I love black bean soup! Today I took a break from making super cute heart-shaped memory matching games to whip up a double batch of my Better Than Panera Vegan Black Bean Soup. With the addition of pumpkin, it really is the best black bean soup recipe ever. And, it's gluten-free! This soup is in our regular dinner rotation, we like it THAT much.
The cutie pie heart memory matching games I have been working on today can be found in my Ivy Lane Designs Etsy shop: HERE.
BETTER THAN PANERA VEGAN BLACK BEAN SOUP
Printer-Friendly Recipe
INGREDIENTS
3 - 15 1/2 ounce cans black
beans, rinsed and drained
1 - 15 1/2 ounce can drained canned tomatoes
1 1/4 cups chopped onion
4 garlic cloves minced (Tip: I use the stuff in the jar)
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 stick (2 tablespoons) Earth Balance butter
4 cups vegetable broth
1 - 16-ounce can pumpkin pureé (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup dry Sherry
DIRECTIONS
Using a food processor, coarsely pureé black beans and tomatoes. In a large pot, cook onion, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper in Earth balance butter over medium-high heat, stirring until onion is softened and beginning to brown. Stir in bean pureé. Stir in veggie broth, pumpkin and Sherry until combined and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes.
Taste. Season soup with salt and pepper. Taste again. Serve with a dollop of Tofutti sour cream and crusty bread.
This is even better the second day. I plan to make a big pot to take to a Lenten supper at our church.
Enjoy!
~Merrill ❤
Costco is one of our favorite shopping meccas. In one stop, we can get our eyeglasses adjusted quickly and for free (and, everyone in the optical department knows Justin, who has autism, by name!), bump into friends, enjoy an inexpensive lunch and pick up most everything we need (plus some!) for the week ahead.
Here are five favorites from our weekend haul.
1. Sweet Kale Salad. I love this salad and have it for lunch at least once a week. Each bag contains broccoli, Brussels (which is plural ... I did not know that) sprouts, cabbage, kale and chicory, with dried cranberries, roasted pumpkin seeds and poppyseed dressing. Yum!
2. Silk Pure Almond Milk. Vegan and gluten-free. We use this, and the wild blueberries below, in our cereal every morning. A good price.
3. Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus. Vegan and gluten-free. Quick and easy healthy snack, as a dip with cut up veggies or with black bean and quinoa tortilla chips, also from Costco, natch! It makes a nice spread for sandwiches, in place of mayonnaise.
4. Vegetarian Stuffed Grape Leaves. These are also vegan, which is perfect for my husband. I am hobbling along the vegan path, with cheese remaining my downfall. I am convinced that there really is such a thing as a cheese addiction. Cheese and super spicy food. These grape leaves are handmade and stuffed with seasoned rice, tomatoes, onions and red peppers. We enjoy having them for dinner with a salad. Yummy and 0g saturated fat and trans fat. Oh, and they're gluten-free.
5. Wyman's of Maine Wild Blueberries. We visited Maine last summer where we celebrated our wedding anniversary while falling in love with their wild blueberries. Every morning these top our cereal.
Happy shopping!
~Merrill ♥
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked, "What are you doing to help others?" Today the Royersford California Tortilla, known for its delicious fresh Mexican food, answered that question by generously donating dinner for 100 of those in need through the Pottstown Cluster's Community Meal program.
Five days a week there is a place to go in the Pottstown Community for a free hot meal. The Pottstown Cluster Outreach sponsors the volunteer-driven Community Meals program. The schedule can be found HERE.
Today there were chicken and beef burritos, tortilla chips, salsa, queso and salad with a scrumptious honey lime dressing, courtesy of the Royersford California Tortilla.
The burritos were huge!
There were many happy faces at the meal today.
Our devoted volunteers gathered for a day of willing service (I'm the one wearing the GEEK sweater, naturally).
Allan
Altschull, President of the Board of Directors for the Pottstown
Cluster, personally thanked the owner of California Tortilla for his
generous donation.
The next time you visit California Tortilla, please ask for a manager and tell him or her THANK YOU, and maybe give a big hug. The owner's kindness, compassion and generosity is inspiring and so very much appreciated.
Read more about the community meals our merry band of volunteers have served HERE. For information on how you can get involved and volunteer, visit the Pottstown Cluster's website.
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. ~Helen Keller.
~Merrill ♥
Get creative this Valentine's Day by giving these adorably cute and super FUN conversation heart crayons. The perfect answer to any child's candy-free Valentine's Day. Each heart is handmade from broken crayon bits and pieces and features cute sayings, such as "I LOVE YOU," "BE MINE" and "XOXO." Available at Ivy Lane Designs.
Sold in five-packs with a free gift box. Order two boxes for 10 different colors. All super duper crayons in tons of different shapes can be found here.
Conversation heart crayons have been featured regularly in Etsy's gift guides. Who's a happy girl?
Kids Toys:
Valentine's Day For Kids & Baby:
Kids Eco-Friendly:
Gift Ideas Kids & Baby:
Happy Valentine's Day!
~Merrill ♥
Better Than Panera Vegan Black Bean Pumpkin Soup
