TJ's Black Bean Soup

Hello Friends!

It's been a busy week but I'm glad to be back, writing this post!

This past week I decided to take my first trip to Trader Joe's. I've been reading various food blogs and seeing lots of great comments about the store. Needless to say, these bloggers were right...Trader Joe's is awesome! They have cheap deals on organic fruits and an immense selection of dried fruits, nuts, and yummy healthy treats. It's a great grab a few, fun, healthy items store, but I don't think I could do a full grocery shopping there. If you're into pre-made organic meals, TJ's has lots of options, but pre-made really isn't my thing! I liked the cheap cheese selections and did not love the meat section or lack of deli. TJ's seems to have something for everyone but not everything for everyone. Try it out sometime, I am sure you will fall in love with at least one aspect of TJ's.

One item I ordinarily wouldn't try is pre-made soup. However, I bought a container of TJ's Black Bean Soup to keep in the cupboard for a quick dinner or a lunch once all my other food items have run out.




I tried it out tonight, it was delicious (and organic!!!). However, it was a bit watery for my liking, so I added my own D-Dates twist! Here it is, I hope that you enjoy it. You can eat it as a simple dinner or a quick snack!


Recipe:
Black Bean Soup with a D-Dates Twist
(Makes 1 Bowl-repeat to create more servings)





Ingredients:
-1 Cup of Trader Joe's Latin Style Black Bean Soup
-1/3 Cup of Cooked Brown Rice
-A Few Slices of Colby-Jack Cheese

Steps:
1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and microwave on high 1-1.5 minutes.









Serve with tortilla chips, or toasted bread.

Does it get any easier than that?

Next time, I may also add my own beans, tomato, and onions to make it more hearty.

O.k. This meal was yummy, but I was hankering for more after my first bowl. I used this meal as inspiration and created a less healthy snack. I loved this snack so much, I think I may add it to my Mother's Day menu (keep your eye out for that).


Recipe:
Cheesy Black Bean Dip
(Serves 1-2)






Ingredients:

-1/3 Cup of Trader Joe's Latin Style Black Bean Soup
-4-5 Slices of Colby-Jack Cheese
-1 Slice of Goat Cheese (crumbled)
-Tortilla Chips (for dipping)

Steps:
1. Combine soup and cheese slices in a bowl. Microwave on high 45 seconds-1.5 mintues.
2. Stir up ingredients with a spoon.
3. Top with cheese crumbles.
4. Grab chips, dip and enjoy!








This is a slightly salty but super yummy treat.

Happy Eating!!!
Yum!!!


What are your thoughts on Trader Joe's?

What will you be adding to your Mother's Day Menu?

How do we feel about the font switch-up?