Food:

Taco Soup- Cosmo Hippie Style

1 lb. grass-fed beef (I used Canyon Meadow Ranch available at Tony Caputo’s on 15th&15)

1 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed (look for BPA free cans)

1 15oz can kidney beans, drained and rinsed (look for BPA free cans)

1 15oz can aduki beans, drained and rinsed (look for BPA free cans) * I usually cook my own beans but when in a pinch I let the store help me out. I used Eden canned goods.

1 8oz can tomato sauce (again, BPA free can)

1 jar home canned tomatoes w/their juice (if you don’t have this, use a large can of your favorite tomatoes)

1 4oz can diced green chilies

1 large onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

2 T. mexican spice mixture (recipe to follow)

1 package dry Ranch Seasoning (I got this tip from my cute friend Trish)

2c. water

Mexican Spice Mixture:

6 tsp. cumin

3 tsp. chile powder

1 tsp. chipotle powder (I used cayenne pepper)

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. oregano

2 tsp. garlic powder

-mix these all together and keep in an airtight jar to use for your recipes, I got this recipe from Vogue Vegetarian.

Directions:

1. Place a large saute pan over medium heat drizzle in 2 tsp. canola oil. When its hot add the onions and garlic, start to saute. Season with salt and pepper. After about 5 minutes add the grass-fed beef. I use a potato masher to break the meat up. Continue to saute until the meat is almost cooked through.

2. While the meat mixture is sautéing place the rinsed and drained beans, tomato sauce, jarred tomatoes, 1c water and chilies in your crock pot or a big soup pot-set aside.

3. Next add the spice mixture and dry ranch packet to the meat mixture, stir to combine. When this has cooked for about 2-3 minutes add 1c. water and let the mixture simmer until the water has evaporated. (This will concentrate the flavors and will be amazing.) When the water is gone, turn off the heat and add the meat mixture to the bean mixture. Stir to combine all the ingredients.

4. Turn your crock pot on low and let the it go for a few hours. If using a soup pot turn to low and let simmer away until ready to eat. Taco Soup is like chili, it gets better with time!

Toppings-

Sliced avocado

Sour Cream or yogurt, shredded cheese

Hot Sauce

Quinoa Cornbread (we crumbled this on top and it was FABULOUS!)

Nutrition:

Grass-fed beef- Is lower in total fat, 3x omega-3 (diet high in omega-3 reduce Alzheimer’s, Arthritis, ADD, Cancer, Depression), 3x conjugated linoleic acid (anti-cancer agent, reduces risk of diabetes), 4x vitamin E (reduces risk of cancer, heart disease, anti-aging properties), 2x vitamin A (important for vision and bone growth, maintains integrity of skin, regulates immune function). COWS EAT GRASS NOT CORN!

Beans- Check out this earlier post Benefits of Beans

Love:

Everyone grew up with a version of this classic. I used to make it for Bill-y all the time in the beginning of our relationship, but I got burned out on it and the fact that we don’t eat a lot of meat at our house, this recipe hasn’t been made for quite some time. Well, I wanted to make Bill-y something yummy for Super Bowl so VOILA! I took some old ideas and mixed them with some new ideas and the result was probably the best Taco Soup I have ever made. We have had it for two dinners already and still have leftovers, I was thinking about using the leftovers on a baked potato YUMMY! Enjoy!