garlic. 

3) Cover and allow to cook for several minutes until onion becomes clear and tender

4) Add cubed squash and enough broth to just cover it.  Place the lid on and crank up the heat to med-high.  The broth will simmer and steam the squash.  This won't take too long - just keep checking it every few minutes until they are fork tender and mashable. 

5) Once the squash is done, add the beans, broth, kale, and seasonings.  (If using meat, add it here)  Cover and increase the heat until it comes to a boil. 

6)  Taste the stew and add more seasonings if needed. 

7) Reduce heat and allow to simmer 10 more minutes or until ready to serve. 

NOTES: 

*I like my soups and stews pretty thick - if you don't, just add more broth. 

*Again, all measurements were approximate because I don't measure anything.  The flavor should be very robust and the herbs should really stand out.  It should have a slight kick but it's mild and not enough to burn your mouth. 

If you try this, PLEASE come back and leave a comment and let me know what you think! 

Enjoy!!!

Here's the deal - I used to LOVE Morningstar Farms Black Bean Burgers but, of course, they contain gluten, yeast, and all sorts of things I can't have now.  So I made up my own version and I think it's pretty darn good.  We've made these several times.  If you don't have brown rice flour I'm sure another gluten free flour would do.  Also, you can use bread crumbs in the place of the flour and the quinoa flakes.  Just keep adding until the mixture becomes hard to stir and you can scoop out a ball and form into a patty - don't let them get too dry though - just use enough so that you can form them into patties.  They will be VERY sticky - that's normal!  I've also found that as the patties sit they become more firm - I guess because the flour is absorbing the moisture in the mix.  So I recommend letting them sit a bit before cooking - it will help them hold together better.  I usually brown these in a skillet - they get nice and crisp on the outside!  But last night we were grilling and put them right on the grill.  They were FABULOUS!!!!  I just sprayed the patties with a little olive oil spray before putting them on, and again before we flipped them.  They browned and crisped up very quickly!!!  Also, like with most of my recipes, the measurements for the seasonings are estimated.  I do it all to taste.  It all depends on your personal preference.  I think these would also be great with a little bit of the Mrs. Dash Chipotle seasoning added but I was out - you could also try with roasted poblano peppers!  think I'll try that next time.  Also, if corn doesn't bother you - throw a few kernels in!   Enjoy!!!

One more thing - we served these with homemade guac and melted Daiya cheese on top and served between slices of grilled eggplant.  Also topped them with Vegan Gourmet sour cream and Drew's salsa!  Some of my favorite awesome gluten free/vegan products!  SO yummy! 

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Black Bean Burgers

1 can black beans rinsed and drained

1/4 cup chopped bell pepper

2-3 scallions - white and green parts

1/4 cup cilantro leaves

tsp + garlic powder

1T+ Chili powder

1T+ Cumin

Dash dried oregano

Paprika

Salt

Quinoa flakes (about 1/4-1/2 cup)

Brown rice flour (about 1/4-1/2 cup)

1 egg or 1 Flax egg (1T ground flax seeds mixed w/ 3 T warm water-allow to sit several minutes)

Well well well...I haven't blogged in a while.  I guess, like most of you, we've been a bit busy with the holidays, the new year, and the odd challenge of staying warm and dry in Alabama. LOL!  I had planned to catch up on my blogging while iced in for 3 days during the "snowpocalypse" but all I seemed to do was cook, eat and watch football.  Laziness at it's best.  Eric and I had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's!  I got everything I wanted, less my dream trip to Italy I've been asking for since I was 15, but oh well :)  - I think it's just become a running joke at this point.  But anyhoo, the thing I enjoyed the most about Christmas this year was just spending time with Eric and our families.  I was beyond disappointed that my dad and stepmom couldn't be here this year, but otherwise, it was a great day. 

 

We had a fabulous New Year's eve with friends bar hopping in the loft district and eventually ending up at Steel for the countdown and dancing.  All the bars we visited were SMOKE FREE!!!  I was in heaven!  Then, of course, we had the monumental National Championship game and Winterstorm 2011 which hasn't seemed to leave us yet.  I really don't know how much more of this ridiculous weather I can handle.  Geez.  On top of being snowed/iced in and not being able to make the pilgrimage to Auburn like he'd planned, Eric was sick as a dog during the game ...but I don't think it dampened his spirits at the end.  He was, and has continued to be, quite ecstatic about the whole thing.  My house is now overflowing with Auburn magazines, books, hats, koozies, shirts, buttons...you name it.  Even worse than before.  It's like he had to buy a whole new Auburn wardrobe because it now came adorned with the Championship logo.  Sigh....

 

Moving on...the new year has gotten off to a great start for Eric and I and we are really excited about this spring and summer.  There are some great shows coming up - most notably Jackopierce next weekend and Amos Lee in April.  We are also planning some fun trips with friends and family!  I'm taking Eric back to NOLA in March!  It's my favorite time of  year to go and I think he's going to love it.  We splurged on a room at the Monteleone!  Can't wait!!!! 

 

Lots of other fun things going on this spring including weddings for my dear cousin Allen and also Eric's BFF Walt.  We are also expecting the arrival of Conner James Irwin - my friend Diane's first child - so we are busy with showers and planning!  I love weddings and babies!!!! 

 

Everything else has been pretty routine around here.  Well, except for my recent visit to the dermatologist where I got the reality check of a lifetime.  I was informed I have lots of precancerous cells on my face that will likely turn into cancer if not treated.  He removed a spot on my cheek and told me I'd have to come back regularly from now on to monitor other spots and remove them as well.  It was pretty painful and is still healing.  Apparently I'm way too young to have this much damage and I thought he was going to fall out when I told him how much I used to tan in the tanning bed.  I've recently cut that back to 1 or 2 days a week but those days are over.  No more tanning bed, no more laying out, no more baking of any kind.  This news made me very VERY sad.  Even if coated myself in SPF 50, he said I couldn't lay out in the sun for any extended length of time ever again.  He said my skin type, being freckly and naturally pale, was the prime candidate for melanoma and I'll have to keep a close eye on it for the rest of my life.  I love the sun, I love summer.  :(

 

Now, I've had lots of scary visits to the dermatologist over the years but this one hit home to me for some reason - I guess because of the process of having a spot burned off my face.  ha.  But I've had so many doctors in the past tell me how much damage I had and how I was bound to have skin cancer but my dumbass continued to lay in the tanning bed and live by the pool in the summer time.  But I went out and bought a new daily moisturizer with SPF 30 so you know I'm for real this time.  I've been wearing it daily - even for the past 3 days where we've had NO sunshine whatsoever.  ha. 

 

Anyhoo, I guess that's enough of an update for now.  I'm in the process of possibly getting a new car so, hopefully, I'll have that news soon!  We'll see.  I'm also looking forward to some other changes around the corner that I can't quite talk about yet but just keep your fingers crossed for me! 

 

Hope everyone is well!