Detox Soup

You know when you've been eating more treats than normal, maybe full breakfast three times in a week instead of once and then on the other days you have a donut? Or, better yet, you do what I did and make three cheese macaroni with whipping cream? Yes, my friends, it's time for detox soup.

Before the recipe, what I've been eating for about a month. I've had several of the aforementioned breakfasts, mac and cheeses, mashed potatoes with butternut squash (emphasis on the butter), Panda Express takeout, Pizza Hut, Burger King and finally, three days of New Mexican and Panamanian delicacies. Excuse me while I stick my finger down my throat.

And while I've been working out almost daily during this overly emotional time, I'm still a little bloat-y and need to get regular - if you know what I mean. I decided to get some real fiber going in the form of a hot, seasonal vegetable soup to get the works flowing. Lucky for me, it turned out unbelievably delicious that I may make it once a week! Lest you think it's that easy to find one's way back to the balanced diet straight and narrow, I served the above soup with a grilled ham and manchego cheese sandwich on lovely New Seasons French bread. I did only get the small loaf...

Rainbow Chard Soup*
1 box lo-sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 can diced tomatoes
1 bunch rainbow chard
2 zucchini, chopped
1 bag frozen corn
2 celery stalks, diced
1 shallot clove, diced
4 garlic cloves, diced
couple shakes dried oregano
couple shakes black pepper
1 tbsp. parm cheese

Put the celery, shallot and garlic in your pot with the olive oil and saute. Once the little bits start sticking, add a little stock. Add in oregano and pepper. Add a little more stock. Once you like how its looking and smelling, add in tomatoes - with juice - corn and zucchini. Stir. Then, throw in your chard and the rest of the stock. The pot will be really full, but the chard will cook down. Once it has cooked down and you are ready to eat, throw in the cheese, stir it up and serve. Keep the salt nearby, just in case. Enjoy!

*And check out the health benefits of chard...chard, chard its good for your heart, the more you eat the more you - well, you know!