Black Bean and Pumpkin Soup

  Christmas decorating is complete!  Tree went up last night and the kids and I decorated it today.  Always a process.  I think I lose on average, 2 strands per year.  Plug them in – nada.  SO annoying.  Good thing I’m super smart and snag up lights on clearance after Christmas!

It was Avery’s first year being on the decorating team.  She could have done better.   

There was a lot of taking things DOWN instead of putting things UP.  I think it will be a few more years before I have a tree that isn’t naked from the middle down. 

Ummmm, not quite what you are supposed to do, Avos.

Yes, I am aware that the tree is leaning.  And it is STILL leaning as I type this.  We’ve tried.  OH believe me, we’ve TRIED.  Darn thing just likes to lean.  

Dylan is in a contest with himself to see just how funny he can look in pictures.

After each picture, he has to run over and see how he looks.  Now he actually says, “Zoom in on me!  I can’t see my face that good.”  We’ll work on his grammar later.  He can keep the vanity.  He gets that from me.  

Time for the star!

Eric has been trying to provide me with an optical illusion to make me think that the tree is in fact NOT leaning.  I’m not buying it.  Just because the star is straight, doesn’t mean the tree is.  Humph.  

This evening’s meal was thrown together haphazardly (love that word).  I haven’t gone to the store yet this week, so I had to kinda throw things together and call it good.  This time it was REAL good.  I give you…Black Bean and Pumpkin Soup!  

So here is what I did:

3-4 garlic cloves, minced
(would have done an onion, but we were out – I know – GASP!)

 

Sautéed the garlic in a bit of olive oil.

Then I added the following:

1 15 ounce can black beans (rinsed)

1 15 ounce can refried black beans with chilies (probably would have just done a can of regular black beans, but again – we were out, so refried had to do)

1 15 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 15 ounce can pureed pumpkin
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup chipotle salsa (I used Trader Joe’s brand)
And lots of CUMIN. 
Simmered it all for a half hour or so.  SO good. OH baby.  Can’t wait for lunch tomorrow!  YUM.  I pureed it a bit in the end so it was more appealing to children and adults with special eating needs (Eric).  But you could leave it chunky if you want.   Ok, time for Chuck!