Quinoa Bean and Vegetable Soup Recipe

My BFF was raving about a new recipe this week and when she described it as a "Kale, Carrot, Pinto Beans and Quinoa stew" I had to give it a try.  You see I had all those ingredients in my refrigerator from a recent CSA box just waiting to be used. 

I love to try new recipes.

Anyway, the very next day I cooked the beans in the crockpot in the morning (local heirloom Pinto Beans) and that night I whipped up this soup.  It was a hit!  The husband and even the 5 year old thought it was great and said I should make it again.  Success!

Quinoa Bean and Vegetable Soup from Kimberly Snyder's Beauty Detox Solution
Ingredients
7 cups broth (original recipe calls for vegetable but we love chicken stock around here)
1 cup diced white onion
2-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/2 cup quinoa
2 cups cooked pinto beans (or 1 can, drained)
2 cups kale, I recommend chopping it into little pieces
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp fresh marjoram
1/2 Tbsp minced fresh thyme
3/4 tsp fresh sage
1 tsp fresh rosemary

Directions
1. Saute the onions until translucent, add the garlic and saute for another minute.  Add the carrots and herbs and cook for 3 more minutes.  (note: I didn't have fresh herbs so I used dried)
2. Add the broth and quinoa.  Bring to a boil then turn the heat to low, cover and cook for about 15 minutes (until the quinoa is cooked through).
3. Stir in the beans, heat for 3-5 minutes.  Add the kale and cook for 3 more minutes.  Finally cover and simmer for 5 more minutes. Salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Here's a little extra info on how to cook dried beans
1. Measure out 1 pound of beans. Pick out any stones from the beans and give them a quick rinse.
2. Put beans in a crockpot (slow cooker) with 6 cups of water for each pound of beans.
3. Put the crock pot on high for 4-6 hours.
4. When the beans are done cooking (tender) give them a quick rinse in a colander. Separate in two cup portions which is about the equivalent of a can of beans. Freeze to use later (in 2 cup portions which is about the same as a can).