-suggestions for an inspired life-

Nutritional labels can be confusing, not to mention all of the new labels proliferating packaged food items. "Gluten Free, Fair Trade, Cage Free, rBST free, Organic, Natural..." the list goes on, but the label I look for isn't actaully a pretty little logo. I shop local, seasonally fresh food as much as possible. To get through the winter, I'll get back to the basics--canning extra tomatoes, buying bulk at farmer's markets or local grocers selling Michigan grown produce and storing in my root cellar (you can use the garage if your house wasn't built in the 1800s like mine), eating more dried beans (MI is the top state producing black beans, cranberry and small red beans), cherries, apples, fresh rBST free dairy, etc. The list is long, but you need to do a little homework ahead of time. If you do, our local economy, your local farmer and your dinner table will thank you.

Taste the local ingredients in my simple Cranberry Bean, Kale Pasta Soup

Ingredients:
-5 chopped slices of turkey bacon or pancetta
-1 small sweet onion chopped
-3 cloves of garlic chopped
-2 cups dried cranberry beans, soaked then cooked or substitute with 2 cans of white cannellini or large butter beans
-1 large bunch of Kale, washed, large stems removed and chopped
-4 cups of dried tortellini
-32oz of whole tomatoes (preferably home canned)
-1 bunch of fresh thyme
-1 TBSP red pepper flakes
-32 oz of chicken or turkey stock