SNOW DAY!!!!?? Well, Kind Of.

ow was your Monday?

Mine was "different." In a good way though!

Today was the closest we have ever had to a "Snow Day" in my city, in my lifetime! Of course, we are too hardcore to have a real snow day, in which the city is shut down, and schools are closed ... but the schools did cancel all bus, van, and cab services - which means my classroom was VERY empty!

I had 11 out of 26 kids in my room today, so it was a pretty unique day. We have already been informed that the transit is also canceled for tomorrow, so I am in for a unique Tuesday as well. The kids who walked to school had to trudge through waist high snow all the way to school!!

Many people did not go to work today, and people were stuck all over the place, leaving their cars because they could not get them out and the tow trucks were WAY too busy.

I didn't want to drive to work today, so the hubby dropped me off. I was pretty rushed in the morning so I forgot to take a picture of what I packed for lunch.

Breakfast was a green monster (2 cups spinach, lightly steamed; almond butter; almond breeze; a banana; amazing grass wheat grass):



For lunch I packed:
- 5 perogies
- 1 cheese stick
- 1 unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 orange

I also had a few (about 8) taco chips with guacamole/bean dip at work.

I wanted something really warm for dinner tonight, so I made one of my favourite soup recipes (adapted from a recipe in a local food magazine called Flavours).

It took a while to cook so I had a little snack to hold me over:

Black Bean Soup with Chipotle Peppers and Avocado

1) Saute 1 chopped onion, and 1 chopped carrot in 1 T olive oil for a couple minutes.

2) Add 1 chopped garlic clove, 1 t cumin, 1 t oregano, and cook 1 minute.

3) Add 2 chopped chipotle chilies in adobo sauce (you buy these in a can, and then just take 2 out and you can freeze the rest).

4) Add 2 cups canned black beans and 8 cups chicken broth. Toss in 1/4 - 1/2 of a small ham, or leftover ham (or none at all ... it just adds a nice flavour).

5) Simmer for about an hour, and then shred some of the ham for the soup - or toss the ham if your prefer (I have done it both ways, and I don't think the soup needs the ham).



6) Add 1 T vinegar and season to taste.

7) Serve topped with avocado slices, cilantro, lime wedges and sour cream.





This soup is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! You have to try it to know what I mean. It might not sound good, but trust me - it is!! We made this soup for many of our friends, and they have all LOVED it. Also, the sour cream is crucial ... it is too spicy without it.

The hubby and I enjoyed dinner while watching the Bachelor!! I must say, Jake doesn't mess around. He knows what he wants, and I am glad he doesn't keep people any longer than he has to. Ahhh trashy TV ... gotta love it!

Do you like spicy food? What is your favourite spicy dish?