This is not what I am supposed to be making this week for Barefoot Blogger Thursday. Sometimes circumstances get in the way when you belong to a foodie group. I mentioned last week that we had joined Weight Watchers. We have our first weigh-in this afternoon. I have lost two pounds. Not great but at least I am going in the right direction. What I was supposed to make was Ina Garten’s Shrimp Bisque. I have made it before and it is delicious; full of succulent shrimp and half-and-half and butter. Right now I can’t afford the calories. The recipe was chosen by Jennifer of Our Blessed Home. You have to go over to her blog on Thursday or after to get the details of Ina’s soup.
The soup I did make made me feel so healthy. It is full of good for you vegetables like spinach, red peppers, carrots and celery. It tasted wonderful. In this past week I have tried to slow down and actually savor what I am eating. I have appreciated every mouthful. Another benefit of this attempt at losing weight is the fact that I have been walking two miles a day. Our dog Daisy is benefiting from these long walks too. She trots along at my pace and comes home panting and drooling. So do I. I am becoming very familiar with our neighborhood and I hope to increase the distance I walk. Give this soup a try. It is perfect for a light lunch.
KIELBASA AND BLACK BEAN SOUP (From Weight Watchers in Twenty Minutes)
1 tsp canola oil
1/2 pound low-fat turkey kielbasa, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 carrots, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
Heat the oil in a large nonstick pot or nonstick Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the kielbasa and cook, stirring, until lightly broned, about 3 minutes.
Add all the remaining ingredients except the spinach; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the spinach and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes longer.
3 Points. 6 Servings
Nothing like soup… it’s so warming and nourishing. And it’s amazing how healthy it can be.
Love all the good stuff in this bowl!
Very nice, Penny. Soup looks wonderful. Congrats on the weight loss and more walking. I notice also if I lay the fork down between bites, it is much more enjoyable to savor each bite.
Good for you for walking more! The dog must love it. Yummy soup, great for the chilly weather.
This soup sounds so yummy with the abundance of veggies! thanks for posting it, Penny; I too am trying to get back on track with helthy eating, but I’m not doing very well. Your soup sounds like the perfect answer!
Black beans soup is one of my favorites. Congratulations on the weight loss. I wish you well. We’re doing phase I of South Beach and trying to walk more.
Sam
Penny, I really love this soup; all of the ingredients have great flavor and it’s good for you. ~ How great is that!
Keep up the good work and enjoy the walks…
Thanks so much. This is just what I need. After eating way too much junk food last weekend, I am craving all that is good tasting and good for me!
This soup looks and sounds delicious! I love soups full of leafy greens!
I always thought that 2 pound was the maximum weight that should be lost in a week. I’m a big proponent of slow and steady, which has helped me to keep it off. You’re doing a great job, keep it up!
The shrimp bisque sounds really good…..but you soup actually sounds better! It would be great with kale too I think…
Yeah, I think the shrimp bisque would have been a bit too many calories! Good for you and the 2 pounds down and the walking too. I was working out with a gal today and we were both bemoaning having to work out but we both like to eat a lot, so we HAVE to work out!
Well, now I feel guilty! I made the shrimp bisque. I only ate one bowl. Hubby had seconds and then had some for lunch the next day. Guess he can, he hiked nine miles!
I just decided to make black bean soup – for the first time. I found black beans in Andorra and haven’t used them yet. Perfect timing!
Penny, I joined WW for a year, and my wife is a receptionist and made her lifetime award. I did indeed lose 30 pounds (put 20 back on, and lost 10 pounds since I started blogging). It does work, but you will sacrifice a lot of your cooking style.
You will learn a great deal in the lectures, so don’t be one of those weigh in and leave people. I suspect that in 6 months you will either love the lifestyle change and challenge or hate the whole idea. Either way, it is a terrific learning process that translates well to the rest of your life once you are done.
Good luck, it is always a challenge once we reach a certain age (wait till you see the 22 year old that drops 5 pounds a week and reaches goal in 6 weeks… we hate them).
I am sorry, I just could not resist dedicating my post today to you… you will learn that there is nothing that you can not eat while on WW… Everything in moderation is what they preach…
Except maybe these.
Sorry, maybe you better not look
Hey way to go!
Black bean and Kielbasa two of my favorites!
i LOVE black bean soup, but the batches i eat are always so ugly–straight black (with a bit of red pepper, if i’m feeling lucky) with a few lumps. this is gorgeous and i’m sure it’s delicious too. nicely done, penny!
Made this yesterday and it reaffirms my love of soup AND Weight Watchers. There is nothing better than eating a satisfying delicious meal that is a cinch to prepare, high in nutrition, and low in calories. The balance of flavors is really terrific. So much good in such a little bowl.
I left the cookbook at our weekend place so was really happy to see it featured on your blog. Now I have the recipe saved on my laptop too. Thanks Penny.