Super Sunday!

Having a really good day so far, feeling motivated and On Program, thanks in part to a couple of new Spark buddies! The morning started out with a healthy breakfast - spinach omelet & sliced tomatoes, tried not to notice the leftover pizza My Man was devouring. We then took a long walk through the local park, feel so fortunate that this beautiful place is within walking distance of the house!



Munching on celery & Laughing Cow cheese, planning last night's leftovers for lunch because this soup was sooo tasty! Even my carnivorous boyfriend slurped down a big bowl of the veggie-laden goodness.



Tuscan Vegetable Soup

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes

1 15.5-ounce can cannellini or other
small white beans, preferably
low-sodium, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
1 medium carrot, diced
(about ½ cup)
2 stalks celery, diced (about ½ cup)
1 small zucchini (about ½ pound)
diced (about 1½ cups)
1 garlic clove, minced (about
1 teaspoon)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
or 1 teaspoon dried
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
or ½ teaspoon dried
½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black
pepper, plus more to taste
4 cups low-sodium chicken or
vegetable broth
1 14.5-ounce can no-salt added
diced tomatoes, with their juices
2 ounces baby spinach leaves (2 cups
lightly packed), chopped
1⁄3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. In a small bowl, mash half the beans. Set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

3. Add the broth and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Add the mashed and whole beans and the spinach; cook until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes. Serve topped with the Parmesan.

Serves 6

Tonight I am promised a grilled steak, a rare indulgence but one I'm looking forward to. I will, of course, be foregoing the homemade french fries he's also making and will instead focus on a big salad and some roasted asparagus, yummy!

Hope you're all having a wonderful Sunday, have a Beauty-full day!