Kristy Maute

Soup-er Sunday: Quinoa and Black Bean Chili

I wasn’t planning on posting this recipe. I’ve made my fair share of quinoa chili recipes. There is a chili battle in our household. My boys love chili, but I have an extreme dislike of ground meat. It’s a terrible combination. I’ve tried so many vegetarian recipes. Some have been good. Some have been quickly forgotten.

In order to fill my need for a fall adventure, me and my boys headed to Colonial Williamsburg today. Before we left, I quickly tossed all the ingredients in the crock pot, set it to low, and we ventured out. After a fun-filled day, we got home to a prepared dinner.

And this chili…it’s a winner (hence why I’m posting it!). Both Christian and I were happy.

Recipe modified from Jessica in the Kitchen:

Ingredients

2¼ cups vegetable broth
½ cup uncooked quinoa
15 oz can black beans
½ container 28 oz crushed tomatoes
1 chopped red bell pepper
1 chopped green bell pepper
1 shredded carrot
½ onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons chili powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 ½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
½ cup corn kernels

Directions

Add vegetable broth, quinoa, black beans and crushed tomatoes to slow cooker. Stir. Add peppers, onion, carrots, and garlic. Stir. Add seasoning and corn. Stir. Cook on low for approximately six hours.

We topped our chili with cheese, avocado and fritos.

Thriving

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ~Maya Angelou

These days I find myself pinching my own arm. I start every day feeling grateful – grateful for the work I get to do every day, grateful for the smiling eyes that wake me up every morning, grateful for exactly where I’m at in life. My heart is full.

As temperatures drop and the leaves fall off the trees, I’ve been drawn to the trails more and more. Running through the leaves, up and over sand dunes, and around the trees, my love of running has come back with a rush. I’m not worried about pace or mileage. I’m running until my legs burn and then I’m a running a little more. I’ve had a hard time finding words to define this new space, and then I read an article in Women’s Running Magazine where Lauren Kleppin reflected on her experience at the New York City Marathon.

I was hoping to be an inspiration! I definitely survived, but I wanted to thrive.” ~Lauren Kleppin

That’s when it hit me. I’ve been in survival mode for so long. I survived five years at a job I didn’t enjoy. I survived my running slump this summer. Now I’m thriving. As I look forward to life and running, this is the space I want to exist in. I want to thrive. I am thriving. If I back myself into a corner where I’m just surviving again, I know exactly what I need to do. I need to step back. I need to find breathing room. I need to change paths.

I’m so thankful for this year, a year I decided to focus on finding breathing room in my life. I could never imagine the opportunities that currently exist in my life. I never knew my heart could feel so full.

The new year isn’t here yet, but this fall feels like a new start for me. It’s time to embrace the breathing room I’ve created. It’s time to thrive. Welcome to my new year!

Soup-er Sunday: Kale & Quinoa Minestrone

A few weeks ago I walked in our front door exhausted after a long day at work (and an equally long week). It was a Wednesday, and the couch was calling my name. When I walked in I was greeted by my boys and my mother-in-law. She was there to babysit and insisted Christian and I go out to dinner. After finding my fourth wind for the day, we had to our favorite date spot Lubo. After a delicious glass of wine, I ate the best soup I have ever tried: Super Soup. It included tons of super foods: veggies, kale, quinoa, etc. I have searched and searched for a recipe similar with no luck. This soup was as close as I could find to the soup I now crave weekly.

Kale and Quinoa Minestrone

(Thank you Cooking Classy for getting close to my favorite!)

Ingredients

1 large yellow onion, diced (2 cups)
3 medium carrots, diced (1 1/2 cups)
2 stalks celery, diced (1 cup)
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups diced, fresh zucchini (from about 2 small)
2 cups green beans, cut into 1-inch segments
1 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (32 oz) carton unsalted or low-sodium vegetable broth
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
3 cups water
3 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
3/4 tsp dried thyme
1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3/4 cup dry quinoa
1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz) can chick peas, drained and rinsed (aka garbanzo beans)
2 (heaping) cups chopped fresh kale, thick ribs removed
1 Tbsp lemon juice
Shredded parmesan cheese, for garnish (omit or use vegan parmesan if making vegan)

Directions

In a large stockpot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add diced onion, carrots and celery and saute about 5 minutes, until softened. Add in zucchini, green beans, red bell pepper and saute 2 minutes, then add garlic and cook 1 minute longer.
Add in vegetable broth, crushed tomatoes, water, parsley, rosemary, thyme, granulated sugar, season with salt and pepper to taste and bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and allow soup to gently boil, uncovered for about 20 minutes.
Add in dry quinoa then cover and cook 15 – 20 minutes longer.
Add cannellini beans, chick peas, kale and lemon juice and cook, uncovered, until kale has wilted, about 5 minutes. Serve warm garnished with parmesan cheese.

