Lentil Soup to the Rescue!

I can't say enough good things about Lentil Soup.  Honestly.  Lentil Soup really makes the first 10 days of this Program that much more enjoyable!  About a year ago I was on the SP Purification program and had a bad experience with lentils...trust me when I say that I have the ability to really mess up recipes even if they are foolproof.  Anyway, last cleanse (January 2010) a couple patients of ours talked me into making this little bean again.  And all I have to say is it has been my favorite soup ever since!  I am constantly searching for new ways to make this soup and I happen to get my Standard Process newsletter in the mail last week, and what do you know...a Lentil Soup Recipe!  So I thought I would share it with you so you can try it too! 

Vegetarian Lentil Soup with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Cumin

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds (not ground)
• 1 large onion, chopped small
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 1/2 cups brown lentils
• 4 cans vegetable broth or water
• 1 can diced tomatoes with juice (14.5 oz.)
• 2 cups chopped spinach (tightly packed)
• Sea salt to taste

Directions:

Put olive oil and cumin seeds in large heavy dutch oven and cook over medium heat until fragrant and starting to pop, about 3 minutes.  Make sure to stir a few times so they don't burn.  Stir in onion, minced garlic, ground coriander, and black pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are softened, about 4 minutes.  Stir in the paprika and cook about 1 minute more. 

Add lentils and veggie broth/water, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered about 30-40 minutes, or until lentils are quite tender.  Add diced tomatoes and juice and chopped spinach and simmer uncovered 20-30 more minutes, until soup ingredients are well blended and lentils are starting to break apart.  Season to taste with sea salt and serve hot.

I really hope you enjoy this soup as much as I do!  And please if you come across any recipes that you feel would be a great addition PLEASE SHARE! 

Happy Day and Happy May!

Happy May Everyone!  How wonderful to kick off May with another Standard Process Purification Program!  Welcome to all the new fellow cleansers and hello to all my repeats!  I am happy to share this experience with you all again!  Unfortunately I will  not be blogging each of the 21 days this time, but I highly recommend going back through my old posts and follow along day by day.  Look under the January tab... each day is listed.  What I am going to do more of this time around it answer any questions you may have as well as post some more recipes.  I find the hardest thing about this process is to eat a variety.  What I tend to do is find food that I am comfortable cooking and make it over and over and over again (And I know I am not alone!)  The other problem I ran into last time was the variety at my grocery store.  They always seemed to be out of the veggies I have been meaning to try...like beets.  This time I plan on searching more local farmers markets for different veggies to see what I can come up with. 

I really encourage you all to dive into this experience 100%.  Please no cheating.  Trust me it will be worth it!  And another suggestion....EAT!  This program is NOT intended to starve you! SO EAT!  Follow your guide book and start choosing fruits and veggies you wouldn't typically make.  You never know if you'll like something until you try it!  I can honestly say though that I have tried mushrooms...and I don't like them! 

WELCOME TO DAY 1!