Restorative Kale and White Bean Soup

I am sorry that it's been such a long time since my last post. Time moves so fast online and although it's been a few months, it seems like years. My weekends since October have been filled with work and no time or energy to find the inspiration I needed to cook, much less find the creativity necessary for blogging. So it seems only fitting to share with you the one dish that I have made over and over, countless times in the last few months- Kale and White Bean Soup. 

The first time I made this it was freezing outside; I had been talking to a friend of mine about some elaborate and delicious-sounding soup she was making with beef stock and greens and a ton of other ingredients. It sounded so good and well, warm, that I went home and figured I'd at least try to make something with what I had on hand, to at the very least warm me up- and I was actually surprised at how good it was- hot, brothy, a forest of steaming kale, beans, and onions. It was truly restorative and as it's healthy and takes very little time to make- it's become an obsession a staple. I'm waiting for my boyfriend to declare that he's had enough, in fact I'm waiting to get sick of it myself, but it hasn't happened yet. 

So, I hope to be back with much more now that it's the new year, but for now I leave you with a recipe that really can make you feel warm and toasty on a winter night.

KALE AND WHITE BEAN SOUP

2 tbsp olive oil

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 onion, chopped

bunch of kale, chopped, ribs removed (frozen kale works fine too)

1 can of cannelini beans 

fresh herbs such as thyme and rosemary

1 tsp smoked spanish paprika

6 cups chicken or vegetable stock

salt and pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a soup pot or dutch oven over low heat, add the onions, stirring on and off until they are translucent, then add the garlic and the kale, while stirring, increase the heat to medium high and add the beans, the herbs, spices, and stock. Add salt and pepper and then it let cook for 10 minutes or so, until it's hot and a bit frothy. Serve in big steaming bowls—it's great with a bit of your favorite shredded cheese and crusty bread thrown in at the last minute.