In my home, pantry cupboards are lined with Bush’s Beans, primarily kidney, black, pinto and white cannellini beans.

I keep one row of chick peas (delicious humus), and today I’m sharing a savory recipe that I recently recreated for my “starving” family.

Most canning has been done, preserves put up, root vegetables gone into the cool storage area (potatoes and sweet potatoes), and recent tomatoes pulled from the ground.


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We had a bumper crop of Roma tomatoes this season and after harvesting them, my sons did the work for me. They blanched the tomatoes and we prepared for freezing and cooking. (One of the many bowls of blanched tomatoes.)

There’s nothing like fresh tomatoes in a big pot of soup.

October is the month to plan ahead, to cook more, to prepare hot meals for my family, to show love to my family in nourishment around the table.

But let me back up here …

It’s 6:15 PM.

The cars pull up in the driveway. A hungry family steps into the entry-way dropping soccer bags, wet and soggy from the rain, stripping off the soccer gear, and proclaiming, “I’m starving!”

Yes, proclaiming.

Throughout their childhoods, my 3 children have played sports. Most of you know I have 3 teenagers, one in college, two high-schoolers, and my husband is a varsity high school soccer coach. I came from a generation of girls not encouraged to be athletes, so having 4 soccer players in the family has been an adjustment for me, to say the least. It’s been a fun journey, though, and I’ve really learned to love the sport.

And when hungry soccer players come through the door, I had better be prepared.

This night I knew my pantry was lined with Bush’s Beans, and I knew I had a rotisserie chicken. Adding these ingredients together with other fresh vegetables created a hearty soup to serve for dinner, along with whole wheat bread.

As they walk through the door proclaiming they are hungry, I set a meal of comfort and sustenance on the table before them.

Being prepared with a hot meal on the table is an essential gift that I can give to my family.

Warmer connections come when we set the tone with good nourishment and positive talk.

Do you think good nourishment for your family is essential, and if you have a sports family, how do you get everyone around the table for dinner?

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Recipe: Bush’s Garbanzos, Chicken, and Quinoa Soup {ReluctantEntertainer.com}

Ingredients

  • 3 cups rotisserie chicken, pulled and chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tsp. each ground cumin and chili powder
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cans diced, canned tomatoes (or 3-4 cups of fresh, blanched and chopped)
  • 1 large can green chilies, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp. orange zest
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cans Bush’s garbanzo beans (chick peas)
  • 2 cups zucchini, chopped
  • 1 can sweet corn (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large frying pan, add onion and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Salt and pepper.
  2. Stir in garlic, cumin and chili powder; cook for about 2 minutes.
  3. Add in tomatoes, chicken broth, orange zest, green chilies, and quinoa. Bring to boil; reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes with a lid on.
  4. Add chopped chicken and garbanzo beans and heat through.
  5. Serve with fresh grated cheese or sour cream.

Preparation time: 10 min

Cooking time: 20 min

Number of servings (yield): 6

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If you missed the previous days to 31 Day to Warm Connections …
Day 1 (and 700 31 Day Bloggers): Secret Ingredient to Warmer Connections
Day 2: Bringing the Beauty of Autumn to Your Table
Day 3: Multi-Generational Pear Applesauce
Day 4: Canning Suncrest Peaches with a Friend
Day 5: How to Find Contentment
Day 6: Encouragement with Easy Pear Cobbler