Healthy Detox Soup

 Noah, was helping Grandma in the kitchen today.  

He's picking out something good from the pantry:)

It has been about 2 weeks since I've seen him and Kaia and 

I was having major Grandma withdrawals!

Apparently Noah was too...
"Let's get cooking, Grandma, what's the hold up!"

 

We then went to their house in the afternoon 
to build the trampoline--late Christmas present! :)

Noah is organizing the poles...
 
 

He's getting the hardware ready...  

 


Impromptu  building inspection!

"Looks pretty good under here! "



"This is gonna be fun!"
 

Kaia taking a roly poly break :)  

 

Amy's such a sweet Mama :)



Cute even though it's blurry!

 

There's no picture of the finished trampoline...
technical difficulties and widely scattered darkness--especially :)

 Make this delicious soup this week and enjoy--
it's healthy and just maybe it will get you jumping!  
 (Just a little trampoline humor:)
 
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Healthy Detox Soup

1 ¼ lbs. lean ground beef, turkey or chopped chicken-- 

cook and drain; set aside.

 If you are vegetarian, this soup is great without the meat!

1 large onion, peeled and chopped

1 large red, orange and/or green pepper, seeded and chopped

1 large zucchini, chopped

8 oz. mushrooms, chopped

2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

1 bottle (46 oz.) vegetable cocktail juice

1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14 oz.) crushed tomatoes

1 Tbs. fresh lime juice

1 Tbs. ground cumin

1 Tbs. Morton's Nature Seasoning

1/4 cup each fresh cilantro and parsley leaves, chopped

If you're adding the meat:  In saucepan over medium-high heat, cook oil 30 sec. or until heated. Add beef, turkey or chicken. 

Cook 5 min. or until cooked through, stirring occasionally. 

Remove from skillet and drain.  

In same saucepan, cook onions, peppers, zucchini, 

mushrooms and garlic 5 min. or until vegetables 

are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.

Stir in drained and rinsed black beans, 

tomatoes, lime juice and spices.     

Stir in cilantro and parsley.

Add the meat back in at this point and the V8 juice.   

Cover; bring soup just to a simmer (do not let boil).  

Reduce heat to medium-low. 

Let simmer 20 min., stirring occasionally. 

Cover; let simmer 5 min. more. 

Soup can be stored up to 5 days in the refrigerator or frozen.

I cooked all mine as above and placed in the crock pot all day to be warm and delicious when we got home from work.  

Serving size: 2 to 3 cups (makes 10 to 12 cups)

The Cast of Ingredients...

Saute' the onions... 

Mushrooms...

The beautiful chopped peppers...

Zucchini...

And garlic 5 minutes until all are crisp tender...

Next, add the drained and rinsed black beans...

 And the tomatoes...

The fresh lime juice...

The cumin...

The Nature's seasoning (or salt and pepper to taste)...

Chop the beautiful cilantro and green onions...

Throw them in next...

  If you're making it in a pot, add the cooked meat next...

I am letting mine simmer all day in my crockpot, 

so I'm adding my ground beef in first...

And then added veggies and my V8...

 

This is gorgeous!

 This lovely, healthy meal was waiting 

when we got home from work! 

We also took the left overs for lunch all week 
and the flavor just got better and better!