Cilantro Lime White Bean Hummus Soup

Ummm what a seriously LONG name for a super easy soup!

For those of you that know me well you are probably wondering why I even thought of making this soup...For those who don't know me... you need to understand that I have a very weird aversion to beans (and turtlenecks too...but that's a WHOLE other story for another day). Anyways....While I don't like whole beans, I'm okay with ones that are no longer in their bean form. I know weird, but just go with it. It's just one of my many quirks that you are going to have to accept.

This soup also has cilantro in it-one of my most favorite herbs so I knew it would be De-lish and it totally was!

Big "THANK YOU" to Keep It Simple Foods for their simple, yet yummy recipe.

Here is what you need:

• 3T EVOO
• 1/3 cup onions (I only had shallots so I tossed those in instead)
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 15oz cans of Cannellini Beans
• 2 whole limes, zest and juice
• 2 cups vegetable stock (Chicken Stock would be fine too)
• 1 bunch Cilantro, roughly chopped

Directions

In a large stock pot, on medium high heat, combine the oil, onion, and garlic. When onions and garlic cook down a bit, add the beans and lime zest. Cook for another minute or two. Next add the veggie stock. Then add in the cilantro and lime juice.

Cover with a lid and bring to a slight boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Use an immersion blender (or blend in batches in your "regular" blender) until creamy and smooth (those with bean phobia are free to pick out any beans that somehow did not get blended. You KNOW I didn't skip that step!). Season to taste and garnish with lime wedge and cilantro.

Enjoy!

I LOVED this soup! I love that it is creamy without one drop of cream or milk in it. I served ours with toasted pita bread which my 3-year-old loved. They were great for dipping. Perfect soup for a cold rainy day or any other day you're in a soupy mood! 

*You could also blend the beans, cilantro, garlic, lime zest, and lime juice in a food processor until smooth and then add about 1/3 a cup of EVOO while the processor is running until well blended to make a great white bean hummus dip. 

Two great recipes for the price of one!

Purplelicious

Remember THIS fab-u-lous Goodwill find awhile back?

I finally was able to transform it into the statement piece I was looking for.

You like?

I LOVE!

It's just enough color to make it pop, but not too much where you walk into the room and say "WOW, that screen is PUR-PLE!"

Might as well add "spray painting things" to my list of new obsessions! Hmmm....I wonder what I can get at Goodwill this weekend that I can paint...

Happy treasure hunting!

Valencia...the final chapter

So as you know last month I tagged along with the hubby on a business trip to Spain and proceeded to eat my way through Valencia.

For those unfamiliar with Spain, Valencia is on the eastern coast. About 4 miles by bus from Madrid.

Here:

We were there for six days and for the most part we had wonderful weather. Valencia is a walking town and luckily our hotel was about 1/2 mile from the center of the city. We spent our days running in the gorgeous nearby park and our nights eating delicious food and taking in the city. These are the pictures that didn't really fit into their own category. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the final set from our trip

The Park-Jardin del Turia

That tiny person on the left is Nate in front of Palau De Les Arts

L'Hemisferic

Museu De Les Ciencies

My kids would love that park!

This is one of my favorite pictures from the park. Do you remember the Gazelle? They have one in the park....and people are using it! There is also a stationary bike and an elliptical machine. 

During the first part of our trip we stayed at the Westin. They had a beautiful courtyard were we sat and had drinks before leaving for dinner each night.

These two pictures just make me laugh. Check out the Photo Bomber. The second picture was literally taken seconds after the first. Look how quick he jumped into the shot!

When I first saw this sign I thought it meant "Emergency Exit" but apparently it just means exit.

This is the gas station. Isn't it cute?

Our hotel was a few blocks from the fútbol stadium and one night there was a match. These are a few pictures of the parking situation that night. There were cars EVERYWHERE...


On the sidewalk...

In between two traffic lights in the middle of the busy street...

Double and triple parked wherever they can fit...

By the time we made it to the beach the weather was no longer cooperating. I INSISTED on taking at least one picture at the beach. My hubby was "happy" to oblige...or something like that...

So that's the end of all my Valencia pictures! It really was such an amazing trip! Thanks for taking the time to let me share it with you! 

The Circle Skirt..Or...The Easiest Thing I Ever Made

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE projects that can be started and completed during one nap-time. The Circle Skirt from MADE is about four times better because you can make about 4 in one napping session!!! She even has a tutorial on how to dye your elastic {HERE} to match which is totally going on my to-do list.

To make it an even quicker project I left my serged hem exposed. I think it looks perfect with the bandana-like fabric.

And the true test of a good skirt?

It's twirlability!

It totally passed!

After mastering the Circle Skirt you should check out her tutorial for the Simple Skirt. I think it's a great skirt for beginners. It will help you practice a few beginner skills like making a casing, hemming and finishing your ends without a serger. It isn't as quick as the Circle skirt but it can be made while the kids are sleeping. I made the double layer version and it came our super cute!

Two super easy skirts just in time for spring! Happy sewing!

Asian Lettuce Wraps

Do you ever get in a cooking rut? Where you cook the same 7 meals week after week after week after week? We've been in a cooking rut the past month and it was time to get out of it!!! I searched my AllRecipes recipe box and found this long lost Murray family favorite!


I forgot how delicious they are and made a HUGE mistake...I only made one batch! Next time I wil double the recipes so that we have some for left overs the next day.

Ingredients (Please don't let them scare you away. I know that most of them are not pantry staples but go ahead and get them. Once you make this dish you want to add it to your weekly meal schedule)

• 16 Boston Bibb or butter lettuce leaves
• 1 pound lean ground beef (ground pork, chicken or turkey would work well too)
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
• 2 teaspoons minced pickled ginger
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• Asian chile pepper sauce (optional-I leave this out when I am making it for our girls)
• 1 8oz can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 2 teaspoons Asian (dark) sesame oil

Rinse whole lettuce leaves and pat dry, being careful not to tear them. Set aside.

In a medium skillet over high heat, brown the ground beef in 1 tablespoon of oil, stirring often and reducing the heat to medium if necessary. Drain and set aside to cool. Cook the onion in the same pan, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, vinegar and chile pepper sauce to the onions and stir. Stir in chopped water chestnuts, green onions, sesame oil and cooked beef. Continue cooking until the onions just begin to wilt, about 2 minutes.

Arrange lettuce leaves around the outer edge of a large serving platter, and pile meat mixture in the center. To serve, allow each person to spoon a portion of the meat into a lettuce wrap. Wrap the lettuce around the meat like a burrito. 

ENJOY!

The Sincerest Form of Flattery

Awhile back I came across this cute bathroom sign at Three Men and A Lady and loved everything about it...the brightly colored frame...the subtle reminder of keeping your germs to yourself...and knew I had to have one for myself. I added it to my long list of crafty to-dos and went on my merry way.

Last week it moved to the top of my list when she offered to email a copy of the sign to anyone interested. Ummm....YES PLEASE!

Remember my trip to Goodwill yesterday?

I found the perfect medal frame (only $2.99) and printed the sign from my computer.

A few coats of Valspar spray paint in Mediterranean (my new favorite color) and I have my new bathroom sign and I LOVE IT!

(If you want one too you can go {HERE} or you can email me at hangingonbyathread@live.com and I'd be happy to send you a copy of the file)

Sunday Funday

It was a great day for riding bikes in the park by our house. The girls had so much fun!

When we were done at the park it was time for Mommy to have some fun. We headed over to our favorite place to find hidden treasures...Goodwill!

Here is what we found.

We made one more stop at Lowes for the necessary supplies.

I can't wait to show you the transformations later this week!

Enjoy your Sunday!