Hearty Homemade Lentil Soup

By Jodee Weiland

One of my favorite soups to make on a cold winter day is lentil soup. My recipe for lentil soup is both delicious and healthy because I power up the amount of vegetables I use to make it. I have always liked a lentil soup with substance, but most recipes I find use things like carrots and celery as a slight touch of flavoring for their lentil soup. For me, I have always felt a bit more is needed, so I add more to my Hearty Homemade Lentil Soup!

https://learnfromyesterday.comCarrots and celery are wonderful vegetables that are full of great nutrients. They are both low in calories and add great flavor to any dish. In my lentil soup, I add three times or more the amount of carrots used in most recipes. With celery, I add two times or more the usual amount. As you can see, I favor the carrots, but I love the flavor carrots add to many recipes and especially, to soup. I, also, use organic vegetable broth in my lentil soup because I want it to be a true vegetarian soup. I think these things make my lentil soup tastier and heartier as well.

https://learnfromyesterday.comHearty Homemade Lentil Soup

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 large celery stalks chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil or 3 teaspoons of fresh basil chopped
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can organic diced tomatoes with juice
  • 2 cups dried lentils, picked over, rinsed, and drained
  • 8 cups organic vegetable broth plus 1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth (fat-free chicken broth may be used, if preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup fresh spinach chopped
  • OPTIONAL: Sriracha hot chili sauce ( a drizzle per serving)

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Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. When the oil is heated, add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, and basil. Saute this mixture for five to seven minutes. Then add the diced tomatoes, lentils, 8 cups of vegetable broth, and lemon juice. Stir this all together and bring to a boil. When this comes to a boil, lower the heat to simmer at medium-low to medium heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 40 minutes, while stirring once or twice, if needed.

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After 40 minutes, remove the bay leaf and add the 1 (14.5 ounce) can vegetable broth or as much of it as needed, if the soup needs to be thinned out at this point. You will be simmering it again, so you don’t want it too thick at this point. I add the whole can of vegetable broth at this point. Then stir in the chopped spinach. Bring to low boil again, then lower the heat to simmer once again and simmer, while stirring occasionally, for another 15 to 20 minutes or until the soup is at your preferred consistency.

https://learnfromyesterday.comMy Hearty Homemade Lentil Soup is absolutely delicious and so healthy, you will want to make it often for your family. Great for lunch or dinner, serve this hearty soup with a crusty multigrain bread and side salad. I love adding a drizzle of sriracha hot chili sauce to spice it up a bit as well. Also, this soup pairs well with either a Pinot Noir or Chianti. However, you decide to serve this great soup, you will love it, so enjoy!

Good Morning Strawberry Mango Plus Smoothie

By Jodee Weiland

Getting up in the morning and grabbing a healthy smoothie is a great way to start your day! A smoothie, done right, can be a high-fiber breakfast, which can help you lose weight if that’s a personal goal. But even if you are not looking to lose weight, a healthy smoothie has all sorts of health benefits, like reducing the risk of heart disease. My Good Morning Strawberry Mango Plus Smoothie does all of that for you, and it tastes delicious as well!

https://learnfromyesterday.comIn my smoothie, I intentionally wanted to make sure I had at least 200 calories because anything less is not substantial enough to substitute for breakfast. Everyone needs fuel for their bodies to function properly. I wanted to make sure I had minerals and vitamins included, plus some protein and at least five grams of fiber. It was for these last two reasons, I included fruits, a vegetable, and almonds.

https://learnfromyesterday.comGood Morning Strawberry Mango Plus Smoothie 

  • 1 large carrot, peeled and cut up
  • 3/4 cup fresh strawberries
  • 3/4 cup fresh frozen mango, cut up
  • 6 whole almonds
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon organic honey or more to taste, if preferred

https://learnfromyesterday.comBlend all of the above ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. I did not add honey, but for those who prefer a sweeter flavor, add the honey as well. Pour into a glass to serve. This recipe makes one serving.

https://learnfromyesterday.comMy Good Morning Strawberry Mango Plus Smoothie is a great way to start your day! This smoothie is both healthy and delicious, while giving you seven grams of fiber along with five grams of protein, as well as numerous other vitamins and minerals. This smoothie is 202 calories and has 0 trans fat, reducing the risk of heart disease. What a great way to start your day, especially if you want to lose weight. Make yourself a healthy smoothie that fuels your body wisely, and enjoy!

Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce

By Jodee Weiland

If you’ve never made homemade cranberry sauce, when you decide to do so, you will be pleasantly surprised. Making homemade cranberry sauce from fresh cranberries is so easy, you’ll wonder why you never did it before. The flavor is sweet but tart and will make everything you serve with it taste so much better, because of it’s crisp rich flavor. My Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce is so flavorful and delicious, it will make any can sauce pale by comparison!

Cranberry Sauce I used to think making cranberry sauce was a lot more complicated. Once I found out how easy it is to make, I couldn’t wait to try it. But the best part of this learning experience was the burst of rich delicious flavor in Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce! It’s sweet tart flavor just explodes in your mouth as you savor the flavor that only fresh cranberries can give you. As a side to turkey, it really is the best and will not disappoint you or your guests!

https://learnfromyesterday.comFresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce

  • 16 ounces fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup raspberry acai juice from Trop 50 (or any fruit juice)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar

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https://learnfromyesterday.comPut all the above ingredients in a sauce pan and mix together with a spoon. Do not cover the sauce pan. Cook this mixture over a medium high heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until most of the liquid is reduced and the cranberry sauce is the desired consistency. You do not want to burn it, so stir occasionally while it is cooking. As it cooks, it will bubble and the cranberries will burst, letting their rich flavor blend into your cranberry sauce. When done, remove from the heat and let it cool down. Then serve with your meal. The cranberry sauce may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a week.

https://learnfromyesterday.comMy Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce is so flavorful and delicious! When it comes to the holidays, cranberry sauce is always a favorite with turkey and even ham. We love it any time of the year with a wide variety of meals because it adds such fabulous taste to so many meals. It is so easy to make and will be a family favorite. Whenever you decide to have Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce, you will love it, so enjoy!