The recipe makes more than enough to share (make sure you are using a large soup pan). And it got a thumbs up from everyone in our house.

Breathing Room, October Edition

“Child, you have to learn to see things in the right proportions. Learn to see great things great and small things small.” ~Corrie ten Boom

I think fall and winter are my two favorite seasons. I seem to wilt in the summer heat. Just like every other year, October brings me back to life. My head and heart have felt so engaged lately. I can feel the current of excitement building back up inside my body.

The month kicked off with a much need reset. I got to spend five days with a fabulous coworker in New Orleans sharing our passion for what we do at the Annual Meeting for Anesthesiologists. The trip also included a few wonderful laughs along Bourbon And Frenchman Street. The rest of the month was sprinkled with pumpkin festivities – cutting pumpkins from the vine, hanging up spooky ghost lights, carving a jack o lantern, and trick or treating.

While my life feels like it’s building momentum towards something really great, I’m ending the month with a heartbreaking reminder that none of it really matters if my boys aren’t smiling next to me. I’ve been really great at nurturing my two little guys, my career and my own heart. I need to make sure I’m nurturing the man who loves me most because life is always too short. I want to love him as best I can every single day.

In all my months going forward, I want to make sure my days are filled with the great things. The small things can be noisy and loud. They can demand attention. They are great distractors. But the great things, those are the things that are worth my attention. There is nothing greater than the love I receive daily and the love I can give back.

40 Day Goals: Say Yes!

This image showed up in my newsfeed a few weeks ago. It instantly took me back nearly four years when this blog was born. Breath of Sunshine was born from a set of 40 day goals. After being inspired by one of the first blogs I had ever read, I followed in her footsteps. I set small intentions for myself to correct some bad behaviors, to create healthy habits, and to let go a little more. No was my reflex answer to everything. Whenever asked if I wanted to do something, if I wanted to try something, if I wanted to experience something new, I always said no. I didn’t always mean No. I was just my go to response. I was protecting my comfort zone. When I saw this image, I got curious. How many of those forty day goals was I still successfully living? How many needed to be revisited? So I went back and I read them all.

Set #1 (recap), Set #2, Set #3, Set #4 (recap), Set #5, Post Baby Goals

There is a theme that exists in all these goals: be more intentional about the time I spend with my family, enjoy running more, spend more time on my yoga mat, and find a new job. I’m happy to report I’ve said yes to all of these things – mostly, almost.

Quality family time – top priority

Enjoy running – absolutely (thank you for coming back to me!)

Yoga – Oops

New Job – Oh yes!!! I finally made the leap.

All of this brings me back to saying Yes – Saying yes to the things I love, to the people I love, and the life that I love. Not overcommitting or saying yes because I feel obligating but saying yes because life feels good when you live it! For the next forty days I’m bring back the YES!

Forty Day Goals – SAY YES!

(October 3 – November 12)

1. Saying Yes to simple dinners at home around the dinner table

2. Saying Yes to yoga even when I’m tired at the end of the day

3. Saying Yes to sleeping in instead of waking up early because I feel like I have to run

4. Saying Yes to running after work with Chet…or Christian…or Alex…or friends because running with company is always better

5. Saying Yes to running further when my brain is trying to give up on long runs.

6. Saying Yes to sharing a drink with friends instead of rushing home to check homework

7. Saying Yes to fun Friday nights with the boys – evening bike rides, beach picnics, frozen yogurt for dinner. This perfect weather won’t last long

8. Saying Yes to trail runs instead of boring streets

9. Saying Yes to sharing the same couch as my husband even if the other boys in my life leave me feeling drained at the end of the day

10. Saying Yes to date nights

11. Saying Yes to the mountains that are screaming my name

11. Saying Yes to getting a babysitter so we can do some fun things with Cole without his little brother – haunted hayride & ropes course

12. Say Yes to saying Yes

13. Say Yes to more breathing room

14. Say Yes to Friday Favorites

15. Say Yes to radiating from my core instead of letting the outside world cast a cloud on me

“i imagine that yes is the only living thing.” ~E.E. Cummings

Join me in saying YES! Heidi is along for the adventure too – read her goals to get rid of Maybes here.