"Soup-er" Six: Six Ingredients + Six Steps = Black Bean and Chicken Soup

Last weekend, my husband and I were at the grocery store together. I snagged a box of Dole Garden Soup--the black bean and corn variety--to try for lunch one day, and mentioned to my husband that I wanted to get some canned black beans and corn to add to it (I like to have something to chew in my soup).

My husband's eyes lit up.

"Oh, yeah!" he said. "Good idea--and we can get some chicken and marinate it in some kind of southwestern sauce and grill it up and slice it up and put it in the soup, too. And then we can get some of those colorful tortilla ribbon things and sprinkle them over top and it will be SO GOOD."

"Umm...I was just gonna eat this for lunch one day next week, but if we're gonna do all that, I guess we can make it into dinner..."

So that is just what we did. It was an excellent collaborative effort culminating in a really flavorful soup. Here is how you can make it, too.

What You'll Need

1 to 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
half a bottle of Lawry's Santa Fe Chili Marinade
one box of Dole Garden Soup: Southwestern Black Bean and Corn
one can of black beans, drained
one can of corn, drained
tortilla ribbons or crumbled tortilla chips

Pictured above are four of the just six ingredients needed to make this fast, tasty soup. The two ingredients not shown here are the chicken and the crumbled tortilla chips.

 What You'll Do

1. Place chicken in dish and cover with marinade. Cover dish and place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
2. Grill chicken.
3. Pour soup into microwave-safe bowl. Add black beans and corn. Stir.
4. Microwave soup with added beans and corn for five to seven minutes.
5. After chicken is grilled, slice into small, bite-sized pieces and add to soup. Stir.
6. Ladle into individual bowls and top with crumbled tortilla chips or tortilla ribbons.

This tasty bowl of black bean and chicken soup has yet to be topped with crumbled tortilla chips, which add some salty flavor and a delightful crunch.

Healthier Holiday Baking: Cranberry Orange Muffins

According to the December 2014 Taste of Home, the typical muffin boasts 274 calories, 12 grams of fat, and 7 grams of saturated fat. These Cranberry Orange Muffins, which can be found on page 34 of the December issue, offer only 153 calories, 5 grams of fat, and 1 gram of saturated fat. In addition, they are 100% whole wheat, and contain 3 grams of fiber, where the typical muffin contains only 1 gram. So, enjoy the festive flavors of citrus and berries without the extra calories! Find the (easy and quick!) recipe below.

What You'll Need
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, halved

What You'll Do
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, whisk egg, orange juice, and oil until blended. Add to flour mixture and stir until moistened.
4. Stir in cranberries.
5. Spray muffin cups with cooking spray or line with paper liners. Fill three-fourths full with batter.
6. Bake 15-20 minutes.
7. Cool 5 minutes and then transfer to wire cooling rack.

What You'll Get
one dozen muffins (I made two batches)

This recipe for Cranberry Orange Muffins from the December Taste of Home is festive, tasty, and nutritious. These muffins have fewer calories, fewer grams of fat, and less saturated fat than typical muffins. Plus, they're 100% whole wheat! I used colored sugar, green food coloring, and the remainder of my halved cranberries to make mine look a bit more festive.

Choco-Cranberry Macaroons

Every year at Christmastime, my husband and I host what we have come to know as The Great Annual Cookie Exchange (our guests just call it "the cookie party"). For this festive occasion, everyone is asked to bring at least one dozen of their favorite, homemade holiday treats per person in their party. Then, at the end of the evening, everyone is given a big freezer bag to fill with as many goodies as they didn't have room to try during the party.

