Pomegranate Salsa
1 large pomegranate
1 large orange
1 T chopped cilantro
1 green onion, thinly sliced
2 t. freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 t cumin
​1 T minced jalapeno, or to taste
Insert a knife through the stem hole of the pomegranate and twist to break the pomegranate into large chunks. Immerse them in a bowl of water & coax the seeds away from the skin to release the seeds. Discard the skin & membranes, drain & pat dry. Cut & peel the skin & membrane from the orange. Holding the orange over a bowl, cut between the membranes to free the segments adding them to the bowl. Squeeze the juice from the membrane into the bowl & discard the membrane. Cut each segment into chunks. To the orange add pomegranate, cilantro, onion, lime juice, cumin & jalapeño, add salt to taste. Serve or cover and chill up to one day. Makes 1 cup of salsa, enough for 4 to 6 servings.

"One dark and stormy night…” no really! The other night, I was not about to go to the store when I began craving something warm and hearty. I looked in my pantry and fridge and this yummy soup is what happened!

Butternut Squash and Black Bean Soup
Serves 8
3 c butternut squash, cut in a 1” dice
1 onion, cut in 1/2 inch dice
2 cloves garlic, chopped finely
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
2 14 oz cans black beans, rinsed
1 small chipotle pepper in adobo, chopped or 1/4 t cayenne
6 c chicken or veggie stock, enough to cover the veggies and make it ‘soupy’
1/2 c chopped fresh cilantro
2 t cumin,
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper

Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until soft, about 5 minutes, add squash, salt & freshly ground black pepper and continue to cook until a little bit browned and caramelized, another 5-10 minutes or so. Add the cumin and cilantro. Add the beans & tomatoes, the chipotle pepper and the stock. Bring to a boil, turn down and simmer for an hour to blend flavors or until the squash is soft. Additional time cooking on simmer will only add to the flavor and depth of this soup.
Add some chicken or cut up sausage for an even heartier bowl.

Note: grated cheddar or jack cheese, fresh lime, fresh cilantro, avocado, fried tortilla stripsmake perfect garnishes.