Christmas Day and Smoky Black Bean Soup

Well Christmas Day has come and gone...as have my folks.  It was a pretty low key day.  Gluten-free apple cake for breakfast, a hike at the ever great Shellburg Falls, and Smoky Black Bean Soup and Cornbread for dinner.  Tonight is Christmas with the Jones side.  Smoked roasted chicken, smoked beef ribs, pumpkin biscuits, roasted carrots and cherry sorbet.  Can we say, "Don't need to eat for a week!"

Smoky Bean Soup (adapted from here)

olive oil
6-8 cloves garlic, minced (smoked garlic is yummy here too)
1 T smoked paprika
2 tsp cumin
1-2 tsp chipotle powder (depending on how hot you like it)

2 cans petite diced tomatoes (14-15 oz)
2 cans black bean refried beans
2 cans black beans
2 c. frozen corn
salt to taste
(water or chicken broth as needed)


Saute the garlic in the olive oil 1-2 min on medium until cooked.  Add the spices and stir around, letting the spices heat up a bit.  Add the canned and frozen goods, including liquids.  Stir well to get the refried beans to break up.  Add additional water/chicken broth as needed.  Cook on medium, watching to be sure it doesn't scorch for 20-30 minutes.  Serve with any or all of sliced avocado, cheese, sour cream/yogurt, green onion, lime juice, and cilantro.


Alternative: Cook garlic and spices as directed above.  Transfer to crockpot.  Add the rest of the ingredients and cook on low for 6-8 hrs.  This works the best really!

Clackamas River Hike

We haven't disappeared here at Fresh and Feisty...life seems to have just taken over a bit.  This weekend we did get the opportunity to go hiking with our friend, Roland.  The Clackamas River Hike is a little over 8.1 miles when you run shuttle and hike straight through.  Roland gave it a B- because of powerlines and the fact you could see Hwy 224 in many places.  I give it an A because it had lots of shady trees, moss, ferns and the river!  Either way, it was a great way to spend the day.  Bailey loved it too, however she's been a little less active today...her hike was a bit longer than 8.1 miles :)

GF Pumpkin Biscuits

Not bad for a first try. I might try a little less sweet rice flour or no xanthan gum next time but otherwise these were pretty good.  I adapted the Spiced Pumpkin Biscuits recipe from Cooking Light.

GF/CF Pumpkin Biscuits

1/3 c rice flour

1/3 c white teff flour

1/3 c tapioca starch flour 

1/3 c sweet rice flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp xanthan gum
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 c shortening

1/3 c coconut milk, full fat

3/4 c canned pumpkin

3 T honey (I actually did about 1 T honey and 2 T agave syrup since I ran out of honey)

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, spices, and salt in a large bowl; cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal. Chill 10 minutes.

3. Combine coconut milk and honey, stirring with a whisk until well blended; add canned pumpkin. Add coconut milk mixture to flour mixture; stir just until moist and all of the flour has been incorporated.

4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface (tapioca starch flour); knead lightly 4 times or until you can pat it out to about 3/4" thick. Cut into biscuits.  Place biscuits, 1 inch apart, on a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 400° for 14 minutes or until golden. Remove from pan; cool 2 minutes on wire racks. Serve warm.

Submitted to Slightly Indulgent Mondays at Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free.

Butte Creek Falls - Santiam State Forest

I call bs on those who say Salem has nothing to offer!  Andrew and I are finding Salem has lots to offer.  We didn't hike much this summer...it was more kayaking and camping.  But, now that the weather is crappy...we're hiking.  I know.  But at least we're still getting out some!

Anyways, if you haven't made use of the Santiam State Forest you are really missing out.  Check out their website and see the recreational opportunities that await.  Butte Creek Falls is just one such opportunity.  They categorize it as difficult...probably because it's steep in parts and can have a lot of slippery leaves.  However, it's only 1.5 miles and has wonderful views.
Bailey thought it was great as well!

Our Own Worst Critic

I’ve done it.  I’m sure you’ve done it.  What is it?  Well how about talking to yourself in a way you would never consider talking to your best friend.  It seems like all of us that struggle with weight loss have done it at some point.  Told ourselves a story about how we aren’t good enough, or how we don’t look a certain way or how everything will be perfect when…Get real.  Stop telling yourself these kinds of stories.  Tell yourself good stories, positive stories.  Stories about loving yourself how you are.  Stories about how you are a wonderful person, how you are making positive changes in your life. Stories that make you feel good not bad.  Even subtle stories have the ability to make or break us.  Stop the negative subtle…shoot for positive subtle and work your way up from there!