Growing Greens: How to Raise Spinach

The YouTube channel, Gardenerd, goes over how to grow your own spinach. This is the first of many videos I will be posting on growing your own food at home. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is an affordable way to eat healthy!

How to Wash and Prepare Spinach

Chris from the YouTube channel 'foodfaq' provided this wonderful video on how to properly wash and prepare spinach. At the end he also gives an awesome tip on how to bring life back to your spinach if you have some sitting in your refrigerator that has started to wilt.

SAVORY BEAN AND SPINACH SOUP

INGREDIENTS:

• 42-ounces organic, fat-free, low-sodium vegetable broth (no MSG)
• 1 15-ounce can tomato puree (tomato sauce will work)*
• 1 15-ounce can small white beans or Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed*
• 1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
• 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach or kale leaves (whichever you prefer, or you could use 1 cup of both)
• Shredded goat cheese (optional)

Always rinse your beans.

DIRECTIONS:

1) In a 3.5- to 4-quart slow cooker, combine vegetable broth, tomato puree, beans, rice, onion, basil, salt, pepper, and garlic.

2) Cover; cook on low-heat setting 5 to 7 hours or on high-heat setting for 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

3) Just before serving, stir in spinach or kale and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Hint: This is a great little soup to make for guests as a pre-dinner item. Garnish it with a little pile of shredded cheese on top and a fresh sprig of parsley. This goes well paired with fresh baked, small loaf of french bread.

Nutrition Facts per Serving: 150 calories, 9g protein, 31g carbs, 3g fat (1g sat fat), 8g fiber

{Original recipe from 'Mind, Body + Spirit Fitness' website. Changes were made to make it my own.}