Every year for the "cookie party," I make two of my favorite family recipes, The Wreath Cookie and Chocolate-Dipped Macaroons. Last week, though, my grandma sent me a new recipe--one that, at least this year, will take the place of the Chocolate-Dipped Macaroons. I call it, "Choco-Cranberry Macaroons," and this is how you make it:

What You'll Need
1 cup finely chopped cranberries (I mashed them with a potato masher instead...)
2/3 cup flour
1-14 oz. bag of shredded, sweetened coconut
1/4 tspn. salt
1 tspn. vanilla
1-14 oz. can fat free sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional--unless you're me, in which case they're mandatory)

One cup of fresh cranberries gives these macaroons a hint of festive color and a twinge of tang.

What You'll Do
1. Toss cranberries with flour. Stir until well coated.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
3. Place by teaspoonfuls onto parchment paper-covered (or very heavily cooking spray-sprayed) cookie sheets. Bake for 20 minutes at 325 degrees.

The mixture before it begins to take shape as macaroons

What You'll Get
Approximately 35 chewy, delicious macaroons

Choco-cranberry macaroons cooling

Finished macaroons, ready for the cookie party

Richmond's Latest Honors: Runner Friendly Community and Frommer's Top Destinations

This year has been a good one for Richmond. Two of the honors it received of which I am particularly proud are its designation as a Road Runners Club of America 2014-2019 Runner Friendly Community and its appearance on Frommer's list of Top Destinations for 2014.

Runner Friendly Communities

Every five years, the Road Runners Club of America designates new Runner Friendly Communities. This year, Richmond was among just five cities added to the list. The other four cities honored were Belleville, Illinois; Rockwall, Texas; Safety Harbor, Florida; and Spokane, Washington.

One reason RRCA added Richmond to its elite list is the Virginia Capital Trail. Set to be complete on September 1, 2015, the trail will link Richmond and Williamsburg with a multi-use path, catering to runners, walkers, and cyclists.

Richmond, Virginia, was named to the Road Runner Club of America's Runner Friendly Community List for 2014-2019. Here, the skyline is viewed from the suspension footbridge to Belle Isle. September 2014.

RRCA also gives credit to the many runner-friendly businesses in the area, a strong Sports Backers organization, a strong YMCA presence, various organized running clubs, and the myriad running events Richmond hosts every year, such as the Anthem Richmond Marathon and its associated races each November, and the Monument Avenue 10k each spring.

(I have to add here that Kalamazoo, Michigan, where my mother grew up and where I have often visited throughout my life, is included on the 2013-2018 Runner Friendly Communities list.)

Frommer's Top Destinations in 2014 

This year, Frommer's named fourteen places around the world as Top Destinations for 2014. Only three of these destinations are in the United States, and Richmond, Virginia, is one of them. The other two U.S. destinations included are Big Island, Hawaii, and Palm Springs, California.  A few of the international destinations include Berlin, Germany; Liverpool, England; and Rio de Janeiro. Having visited Berlin, I have to say I am pretty thrilled to see Richmond listed as a city on par with this colorful, fascinatingly historic, and "multikulti" city.

Class IV and V rapids in downtown Richmond, Virginia, as viewed from the Pipeline Trail on October 2014.

Frommer's included Richmond on its list not only due to its Civil War history, but also because of its close proximity to Petersburg, Williamsburg, and Spotsylvania, also hot spots for Civil War hobbyists. The Civil War is not the only draw to Richmond, though. Frommer's also cites the Jefferson Hotel as a reason to visit, as well as the many new craft breweries that have been bubbling up along the river, the increase in farm-to-table restaurants, and the white-water rafting right through downtown.

A view of the James River from the Nickel Bridge, September 2014.

I think the folks at Frommer's sum it up pretty well when they say, "While you weren't looking, Richmond got cool." 

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Baby, it's cold outside! Warm up with this oh-so-easy chicken taco recipe. My younger sister originally recommended this recipe to me after she found she and her family loved it, so I tried it, and much to my satisfaction, it pleases even my husband's picky palate. Below is my modified version of the recipe, but you can find the original recipe here. 

