THE VILLAGE VOICE

Sometime since I've been in the garden I've looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something were pushing and drawing and making me breathe fast. Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of Magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all round us. In this garden ~ in all the places . ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett ~ Early August magic

~ SOUP AND SANDWICH SUPPER ~ (Winter is the perfect time to enjoy foods of fiber, color and flavor.) ~ Snow Angel EASY BREEZY BLACK BEAN SOUP 1 big fat chopped red onion 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 3 stalks chopped celery with leaves 4 cloves chopped garlic 1 heaping Tbsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. red pepper flakes 1 (32-ounce) organic chicken broth 3 chopped carrots 3 (15-ounce) cans undrained back beans 1 (16-ounce) container fresh salsa 1/2 cup fresh lime juice bunch of fresh chopped cilantro (reserve some for garnish) sour cream Brown onion, garlic, celery, cumin and pepper flakes in olive oil over medium heat. Carefully add chicken broth, scraping brown bits from bottom. Bring to boil and add carrots, beans, salsa, and lime juice. Reduce heat and stir in chopped cilantro. Simmer 30 minutes. Ladle soup into big bowls and top with dollop of sour cream, chopped cilantro, and a side of homemade tortilla chips. GRILLED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM SANDWICHES 1 large (wiped clean) ...