Sweet Pepper & Garbanzo Bean Soup, Vegan

A healthy, naturally low fat, garbanzo bean (a.k.a. chickpeas) soup with sweet peppers, tomatoes and caramelized onions cooked in the crock pot.

Sweet Pepper & Garbanzo Bean Soup, Vegan

Ingredients:

16 oz garbanzo beans (a.k.a. chickpeas) canned or soaked overnight
28 oz tomatoes, diced
16 oz mini sweet peppers (red, yellow and orange), cut into julienne strips
2 medium sized sweet onions, diced
6 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp bay leaves, chopped
olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
28 oz water
cilantro, chopped to garnish


Directions:

1. In two medium skillets, saute peppers and onions in olive oil and garlic until soft and onions are caramelized.  About 15 minutes over medium to medium high heat. 
2. Combine garbanzo beans, tomatoes, water, and bay leaves into crock pot.
3. Add pepper and onions to crock pot.  Salt & pepper to taste.
4. Set crock pot on low setting and cook for about 8 hours.
5. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro.



Sweet Pepper & Garbanzo Bean Soup, Vegan


 

I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe!

xoxo,
Shells

The Farmers' Market, Locally Grown Goodness

photo by Avlxyz

I really enjoy going to the farmers' market.  Sometimes I linger around a little longer than necessary with my son.  We walk around and I point to and name all the fresh fruits and vegetables.  

We are fortunate to have several farmers' markets within a few miles from our home.  The Local Harvest website is a good resource for locating farmers' markets in your area.  Just put in your zip code and they provide a list of markets near your location.

photo by Natalie Maynor

We always come home with a bit more than what was on the shopping list. But at these prices it's well worth it. Sometimes I feel like I've robbed the place when I leave.  For what I pay for one tomato at the grocery store, I can usually get three or four for the same price at the farmers' market.

The chart below is a good resource for planning your shopping trips to know when is the best time of year to buy which fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

Source: beta.primal-palate.com via Shelli on Pinterest

Do you visit farmers' markets on a regular basis?

xoxo,
Shells

Healthy Snacks for Toddlers

My babe loving his hummus on whole grain crackers

I'm always looking for the best ways to nourish my young son.  He is tall and lean and prefers to eat several times each day.  Right now he only wants to eat with his hands.  He resists being fed with a spoon and doesn't have the dexterity just yet to use utensils on his own.

At mealtimes now he usually eats what the rest of the family is having.  Two to three times per day he enjoys a healthy snack.  He drinks whole milk or water with each meal and snack.


Some of our favorite finger foods for healthy snacking include:

• cheese wedges
• goat cheese on whole grain toast triangles
• hummus on whole grain crackers
• apples:  peeled and chopped
• blueberries
• sliced strawberries
• mandarin orange sections
• pineapple wedges
• peach slices
• banana slices
• mango slices
• pan seared or baked sweet potato fries
• mini blueberry muffins
• oatmeal peanut butter balls rolled in coconut or crushed graham crackers {recipe here}
• tri color rotini with a light sauce

For on the go snacking I buy Earth's Best Organic products such as their Fruit Yogurt Smoothies, Chedder Crunchin' Crackers, and Veggie Crisp Pop Snax.




What are your favorite snacks for toddlers?

xoxo,
Shells