 

What You'll Need

2 or 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1-2 pounds)
1/2 jar of garlic
1/2 cup of salsa
1/2 small can of chipotles in adobo sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
8-10 soft tortillas

Suggested toppings:
sour cream, salsa, guacamole, avocado, tomatoes, shredded cheese, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), corn, cilantro, field greens, lettuce, green peppers, olives, black beans, pinto beans

What You'll Do

1. Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place chicken breasts in slow cooker and top with garlic, salsa, chipotles, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Cover; cook on low for 8 hours. (You can also cook on high for 4 hours.)

These slow cooker chicken tacos are extremely easy to make. Just place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your greased slow cooker and top with garlic, salsa, chipotles, chili powder, salt, and pepper before covering and cooking.

 

 

4. Transfer cooked chicken onto a large plate or serving dish and shred. Serve on soft tortillas with desired toppings.

Aside from being easy, these tacos allow for a lot of variety, as anyone at your table can top them with anything on your table. In the ingredients list above, I provided several ideas for optional toppings. I prefer to top mine with corn, garbanzo beans, shredded cheese, field greens, green pepper, and cilantro. I also spoon on some sour cream to subdue the spiciness.  My husband prefers nothing more than corn, salsa, cheese, and cilantro.

Slow cooker chicken taco topped with garbanzo beans, corn, cilantro, shredded cheddar, and sour cream

Waste Not, Want Not: Christmas Decorating

Here are some practical, efficient ways to make the most of the Christmas season--and all its trappings!

Christmas Cards Turned Gift Tags...or Garland

I love--and I mean L-O-V-E--getting Christmas cards in the mail. In fact, the end of December through the beginning of January might be the one and only time of the year when I actually enjoy checking the mailbox and seeing what's inside.

But short of stashing them away in a box at the end of the Christmas season, or taking them out with the recycling, what can we do with these festive little greetings?

Here's an idea--clip them up and use them as gift tags for next year's Christmas gifts, as shown in a few examples below.

These Christmas-cards-turned-gift-tags are from http://imeengreen.blogspot.com/2010/11/repurpose-old-christmas-cards.htm. To read more from this blog, click here.

The above examples, which I love due to the creativity of the cut-out hat and stack of gifts, are from http://didterest.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-cards-turned-gift-tags.html. To read more from this blog, click here.

Of course, some Christmas cards may be so meaningful and make you so sentimental that you are reluctant to cut them up. For these special cards, create a fun, festive, and whimsical garland to drape across your mantle or some doorways in your home. Simply fasten a string or some twine where you plan to drape your garland, and as cards come in, add them to your garland by taping them to the string, as shown below.

Above is the beginning of my Christmas card garland for this Christmas season. Eventually (hopefully!), it will string across the top of this threshold and down the opposite side.

Christmas Tree Clippings  

Every year, my husband and I get a real Christmas tree, and every year, my husband has to trim a little off the top and a little off the bottom. A few years ago, I started using these clippings to create fresh, homemade Christmas decorations for some of the fences and gates at our home. It's very simple, and allows for a lot of creativity. All you have to do is tie the clippings together with some string, twine, or fishing line in the shape you desire--you can create wreaths, garland, or other arrangements, and then adorn your creation as you see fit.  I like to use ribbons or bows and shatter-proof ornaments. Below is one of this year's creations.

Use ribbons, bows, shatter-proof ornaments, etc. to transform Christmas tree clippings into festive decorations.

Seven Ways to Wallop the Winter Blues

Perhaps you've heard of--or even experienced--Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, its all-too-appropriate acronym. According to Dr. Norman Rosenthal, SAD affects about 6% of Americans, though another 14% suffer from a less intense variation, known simply as the winter blues (Rosenthal and Targum). If you find yourself tempted to succumb to SAD-ness this winter, here are some ways to fight back.

