Power-Up Soup

Ever have those days when you're just feeling like:

I was stuck in a rut of those kinda days for a straight week and a half or so, when I came down with a gnarly cold that stripped me of my voice and all will to move or be productive.  However, there were better days, and there were worse days, and it was on one of those better days I put together a protein-packed, carbohydrate-loaded, vitamin and mineral rich soup that's just as hearty in the stomach as it is in nutrients.

And the best part is that it's easy and has a versatile ingredient list--something you could prepare for yourself with minimal effort, no matter how sick you are!

Here's the formula: you want protein (some sort of meat, fish, bean, or legume; don't be afraid to use multiples!  Proteins help revive and repair your body), carbs (this might come in the form of pasta or rice (whole grain if you've got it!); this is your energy provider), and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, in the form of vegetables.  I'd say the color rule is probably your best bet for getting the most out of your ingredients: try to incorporate as many colors of vegetables as you can.  Anything from leafy greens (kale, broccoli, spinach, etc.), to the warm color spectrum of oranges, yellows, and reds (tomatoes, corn, and peppers, anyone?).  You've got your lights (cauliflower, onions, potatoes, and so on) and your darks (eggplant (YAS PLEASE), mushrooms, etc.), and more that I could probably go on and on about.  But in Laymen's terms, the more colorful your plate, the better!

The awesome result of the above formula is that you can throw together a soup from stuff you've probably already got lying around the kitchen, and it's gonna have you like

Plus, look how pretty it is!

Power Up Soup (Han's Variation)

Yields: A lot

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast, chunked (you can also use canned chicken breast chunks)

1 1/2-2 cups whole grain pasta (any kind)

1 can whole corn kernels, drained

2 carrots, chopped

1 cup lentils, prepared according to package instructions

1/2 onion, sliced

About 1-2 tablespoons oil

About 8 cups water

Don't forget, I was working with what I had: you can add or omit anything!

Instructions:

1.) Begin by sauteing your chicken breast chunks with the oil, adding spices as you please (we happened to have pre-seasoned Southwest style chicken breast, which is what I used).  When it's thoroughly cooked, set aside, covered.

2.) Bring your water to a boil, then add your pasta.  Cook until tender.

3.) Once the pasta is finished, DO NOT DRAIN.  Simply add the rest of your ingredients.  Simmer until everything is tender when pierced with a fork.

Serve hot and power up!

ECHO out.