black bean and rice soup

Most mornings I wake up with some idea....an inkling at least of what we'll have for dinner. 

This day I had no idea.

I opened the fridge, the cupboard......nothing. 

I opened the freezer......spanish rice from a few weeks ago. 

What would I do with that?

The same thing I do with every other left over ingredient.....throw it in soup.

And so this soup was born....and it's kind of one of

minestrone soup

I love soup. looooooove it. I could eat it every day....and sometimes wonder why we don't eat soup for breakfast?we should. 
This is a favorite around here, it's very easy and I always have most of the veggies on hand. It's not your traditional minestrone....I don't put any pasta or cabbage in it, but we like it all the same.
Minestrone Soupserves 6-8
1 small onion, diced 3 celery stalks, diced4

mini pizzas

aka: the fastest dinner in the world-whole wheat english muffins-fresh mozzarella-your favorite garden tomatoes-olives-basil-oregano-thyme-olive oil-s&pstick them under the broiler, and while they're getting nice and toasty, throw together a quick salad. VWALLA!!!The fastest dinner ever! and it will disappear just as quickyou are welcome.ps. I get a ton of questions asking if I am a vegetarian.

breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

or maybe all three.(recipe here) good crusty bread, grilled (this was a garlic and rosemary loaf)goat cheesetomatoesolivesbasil and oreganoolive oilsalton the grill for just a few minutes...yum.

tonight we had vegetables and cheese for dinner

and liked it very much.summer squash with parmesangrilled corn on the cobroasted potatoes with fetawarm-from-the-sun tomatoes with basil and olive oilolivesfresh mozzarellayum.

fire grilled

-your favorite homemade crust

-peppers

-tomatoes

-artichokes

all thrown on the grill



-salty olives

-fresh mozzarella

-goat cheese



all grilled to melty perfection.

friday love

First week of summer!!! And it was perfect!-long hot days that stretch on and on and on-getting lost in a good book-the pool.......oh the pool! -summer evening BBQs-camping trips in the making-eating the first peppers out of our garden-oh.....and the fact that there is still light in the air at 9:00.....I LOVE it!You know I love a quick and simple dinner.....and we LOVE breakfast burritos!

friday love

I love summer.LOOOOOOOVE it.The only thing I don't like about it, is the end.And while it isn't officlaly summer yet....it sure feels like it (well ok....it's only like 50 right now...but we hit 90 this week!)I love that we made our first pool trip this week!I love that the farmers market starts tomorrow!!I love the summer evening rainstorms we've been having.....best. smell. ever!!I love a good

friday love

It's Friday!! What a week!We have been running around like crazy (uhh.... I JUST got unpacked from last weeks trip...whoops) but it's been a good one. There has been so much sunshine I don't even know what to do with myself!!We have been working outside, splashing in the sprinkler, meeting new friends, playing with old friends, and just soaking it up. I see pool days in the very near future.We

chile and lime veggie bowls

These are so so good! We've had them a few times since I first found the recipe in my Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.Chile and Lime Veggie Bowlsadapted from BHG1 Tbsp. soy sauce1 Tbsp. lime juice1 tsp. chili powder1 tsp. fresh oregano, snipped, or 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed1 tsp. olive oil2 medium sweet potatos, peeled and cut in 1-inch cubes1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and

Tabouleh

mmm.....I am craving some Reef's Kitchen.My friend Tara told me that she made Tabouleh last week.....and I haven't stopped thinking about it since!Must. Make. Tabouleh. So I did. I threw in a few extras....because as long as we're eating a veggie meal, we might as well eat LOTS of veggies, right?First I had to buy the bulgur wheat. I had noooo idea what I was looking for--or where to find it.

friday love

We love to try new things. I've been trying out new vegetarian meals lately, so we can spend our money on better (hormone & antibiotic free) meat. So here's the deal with this one.....we liked it....aLOT actually. The kids ate it up so fast, and meat loving Robby asked for more. The only problem....we were hungry an hour later. So....all my vegetarian friends.....would would you add to go with