Oh man! Do I have a delicious recipe for you!! This black bean soup is a favorite in my house. It's soooo tasty, especially when you make your own black beans (recipe here).
We like to serve this over cooked rice. Try adding chopped cilantro to add that nice cool and refreshing taste. Though sour cream and cheese may make great additions, we prefer it just as it is!
Enjoy!!
Bacon & Black Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups black beans (I use this recipe to make them from dried beans)
- 6 slices of bacon or more (I usually use a whole package...cuz it's bacon!)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 TBS minced garlic
- 32 oz chicken broth (or 2 cans)
- 2 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Served with:
Rice
Chopped Cilantro
Instructions
- Cook bacon in stockpot (I usually do some in the pot and some in the oven to speed up the process).
- When bacon is mostly done, add onions and cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add in beans and remaining ingredients (except rice and cilantro).
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 min to help blend the flavors.
- Serve over cooked rice. Add cilantro and desired toppings.
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These black beans so so delicious!! Once you make them, you'll never want canned black beans again! They are perfect for tacos or soup. Sooooo good!
You can find my bacon black bean soup recipe here. Yum!
Instant Pot Black Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb dry black beans (sorted and rinsed)
- 3 cups water
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp worcestershire sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in instant pot.
- Place lid on and turn steam release valve to sealing.
- Set pot to manual (high pressure) for 22 minutes. It may take about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
- Allow steam to release naturally for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, carefully open steam valve to release any remaining steam.
- Once steam is fully released, carefully open lead.
- Serve beans as desired.
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In today's society, it seems almost impossible to always be happy...truly happy. There is so much negativity around us, often even within our own homes, that happiness seems to be fleeting and hard to find. I want to take a moment to encourage you to find your path to happiness. But first, let's define happiness according to Merriam Webster Dictionary:
Now, let's take a look at some terrific reasons to be happy:
- Happy people attract happy people. Have you ever noticed that just one bad mood can ruin it for everyone else in the room? The same applies to happiness. One person with a cheerful attitude can help all those around to feel happier. Go ahead, try it and you'll see!
- It can improve your health. There are several studies done on this, and though it is hard to prove, the results clearly show that happiness can improve your overall health. I don't know about you, but I'll take it!
- Lower stress levels. Positive emotions can help to broaden your perspective and encourages new ideas. This can help you keep the stress at bay when you are confronted with, well, anything! Business, home, life...
- More productivity. Those who are happy tend to have better focus and motivation, therefore making them more productive in their tasks, which also means they are more likely to reach their goals.
- Happier people tend to take care of their bodies better, which could also be why they are happier! Nutrition, exercise, mental health...it all works together. If you have a healthy diet and exercise regularly, it helps to produce endorphins, which aid in happiness. Did you know that this is one reason we often crave chocolate? Yep, eating chocolate can help produce those feel-good endorphins. More chocolate please!!
- Better relationships. This takes us back to #1, people enjoy being around happy people. Therefore, it stands to reason that you will have better, healthier relationships with others. We need each other. Being with others is part of what makes us tick (even if you're an introvert like me). So, here's to better relationships and spreading happiness all around
There are many different studies done on this topic and though it isn't fully understood, it's fairly evident that happiness can improve your overall quality of life!
Want some more tips on learning to choose happiness? Check out this link for info on a 21 day happiness challenge.
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
I love having a bowl of granola cereal in the evenings. However, last time I went to the store the price was too high for my liking. So I decided to make my own! It's super simple and has a great flavor! I had a bowl last night and it passed the test. Super yummy!
Next time I may try upping the oven temp to see if I can get it a tad more crunchy. But that's just a personal preference. This recipe browned nicely and has a great flavor.
You can add dried or fresh fruit to it after you have baked it to add even more flavor.
Homemade Cinnamon Honey Granola
Ingredients
9 cups oats *see notes
1 cup organic honey (local is best)
1 cup organic coconut oil
1 t himalayan salt
1 t ground cinnamon
1/2 cup pecans, broken (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350*.
- In a large bowl, combine oats, salt, cinnamon, & pecans.
- In a small saucepan, mix together honey and coconut oil. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring to help break up clumps.
- Pour over dry ingredients and mix well.
- Spread onto 2 large baking sheets, lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in oven 15 minutes for soft granola
- For a more cereal-like granola, stir granola and place back in over for another 10 min.
- Cool and store in air-tight container.
Notes:
*I did a mix of old fashioned oats and quick oats, about half and half, to add more texture and variety.
*If you want them a bit crunchier, try using a higher oven temp and check after 15 min
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
I have struggled for years with being organized. I have tried several different methods, including KonMari, but never was able to really make it stick. Over the past few years I have been on a mission to declutter and have a welcoming home. Since we homeschool, we really do LIVE in our house. The books, blankets, dishes...every thing we use throughout the day tends to stay put where they were last used. I really struggled to find the perfect solution.
Until now! I was browsing the book store one day and came across a book on decluttering and becoming organized. The title really caught my attention, "The Clutter Connection: How your personality type determines why you organize the way you do" by Cassandra Aarssen. Wait a minute! You mean to tell me that organizing has to do with personality? It's not a one-size fits all and if you don't fit that one size, you fail? Now you've got my attention!
I couldn't wait to get started with this book. I kept thinking, wouldn't this make a perfect addition to my coaching program where I help moms find balance among the chaos of daily life? I thought it was a long shot, but the moment I got home I just had to look. Sure enough, the author has a certification course! So I jumped on it. And I'm proud to say that I am now a certified organizational specialist. Hooray!
Finally, a process that makes sense AND allows me to help other moms declutter and finally be organized. Just what is it that clicked? It's actually fairly simple: If you find that something constantly is being used in a certain place, give it a home in that area. That's it. Organize to fit YOUR needs. If your kids do homework at the kitchen table, give their backpacks and school supplies a home near the kitchen table. I know, it seems like such a simple method, but it absolutely blew my mind to realize that this actually IS being organized!
The book and course also go through different organization personalities/types. Basically proving that it's not a one-size fits all. And there IS a way to organize according to your style that can still give you a warm and inviting home for others to visit.
Now that I've said all of that, I'm super excited to announce that I am now ready to help YOU get organized in a way that suits your needs. What's even better? You do NOT have to be local! I can do it via email/text and/or zoom calls. How neat is that?!
So now I leave you with this question: Are you ready to finally be free of the clutter and have an organized home that suits your needs? Good! I'm ready to help!
You can find more information here! I'm looking forward to working with you and helping you find balance among the chaos!
Join our HomeGrown Homestead community—a place where we learn, grow, and share our homesteading journey together, fostering a bond of shared wisdom and experience. (everyone is welcome!)
Step into Lavender & Coffee: A Sip of Serenity, a haven for moms seeking support and community on their journey to fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers with grace and purpose.(for moms only)
