Cyber Monday Soup

The turkey has finally disappeared, the last piece of pie consumed and family has departed back to their respective homes.  Thanksgiving is over and this means only one thing to me....CYBER MONDAY has arrived!

For those of you unfamiliar, Cyber Monday is the "Black Friday" of the online shopping world.  Personally, I very much dislike shopping at the mall, at department stores or at big box retailers.  I always have.  The one kind of shopping I enjoy (and have become rather proficient at) is online shopping.  For myself, for my husband and daughter, for gifts, for diapers, even for groceries; shopping online is a daily occurrence in my house and today is a day I look forward to all year long.

If you venture out into cyberspace today you will find almost every retailer has incentives, discounts and sales. Free shipping, two for one, 20% - 60% off your orders, the deals are plentiful!  I have found several online stores I love and would love to share them with you.

TheFind.com  is one of my favorites.  This site offers the ease of typing in an item you are looking for and then provides photos, pricing and links to thousands of retailers offering what you are looking for.  It saves time by consolidating your search and allows you to compare prices without having to toggle back and forth between web pages.

ShopStyle.com  is similar to the find but is clothing specific.  You can search for clothing, accerssories, shoes, etc. offering women's, men's and children's options all in one place.  Type in "Brown Leather Riding Boots" for example and it will provide a plethora of photos with pricing which when clicked on, take you to the retailers web site for purchase.

Zulilly.com is one of my absolute favorite children's and maternity online stores.  This site is a membership site, enter in your email and receive daily offers deals year round on some of the top children's brands (clothing, shoes, accessories, decor, toys and more) as well as maternity wear and accessories.  Zulily offers daily discounts from 20% - 60% for a limited period of time (usually 72 hours or until items are sold out) and with designers and stores changing daily it always offers something new for all of your needs.

Today was a perfect Cyber Monday, rainy and cold, a wonderful day to stay inside and shop online.  And the good news is the day is not over, the deals are still plentiful, so get online before the day is done and enjoy the savings!

Below you will find a hearty and healthy Chicken Veggie Rice Soup recipe that is perfect for a rainy, cold Cyber Monday.  Easy and delicious you can make this soup while shopping to your hearts content online.  Also a great post-Thanksgiving soup if you still have leftovers. Just substitute chopped cooked turkey for the chicken and skip the first three steps in the directions.  Add the turkey when you add the peas and there you go, your fridge is clear of Turkey Day remnants.  Enjoy!

Chicken Veggie Rice Soup

Ingredients

12 Cups Organic Chicken Broth
1.5 Pounds Organic Chicken Breast, cut into 1 inch pieces
24 Oz. Organic Kidney Beans, drained
4 Medium Organic Yellow Squash, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
6 Medium Organic Carrots, peeled and cut into nickle-sized slices
1 Bunch Organic Celery, leaves removed and chopped
1 Large Organic Yellow Onion, peeled and diced
1 Bag Frozen Organic Peas
3 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
3 Teaspoons Sea Salt
3 Teaspoons Ground Black Pepper, divided
2 Teaspoons Red Pepper Flakes
2 Teaspoons Oregano
2 Teaspoons Garlic Salt
1 Teaspoon Cumin

Directions 

• In medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium and saute garlic for 3 minutes.

• Add chicken pieces, sprinkle with oregano, garlic salt and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, cooking for 8 - 10 minutes or until cooked through
• Combine chicken broth and rice in a large stock pot over medium high heat, cover and bring to a boil
• Boil for 7 minutes
• Add onions and celery to stock pot, stirring to combine.  Cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes
• Add carrots, kidney beans, squash, remaining spices and chicken to stock pot, stirring to combine.  Cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add peas, cover and reduce heat to medium low.  Continue to simmer for an additional 15 - 20 minutes or until carrots pierce easily with a fork.
• Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.  This soup can also be frozen (allow to cool at room temperature first) and will last up to 6 months.
• Enjoy!