6/24 Vita-Mystified
Happy Meatless Monday.
Today I have a recipe to share for a soup that is so tasty and fresh, it will make you want to have Meatless Tuesday and Wednesday just so you can have it two more times.
I have wanted a Vitamix ever since we stayed in the home of our friends Kathy and Keith this past winter. It began innocently enough when Keith, Sandy and myself were dazzled by a Vitamix demo at a local warehouse club store. I had wandered over in search of vegan samples because I knew that since Vitamix is the official appliance for vegans, raw foodies and health nuts, the chances were good that he would be rocking something vegan. He was and the three of us were completely captivated.
We stood there mystified as he made a smoothie, margarita, vegan soup and vegan ice cream, all in less than ten minutes. The Vitamix sold itself. As I stood there the thought crept into my mind that it would be impossible for me to live a fulfilling and joyful life without one of these machines.
Evidently, I was not the only one. Keith bought his the very next day, and a house full of Vita-addicts were born. For the next two months Keith and I Vitamixed anything that wasn’t nailed down. We threw everything we could find in that machine. We based our shopping lists and menus on his new joy-giving kitchen wizard. It was blissful and delicious. Then the time came that our house was ready to move back in to and we returned to a Vitamix-less home. I felt the loss. I missed our friends and their dazzling appliance everyday for a very long time.
Months passed in our Vitamix-less home until the day finally came, and my very own machine arrived. I put on some Latin guitar music, unpacked my new treasure and got ready for greatness. I read the directions thoroughly, put together the beautiful full color cookbook it came with and I was ready to create.
After surveying the contents of the fridge, I just began pulling things out and throwing them into the Vitamix container. That is oneof the many benefits of a having one. It will easily create an extraordinary dish out of ordinary ingredients. I had carrots, red peppers, a jalapeno and some garlic. Why not?
I added cumin as my concoction clearly began to take on a Mexican flair. I turned on the whirring machine and walked away as it made its magic, turning my ingredients into soup. It was fantastic. Like a sunny day in a Mexican Garden. It was fragrant, fresh and healthful.
It was easy..so incredibly easy. The Vitamix blends and heats up soup in five minutes. There is no wrong way.
You simply give it a handful of ingredients and it will make you a hot soup, a cold smoothie, frozen ice cream, creamy dip or almost anything else you could desire. I am mystified by this machine and am so grateful to have it.
If you don’t yet have a Vitamix, you may create this soup in your food processor or blender.
Ready to purchase your own? Click here for a link to their site. They even have certified, reconditioned machines to choose from that come with a five year warranty. If you buy one online, be sure to apply this Exploits promotion code for free standard shipping (approx $25 value U.S.) 06-008812.
Mexican Garden Soup
by S. Duquet
Soup Ingredients
3 1/2 C (2 large) Red peppers
2 C (5) carrots with skin on
1/2-3/4 jalapeno with seeds taken out (I use gloves or hold it in a paper towel)
1/2 lime with skin on
1 C low sodium vegetable broth
1 1/2 cloves of garlic
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp liquid aminos
Ingredients to put in soup after it is blended
1 1/2C fresh or defrosted from frozen corn kernels
1 can red kidney beans
tortilla chips for a crunchy garnish
*Note: If you are using a Vitamix you can rinse and drain the corn and beans in a colander with hot water right before you add them to the hot soup. Or, if using a food processor and will still need to heat the soup, feel free to just rinse and drain beans and corn then add to the rest of the soup to be heated.
Make it Happen
~Put red peppers, carrots, jalapeno, lime, broth, garlic, cumin and aminos in Vitamix. Start slow on variable 2 or 3 until ingredients are blended then crank up to high and blend for 5 minutes or until soup is steamy hot.
~Rinse beans and corn in hot water, drain and add to soup. Stir gently then serve topped with tortilla chips of choice.
You have a soup that is rich and flavorful like a chili, while still being light and bright. It is the perfect summer soup especially when cooked in your Vitamix. It is ready in only a few minutes and won’t heat up your house.
Have a delicious day.
Tags: Meatless Monday, Meatless Monday recipe, Meatless Monday soup, Mexican Garden Soup, vegan soup, vegan summer soups, vegan Vitamix recipe, vegan wannabe, Vitamix, Vitamix recipe
