Hunkering Down on a Cold Winter Day

I don't know about you but when the winter hits I get a craving for soup. There is nothing like a warm bowl of soup on a cold winter day to "warm the cockles of your soul" as my mother says. Soup is not only good for your soul but also for the rest of your body. Although you can certainly make soup with a chicken or beef stock, I recommend taking the opportunity to make any number of vegetarian options. If you add beans to your soup you'll add alot of protein and vitamins without having to add meat of any kind. Some examples of recipes that are readily available on the web and in many cookbooks are: lentil soup, white bean and escarole(my wife makes an amazing one!), chickpea soup and black bean soup. Here's a simple sketch for lentil soup:

Sautee a chopped onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil for about 4-5 minutes. Add about 1/2 tsp of ground cumin and maybe 1/2 tsp of ground ginger. Next add about 4 cups of water or vegetable stock and a cup of red lentils. Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 45 minutes until the beans are cooked. Season with salt and pepper and maybe add a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Enjoy!