Recipe | Celebratory Black Bean Soup (Panera Copycat)

On March 9, 2015 our dear friends K. and J. welcomed their second baby girl into the world. To say we are over moon thrilled for them and big sister K. is an understatement. I am missing those squishy newborn days so I can’t wait to head on over today to finally meet baby L. (as I type this I’m wondering if they planned on sequential first initials…hmm? Anyways of course I am bringing over a new baby dish for them and yesterday afternoon I said wait a minute I should share this recipe with you all! 

Running With Tongs - Panera Dupe - Celebrate

So K., J. & little K. are lovers of Panera, specifically the black bean soup so I thought why not attempt a copycat of one of their favorite soups? I have to say it turned out delicious and I am planning to make it again soon for ourselves.

Running With Tongs - Black Bean Soup - Panera Dupe

Celebratory Black Bean Soup (Panera Copycat)
Serves 6
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Ingredients
  1. 2 Teaspoons Grapeseed Oil (or oil of your choice)
  2. 3-15oz Tins of Reduced Sodium Black Beans, drained
  3. 1 Medium Red Onion, diced
  4. 2 Large Carrots, diced
  5. 2 Celery Stalks, diced
  6. 1 Bell Pepper (Red, Yellow or Orange), diced
  7. 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
  8. 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
  9. 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
  10. 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
  11. 2 Heaping Tablespoons Tomato Paste
  12. 1 Vegan Chikn Boullion Cube
  13. 2-3 Cups Water, depending on how thick/thin you'd like your soup
  14. 1 Teaspoon Umiboshi Plum Vinegar
Instructions
  1. Heat oil a heavy bottom pot over medium-high heat.
  2. Add onion, carrots, celery and bell pepper, sauté for 7-10 minutes until soft.
  3. Stir in the garlic and spices.
  4. Stir in the black beans (drained not rinsed), tomato paste, boullion and water.
  5. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to medium-low to simmer for 20-30 minutes.
  6. (Optional) remove 1/2-3/4 cup of soup and puree until smooth; return to pot and stir.
  7. Stir in the vinegar and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
  1. You don't have to use umi vinegar but I recommend it. I use it in basically every soup and sauce that I make because it just makes such a difference. Don't believe me? Try your soup or sauce before adding and then stir it in and taste again- taste the difference?
Naturally Lindsay http://3.232.172.97/
I am pairing this soup with Beanitos aka my favorite corn-free tortilla chips, a Porter (beer) because L’s middle name is Porter, a session IPA (low alcohol for mum if she so desires), a dry soda and a batch of fresh lactation cookies and some for the freezer because who doesn’t prefer warm cookies straight from the oven and honestly it’s super easy to do. Hoping they enjoy this basket of goodies!

Running With Tongs - BabyMeal- Panera Dupe

Interested in more vegan recipe copycats? Let me know in the comments below!

What’s your favorite soup? I love a really good “cream” of tomato with crusty bread (obvs).

Giveaway | Caitlin’s Super Natural

Caitlin's Super NaturalDeodorant’s are often classified as one of those TMI topics but let’s all be real for a moment we all perspire and unless you are one of the lucky ones most of us tend to start to stink without the use of deodorant. Since without deodorant  I personal start to smell a bit offensive I have to use it and I am always on the lookout for really great natural deodorants because for me it’s really important to use products that aren’t filled with heavy metals, chemicals and other toxic ingredients. The problem is that there aren’t a lot of natural deodorants that really do the job of warding off the offensive smell.

If you read my February favorites you know that I have been loving Caitlin’s Super Natural Deodorant. I talked all about why I love it so head on over to this post to read more because this post is all about how you can win this set of three deodorants yourself. First here are some reasons to love Caitlin’s Super Natural deodorants: 

Caitlin's Super Natural

Giveaway: One winner. Must be a US Resident. 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. Little Rock, AR friends you can now find Caitlin’s Super Natural at your local store! Friends who shop at Whole Foods if you’d like to see Caitlin’s Super Natural at your store then next time you’re in request that they sell it there! 

Disclaimer: Caitlin’s Super Natural sent me these three 2-oz samples to try. I was under no obligation to post a positive review and I received no further compensation. I simply love this deodorant and I am thrilled to share it with you. 

Recipe | Massaged Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing

Massaged Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs
I go through phases where I binge on greens and then there are times when I want nothing to do with them. Right now I am just loving greens, all day, everyday. I think it’s in part due to Neil’s juice til dinner cleanse he did at the start of this week. It really forced me to re-think dinners and make them a bit healthier and when I think healthy I think greens. Now I’m hooked and it feels so good to be back. I used the kale and some of the potatoes and garlic from our organics box to make this salad. Side note I say that this salad serves 2 or it could even serve 3 as a side but in all honesty I ate the entire thing myself for lunch. Seriously so good.
Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Dressing Ingredients Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Sauced Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Massaged Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Closeup

