This Valentine’s Day, send your Valentines out for a special postmark. There are several cities that will stamp your Valentines with a specially designed postmark. To do this, simply put your (stamped) Valentines in a larger envelope and mail to one of the following:

Postmaster
Valentine Re-mailing
446 E. 29th St.
Loveland, CO 80538

Postmaster
Valentine Re-mailing
Valentine, TX 79854

Postmaster
Valentine Re-mailing
Valentine, NE 69201

Postmaster
Valentine Re-mailing
Valentine, VA 23887

January is National Soup Month! Each week I have been posted new soup recipes that are either my favorite, or new ones that I want to try. This week’s recipe is fabulous! Delicious and healthy for you. It is very kid-friendly, too. This recipe comes from one of my favorite food blogs.

If you enjoy the blog Our Best Bites, you should know they have published 2 fantastic cookbooks. You can buy them on Amazon for a great price. Our Best Bites: Mormon Moms in the Kitchen and Savoring the Seasons.

Black Bean Soup
Recipe by Our Best Bites

1 T olive oil
4 large cloves garlic, roughly chopped
3/4 C diced carrots (about 2 med carrots)
3/4 C diced celery (about 2 ribs)
1 C diced onion (about 1 sm-med onion)
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 3.5oz can green chilies
2 cans low-sodium beef broth
1 t kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/2 t chili powder
1/4 t cumin
1/2 t dry oregano leaves
1 bay leaf
Optional Toppings: sour cream, tortilla chips, grated cheese, chopped cilantro, etc.

Place a large stock pot on the stove-top and set to medium-high heat. When pan is warm, add olive oil. Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic and saute 4-5 minutes.

Add in the black beans, chilies, and beef broth. Stir to combine and then add the salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf.

Simmer uncovered for about 20-25 minutes or until carrots are tender.

Remove from heat. Remove bay leaf from soup.

Place soup in a blender. (You could use an immersion blender in place of this step) Place lid on blender, but remove the stopper in the lid to let heat escape. Place a paper towel over the hole to avoid splatters.

Puree soup until completely smooth. Optionally you could pulse until a semi-chunky soup is achieved. Squeeze in the juice from one lime and pulse to combine.

Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings. Serve with extra lime wedges. Makes about 8 C soup.

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