Hot Taco Bean Soup

To transform the Hot Taco Bean Soup from vegetarian to vegan, just leave out the yogurt and add more taco sauce. It’s still delicious, but less creamy and a lot spicier.

Ingredients

2 15 oz. cans kidney or black beans (rinsed and drained)

2 1/2 cups onion broth (water and soup powder is fine)

1 teaspoon cumin

2 or more tablespoons hot taco sauce

salt to taste

3 tablespoons low-fat yogurt

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

Directions

Combine the beans, onion broth, cumin and taco sauce in a large pot. Using a hand blender, blend till semi-smooth. Chunks of beans should still be visible.

Heat soup till boiling and add salt to taste. Add more hot taco sauce if desired. Simmer for one more minute.

Remove pot from stove and add the low-fat yogurt.

Serve immediately. Have chopped onions available in a separate bowl for garnishing.

Makes 2 main course or 4 side dish servings.

Note: I use a lot of hot taco sauce, but start off with 2 tablespoons, and taste before you add more. Sauce can always be added later, but once you’ve put in too much, it can’t be taken out.

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Make Your Own Sea Glass Candy

Description: For more fun, vary the food coloring and flavoring when you Make Your Own Sea Glass Candy. Try red coloring and cherry flavor, orange coloring and orange flavor, yellow coloring and lemon flavor, etc.

Craft Link : Make Your Own Sea Glass Candy

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Onion-Yogurt Sauce

A few months ago I posted a recipe for Super Garlicky Yogurt Sauce. Since then, I’ve used the sauce almost every day… on potatoes, noodles and veggies.

But any food, even a yummy one, gets boring if it’s eaten too often. Because of that, I’ve done a little experimenting, and I’ve come up with a delicious and simple variation. I call it Onion-Yogurt Sauce.

So far, I’ve only used the Onion-Yogurt Sauce as a topping for burritos, both plain and mixed with salsa. Both ways were great.

Next, I’m looking forward to trying a dollop as a garnish for my bean soup. I’m guessing the result will be wonderful.

Annette’s Onion-Yogurt Sauce

Ingredients

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1/2 -1 teaspoon olive oil (optional)

3-4 tablespoons onion, finely chopped

1 green onion, finely chopped

salt, to taste

Directions

Combine all ingredients. Serve immediately or allow time for flavors to meld.

Deliciously Vegan Italian Meat Sauce

I make this Delicious Vegan Italian Meat Sauce all the time. I use it on rolls, noodles, and rice. It’s very inexpensive and very tasty!

Ingredients

1 large soy burger

1 1/2 tablespoon fine Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1 1/2 tablespoons mixed Italian herbs and spices

3 oz. pureed tomatoes

6 oz. water

1/3 green pepper, finely chopped

1/3 onion, finely chopped

1 teaspoon olive oil

salt and pepper, to taste

2-3 rolls

Directions

1. Microwave burger for 1 minute. Allow to cool for a few minutes, and using your fingers, break burger into tiny pieces the size of ground meat.

2. Pour 1 teaspoon of olive oil onto a non-stick pan and turn flame to medium. Cook the onion till it begin to brown. Add the green pepper and soy burger. Saute till slightly seared. Lower heat.

4. Stir in the bread crumbs, Italian herbs and spices, tomatoes and water.

5. Cook a 3-5 minutes on medium high or till sauce thickens.

6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

7. Serve on rolls.

Note: You can substitute 3/4 tablespoon dried basil, 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for the Italian seasonings.

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Spicy Cheesy Fries, Three Ways

A couple of weeks ago, I found a recipe for Salsa Cheesy Fries over at Lazy Chef Recipes. Since then, I’ve cooked that dish several times, after making a couple of changes to both ingredients and instructions. I also came up with a few new toppings. The main recipe plus the two variations below are the end result.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds matchstick fries

1 cup medium strength salsa

1 cup shredded cheese

salt, to taste

non-stick spray or oil

Directions

Do not preheat oven. Using non-stick spray or oil, prepare a baking pan.

Place the matchstick fries into the baking pan. Sprinkle with salt.

Top with salsa and then cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes, stir fries well to distribute salsa and cheese, and then bake for another 10-15 minutes.

Add additional salt if needed.

Note: When writing this recipe, I included the quantity of cheese and salsa that I enjoy. After making this dish the first time, feel free to experiment till you find the fry-cheese-salsa proportions that suit your own taste.

Variation 1: Substitute 2/3 of a cup of medium taco sauce for the salsa. If using hot taco sauce, add only 1/2 cup.

Variation 2: Substitute spicy tomato sauce/pasta sauce for the salsa.

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Make Your Own Rock Candy

Description: I’ve been obsessed with making my own Rock Candy since I was a small child. Our class went on a field trip to a large indoor farmer’s market (Lexington Market) and rock candy was one of the few things we were allowed to purchase. The whole experience, including tastes, smells, and sights is still vivid in my mind.

Craft Link : Make Your Own Rock Candy (Mom’s Crafty Space)

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Homemade Lemon-Lime Soda

Description: I found this great idea for a Homemade Lemon-Lime Soda over at I Am Mommy. I sometimes make my own, simpler version of homemade soda by combining seltzer water and grape juice.

Craft Link : Homemade Lemon Lime Soda

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