Massaged Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing
Serves 2
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Dressing
  1. 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
  2. 1/3 cup cashew butter or cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours
  3. 1 small lemon, juiced
  4. 1 small clove of garlic, minced
  5. 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  6. 2 teaspoons while miso
  7. 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  8. 1/2 Tablespoon coconut aminos or low sodium soy sauce
  9. 1/4-1/2 cup water, depending on how thick you'd like the sauce
For Salad
  1. 1 bunch lacinato kale, de-stemmed and shredded
  2. 1lb new potatoes, diced and tossed with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 375F.
  2. While oven is preheating place all of the sauce ingredients in the blender and process until smooth making sure to start with 1/4 cup of water and adding more if necessary/to your liking.
  3. Toss the potatoes with the olive oil and seasoning and place in the oven for 25-28 minutes.
  4. While the potatoes are roasted massage 1/4 cup of the dressing with the kale; I find it best to massage for at least a minute (more if you'd like) to help break down the kale. Let it marinate while your potatoes roast.
  5. Once potatoes are done toss them with the kale salad and plate.
  6. Drizzle salad with a little extra dressing, a squeeze of lemon juice and if you like a little spice a few chili flakes.
Notes
  1. You can substitute tahini for cashew butter or if you'd like you could substitute almond or peanut butter and add a bit of ginger and swap lime juice for lemon for more of an Asian inspired salad.
  2. Can't find lacinato kale? Try it with curly kale!
  3. Enjoy your food a bit saltier? Just swap the coconut aminos for tamari.
Naturally Lindsay http://3.232.172.97/
Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Munching Kale Salad With Creamy Cashew Dressing | Running With Tongs | Finished

Haul | Organics To You Box 3.2.15

Organics To You Box 1Organics To You Box greens Organics To You Box veg box Organics To You Box baby add on Organics To You Box  add onsOrganics To You Box mini meOrganics To You Box edith greens

Disclaimer: This is in no way a sponsored post. We purchase our weekly box with our own money and choose to share it with you just for fun.

It’s time for another organics delivery box haul! Back in January I blogged our first Organics To You box (see post here) of the year so I thought I might follow up with how things are going. First off Organics To You is a local Portland area organic produce subscription box that is delivered straight to your front door. They have a variety of different boxes based on your needs as well as additional produce and (limited) grocery items.

If you remember we started off with the small bin and baby add-on. Since then we have gone with the large bin but due to too much fruit (one can only eat so many pears, apples & kiwi) we skipped last week and this week went with the all veggie box  and the baby add-on. We also sometimes add grocery items to our order such as Papa G’s tofu or a bar of chocolate or loaf of bread; this week we went with blue corn tortillas and pinto beans.

This week we received in all veggie box ($36): 

  • 1# Tomatoes: Mex.
  • 4-5oz. Bulk Spinach: Local, farm direct
  • 2# Potatoes: Local, farm direct
  • 1 Bunch Spring Green Onions: Local, farm direct
  • 6oz. Shitaki Mushrooms: Local, farm direct
  • 1 Bunch Broccoli: Cali’
  • 1 Bunch Celery: Cali’
  • 1 Bunch Lacinato Kale: Cali’
  • 2 Yellow Onions: Local
  • 1 Garlic: Cali’
  • 8oz. Brussels Sprouts: Mex. Missing from our box and no substitute (contacted them)
  • 1# Beets: Local
  • 1# Rutabaga: Local

In our Baby Add-On ($15):

  • 1 Mango
  • 2 Pink Lady Apples
  • 2 Fuji Apples (both were super bruised – disappointed)
  • 4 Pears
  • 3 Kiwi
  • 6 Bananas
  • 2lbs Sweet Potatoes

Grocery Add-On’s ($9.50):

  • Blue Corn Tortillas
  • Pinto Beans

Overall I am mostly happy with your box this week with exception of brussels and apples. Hoping that maybe they will send replacements next week. 

Goal: Share recipes next week after I cook up these veggies!

Have you ever tried a produce delivery service? 

 

Let’s Be Honest | Training For A Race with 2 under 3

Nike Run

I tell you I hate to write this post. I mean I don’t have to but I want to share with you that training for a race while having a baby and a toddler is a challenge. I had these grand ideas of getting back to running regularly (3-4x per week) but lately it’s been once per week. I have come to dread the double BOB because it just makes running that much harder and currently nights are a little rough with a baby who won’t be put down and wants to nurse all night long. Anyways these are simply excuses when you look at it but that’s what’s going on. 

It finally really hit me, not that I didn’t already know this, but I have a race in 10 weeks. 10 weeks!! That really isn’t that much time and since I have only been running once per week you could say I am a little behind. So here I am all dressed to run as soon as nap time is over because I committed to this race and now I am going to do it. 

The plan is to run three times per week and at least one of those be solo or with the single BOB (so much easier than the double). I know I might have to do a few treadmill runs this time around to fit my runs in but I am going to do it. This is me committing.Here is my updated race calendar and I am planning to check in week or bi-weekly regarding my status.The days might shift a bit each week depending on life but luckily with 7 days in a week I should be able to find time for 3 runs. Anyone else training for a race right now? Who wants to be accountability partners?

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March 2015 Goals| Dining, Reading, Fitness & More

lorna jane move nourish believe 2015

Complete my Blogger Book Club Book. This month I am supposed to read A Biography Of Someone You’ve Been Meaning To Learn More About. Honestly the first of the month is Sunday and ummm I have no idea who I am going to read about. Who would you read about? Also posting my February book club review this coming week – it was so good! 

Restaurant Free March. We had an almost restaurant free January and it went so well but then February happened and we ate out four times last week. Last week was a weird one because an amazing friend offered to watch our littles so we splurged on a dinner out (hey first time on a kid-free date in nearly 10 months) and then I didn’t meal plan so dining out happened. Anyways for March we are back on the no dining out train and our only exception to this rule is coffee shop dates because weekends were meant for them. 

Actually Workout. Holy crap this month sucked. Seriously. I’m not even going to pretend like I successfully worked out on a regular basis because after February 10th I didn’t. I mean I did workout out a few times but probably won’t need to take my shoes off to count how many times if you get what I’m putting down. Now I have registered for five 5k’s (hey they were only $5 each) and I have my May race to run which I need to get back to training for and so that being said let’s do this. 

 A few other mini goals: drink more water, listen to more music, eat more veggies and take more photos.

What are your March Goals?