1. Get Outside

Yes, it might be cold. Yes, it might be windy. Yes, it might even be snowing (fingers crossed!). Despite the wintry weather, "studies show that time spend outdoors boosts mood, even on a cloudy day" (Sanity Savers). Natural light is a natural mood improver, but even when the sun is hidden behind a curtain of clouds, "research proves being outside lifts spirits" (Prestidge). If you absolutely cannot abide the cold, even opening your blinds or curtains to allow in as much natural light as possible can help boost your spirits.

Studies have found that spending time outside can significantly boost your mood--even when the weather is cold and cloudy. I took this picture of the James River from Belle Isle on the sunny Sunday after Thanksgiving, 2014.

2. Get Moving

When asked about treatments for SAD, Dr. Norman Rosenthal recommends an array of things, including a regular exercise program (Rosenthal and Targum). If you're adverse to outdoor activities in the cold, working out at a gym can also help improve your mood. "Exercising produces endorphins while also reducing stress hormones" (Prestidge). So, the next time you're feeling a bit down, lace up your shoes and take a stroll, go for a jog, or jump onto the elliptical.

If you're in the Richmond area, here are some upcoming activities in which you might consider participating this winter. To learn more about any given event, simply click on it to be taken to the event's page.

December 13--The CarMax Tacky Light Run
December 14--Richmond Road Runners Club Toy Run 5k
December 17--Poinsettia Run
December 31--Resolution Run 5k
January 1--First Day 5k
January 27-March 28--YMCA 10k Training Team

3. Get Snackin'

Feeling down? Indulge in a favorite holiday treat--the candy cane. "Peppermint will help lift your spirits" (Sanity Savers). Enjoying a freshly-peeled orange can also help, boosting not only your immune system with its jolt of Vitamin C, but also your mood. "Researchers have found that citrus scents boost joyful feelings" (Sanity Savers). Chocolate is a third feel-good treat. Like exercising, nibbling  a bit of chocolate can release endorphins (the latter, of course, should likely not operate as a substitute for the former...).

4. Get Tuned Up

"Even if you're out of tune, the act of singing has been shown to elevate mood" (Sanity Savers). So, pick your favorite Christmas carol and spread the joy!

5. Get Away

If you're among the fortunate few who have vacation time left this close to the end of the year and money left this close to the end of the Christmas shopping season, plan a get-away. Researchers have found that planning for and looking forward to a vacation "can raise spirits for as long as eight weeks" (Sanity Savers).

Researchers have found that planning for and anticipating a vacation can elevate your spirits for up to eight weeks. The above picture shows a view in Cudjoe Key in the Florida Keys in August, 2014.

6. Get Friendly

Hugging people you love (or anyone at all, apparently, but I recommend sticking to those you know) can release the mood-boosting hormone oxytocin (Sanity Savers). In her article "The Fives: Surviving Winter Blues/Seasonal Affective Disorder," Holly Prestidge explains that surrounding "yourself with a support network" can also be very helpful in maintaining a positive mood.

Spending time with friends and family can have beneficial effects on your mood. Above, I share a festive girls' night with two friends in downtown Richmond at the Grand Illumination of the James Center on December 6, 2014.

7. Get Oriented, Spiritually

Probably the most inspired and lasting way I have come across to combat the winter blues is to remember where you are--what your location is. Not in a physical sense, but as a spiritual child of God. According to Jill Grimes, a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship, instead of locating ourselves in a season, such as the holiday season or winter or summer, we can pray to recognize that our true location is always in divine Love, regardless of what our human location may seem to be. To hear a two-minute recording of this idea in Jill Grimes's own inspired words, click here. 

Sources

Prestidge, Holly. "The Fives: Surviving Winter Blues/Seasonal Affective Disorder." The Richmond Times Dispatch 7 December 2014: G2. Print.

Rosenthal, Norman and Steven D. Targum. "Seasonal Affective Disorder." Psychiatry MMC. May 2008. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. 7 December 2014. Web.

"Sanity Savers, Timeout Tips and Holiday Highlights: December." Discover Health: The Richmond Times Dispatch December 2014: 8. Print.