I’m in day 5 of my 21 day fast, and its coming right along! Thank you for indulging me as I complete this journey.
Since I’m on this fast, it would not be right for me to tempt myself with some overly decadent dessert that I know I cannot have. Since LBJ’s Brown Bag is not like any other food blog, you know that I will add seemingly non-traditional items to my Brown Bag once in a while.
Keeping in line with my current food restrictions, I would have to add a few bags of my favorite dried snacks–Philippine Brand Dried Mangoes!
Thanks to the carefully discerning eyes of those who pick the mangoes for this company, we, the end-user, get a great, naturally delicious snack that satisfies a sweet craving without any guilt or shame.
Each slice of sweet mango has been cut from the finest of mangoes yielding the best texture, firmness, and taste in this dried fruit. The natural sugar crystallizes and gives the mango a pleasantly tempting taste that would go great with some creamy vanilla ice cream. Since I can’t have the ice cream, maybe you can add it in my stead?
The great thing about enjoying mangoes is that you are adding to your health while your taste-buds get to limbo in sweet satisfaction! Mangoes are:
Today, I hope you strongly consider giving it a try. If you want to purchase some, feel free to visit the Amazon link below. Remember to Love food…Be merry…Just live!
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At the top of each year, my church collectively goes on a fast to consecrate ourselves and volutarily sacrifice our everyday desires and grow closer to God. Out of humility, we also fast because it is an effective means for us to experience a breakthrough in our spiritual walk. That means we have certain foods that are included in our fast diet. Fish, poultry, soups, garden salad, fruit, vegetables, nuts, water, juice and tea are included in our fast meal plans. This year, we have a little more liberty throughout the entire fast!
Every year, for the 21 days we fast, I always have the pleasure of finding ways to create a meal that is within the confines of the fast yet non-traditional.
For some reason, I can always find a sale on cans of soup for $1 each new year. I think the grocery stores know that many congregations are fasting at that time so they help us out. I think its always great to find deals at the grocery store, but what if you created your own soup that tasted better than the can? You’d probably want to continue throughout the year.
Monday, I told you to invest in the Bail Out Plan. Did you do it yet? If so, great! Let’s Get started with today’s recipe to help everyone fasting and those who desire a simply comforting bowl of Breakthrough Black Bean Soup!
Here’s what you’ll need:
This soup is so simple and full of hearty, cozy flavor.
Start by adding your liquids and 3½ cans of black beans to the crock pot. Take a fork and mash the remaining half can of black beans then add them to the crock pot. The mashed beans thicken the soup.
Next, add your seasonings, stir and let your soup simmer for 3 hours on the Low setting. Once your soup is done, stir in the chopped cilantro and serve!
I love to servie enjoy my soup with fresh, diced tomatoes, diced onion and a few slices of avocado. If I’m not fasting I’ll also add a dollop of sour cream as garnish.
As I sidenote, I must share with you that black beans are good for you, especially the dry beans (those take longer to cook, but you can use them for this recipe too). Black beans are loaded with protein and antioxidants! They’re also high in dietary fiber that help lower cholesterol and aid in keeping blood sugar levels down after meals.
I trust you’ll give this a try and let me know how you enjoyed it. I look forward to hearing from you. Feel free to email me at lbj@lbjsbrownbag.com.
Remember to Love food…Be merry…Just live
Posted in Brown Bag Bragging, Recipe, Soup || 3 Comments
As 2008 wound down, the United States watched 2 major historical events become etched in its history. Barack Obama was elected the first African-American President, and billions of US dollars was filtered to banks and automotive companies to assist in keeping their head above water during this struggling economic time.
Today, I have a wonderful way to bail out your kitchen and make history all year long! You need to add a crock pot/slow cooker to the regularly used appliances you own!
Crock Pots have carried their weight in kitchens since it was invented in 1970. Families have enjoyed cooking entire meals in with the convenience of one pot!
This year, I am committing to delivering a Crock Pot Creation once a month. I will show you how simple dump-and-go recipes can be stretched for a few days for a family of 1 or 4!
In order for this to work, I need you to commit to investing in a crock pot. I love hearing from you. Your feedback in these simple recipes will be fun!
I know most of you are enjoying your first day back to work so I am not going to inundate you with lots of information and beyond. Let’s share a wonderful year together!
Remember: Love food… Be merry…Just live!
Posted in To Buy || 2 Comments
I’m back!
Happy New Year! 2008 is in your past and you have 361 more days to pursue your heart’s desire and watch it manifest into something that your eyes couldn’t see, your ears couldn’t nor would hit have even entered into your mind! I really believe that 2009 will be BONKERS! I’ve been telling everyone! It’s already started for me…
Stay tuned to see what’s going to be bonkers in LBJ’s Brown Bag this year. If I told you everything now, I’d spoil the surprises. So that means you’re going to have to visit my Brown Bag everyday and see what’s going on. I’d hate for you to miss a day or two and you’ have to go digging through LBJ’s Brown Bag to find what you’ve missed.
Let’s have a wonderful time this year!
Love food…Be merry…Just live!
As this week draws to a close, I must share my all-time favorite For the First Time post with you!
Wheatgrass juice offers so many benefits for our lives that it is a little unbelievable that such a great things can be produced from grass!
You’ll learn so much more when you take a look at For the First Time…try wheatgrass.
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Thanks for catching the Best of LBJ’s Brown Bag! I’ll return with new content Monday, January 5, 2009!
If you’ve made up your mind to eat healthy, beneficial and great then today is the day of help for you! I’ll bring you not one but two of my favorite For the First Time posts added to my Brown Bag.
First up–a wonderful vegetable that I enjoyed eating and explaining since I was a child: the artichoke!
Click here to read For the First Time…try an artichoke.
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May peace be within your walls and prosperity in your palaces this year!
Love you,
LBJ
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We’re nearing the end of this week’s reruns of LBJ’s Brown Bag, but I can’t ignore the fact that we all consider making New Year’s Resolutions. If I took a survey of resolutions around the USA, my results would probably show that most people desire to lose weight or change their diet in the new year.
In today’s Best of LBJ’s Brown Bag, consider adding something to your 2009 meal plan that will surely promote weight loss and healthy eating habits…consider beets!
Click here to recap Just Beet It!
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Alright, we are literally on the brink of a new year! I’m declaring that many great things will become manifest in your life in 2009!
Thanks for following The Best of LBJ’s Brown Bag these few days. I’ll return with new content to add to my Brown Bag, Monday, January 5, 2009! There will be more opportunities to join in and become a super Brown Bagger in the new year. Stay tuned for details.
Whether you’re preparing for a New Year’s Eve soiree, if you’re going to church for a praise party, or if you’ll be at home under a cozy blanket, you’ll want to eat something before or after midnight, right?
Thank to my Mom, Lady P, there’s a great recipe for a soup you can start cooking now, and enjoy later. The ingredients and the process is super simple. Its a “dump-and-go” recipe you will enjoy today, tomorrow and Friday if there’s any remaining.
Click here for LBJ & Lady P’s Crockpot Bean Delight!
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One of my all-time favorite Tuesday’s Temptation was added to my Brown Bag in its first month! Whenever I think of Tuesday’s Temptation, I always remember my favorite boxed brownie mix!
The Ghirardelli Brownies will always have a special place in my “food heart”! They have been such a mainstay for my personal and social purposes. I’ll always lean to Ghirardelli for my instant brownie needs!
Click here to enjoy Tuesday’s Temptationwith Ghirardelli Brownies.
Posted in Best of... || 1 Comment