Day 69- More recipes!

Hey peeps!  I'd like to start off by sharing some more recipes.  I have this great ham and bean soup! Here it is:

Ham & Bean Soup-

2 carrots (diced)
2 celery stalks (chopped)
1 onion (chopped)
1 pkg. John Hormell diced ham (do not drain...add ham juice)
(3) 15 oz cans great northern beans
1 qt. low sodium vegetable broth
1 Bay leaf
Salt & Pepper to taste

Chop up vegetables and add to broth in a pot.  Add bay leaf and salt and pepper.  Bring to a low boil and cook until vegetables are tender.  Add ham and beans and cook for 30 minutes.  Take 1 Tbs. corn starch and mix in a separate bowl with a little hot water.  Add to soup mixture to slightly thicken.    Serve and enjoy!

Beef & Vegetable Soup-

1/3 c. barley, soaked overnight
5 c. beef stock
1 tsp. dried mixed herbs
8 oz lean rump or sirloin steak, trimmed and cut into strips
1 large carrot, diced
1 leek, shredded
1 onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, sliced
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Place the pearl barley in a large, heavy-bottom pan.  Pour the stock over and add the mixed herbs, then bring to boil.  Reduce the heat, then cover and simmer gently over low heat for 10 minutes.
Skim away any foam that has risen to top of the stock with a flat spoon.  Add the steak, carrot, leek, onion, and celery to the pan.  Return to a boil, then cover and let simmer for 1 hour, or until the barley, meat, and vegetables are just tender. 
Blot the surface with paper towels to remove any fat.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Ladle the soup into warmed soup bowls and sprinkle with chopped parsley.  Enjoy!

Today has been a quiet day.  I like days like these.  I went out to lunch with my friend and spent a few nice hours with her visiting.  I am a social girl, and I do have a lot of friends, but I only have a few very close and good friends.  This friend is one of them.  She is very special and true blue.  Thanks for being such a great friend!  You know who you are! 

I can't really say I was very productive today.  Just came home from lunch and worked on some Zumba stuff, then read for a while.  Fixed my son some dinner and helped him with homework, then went to teach Zumba at the church.  Zumba is a great way to end an evening! 

Here is what I ate today:

Breakfast-
2 scrambled eggs
2 slices turkey bacon
1 c. green tea
32 oz water

Mid-morning snack-
1 c. fresh cut pineapple
16 oz water

Lunch (at Chuck-a-Rama)
Salad Bar- Romaine lettuce, crab salad, tomatoes, carrots, mozzarella cheese, peas, 3-bean salad, boiled eggs and lite ranch dressing
1/2 c. oriental chicken salad
1 pork taco in a hard corn shell with tomatoes and cheese and lettuce
1/2 c. potato soup
3 Tbs. peach cobbler
16 oz iced tea

No mid-afternoon snack

Dinner-
Smoothie with 1 c. almond milk, 1 scoop shakeology powder, 1/2 c. blueberries, handful of spinach

After-dinner snack-
1 c. green tea