Leann's Recipes: Summer Soup & Southwestern Bean Salad

SUMMER SOUP

1 bottle (46 oz) reduced-sodium V8 juice
2 cans (14 ½ oz each) Italian diced tomatoes, undrained
(or use your own toms and add Ital. seasoning)
2 cans (5 ½ oz each) spicy hot V8 juice
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 cup shredded carrots
½ cup chopped green onions
½ cup reduced-fat zesty Italian salad dressing
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
¾ teaspoon celery salt

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. That is all there is to do! Yield: 12 servings.


SOUTHWESTERN BEAN SALAD

SALAD:
1 can (16 oz) kidney beans, rinsed & drained
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed & drained
1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans, rinsed & drained
2 celery ribs, sliced
1 med. Red onion, diced
1 med. Tomato, diced
1 cup frozen corn, thawed

DRESSING:
¾ cup thick & chucky salsa
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup lime juice
1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin

In a bowl, combine all beans, celery, onion, tomato and corn. In a small bowl, combine salsa, oil, lime juice, chili powder, and cumin; mix well. Pour over the bean mixture and toss to coat. Cove and chill for at least 2 hours. Yields: 10 servings

August 22 meeting - The Historian & The Piano Tuner

Leann provided a delicious meal of gazpacho soup and Southwestern bean salad (and a green salad and bread and raw veggies & dip and a buffet of desserts!). We had a lot to catch up but managed to talk about the books too. ;-)

The Historian
About half of us loved this book and couldn't put it down, and the other half thought it was hard to get into and much too long. Lisa appreciated how much of Eastern European history was found in it, making us all miss Liba's unique perspective. We discovered as well that Darla is a reader of vampire and other scary stories. We all enjoyed the idea of Vlad's library (maybe because so many of us are involved in libraries?).

The Piano Tuner
The tables were pretty much reversed with this book; those who loved The Historian found this one hard to get into and vice versa. I'm afraid the conversation was hampered by yours truly because I hadn't finished the book. Thank you for being so evasive, you guys! I did learn there is a twist at the end and the big question was: Is he or isn't he? I will have to find out.

Next Meeting
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 5, at Darla's (before the snow flies and we can still make it up her driveway).

Next Books
Our next books are Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, and Leonard Chang's Over the Shoulder. If anyone has trouble finding Over the Shoulder, send the group a note. Leonard Chang's Fade to Clear is also excellent and more recent (and features the same main character, Allen Choice).