This article is a repost from an earlier date.
There’s Christmas music everywhere you go, TV networks are playing Holiday movies, all the houses on the block have decorated Christmas trees peeking out from their living room windows—and what all of this evokes is the desire to eat, work, and live in COMFORT. At least that’s how it is for me. All I want to do during the holidays is feel comfortable. Give me a couch, a sappy holiday flick and some almond milk hot chocolate with vegan whipped cream, then everything’s a-okay in my world.
Even when I was working in corporate this time of year, co-workers and I would indulge in a bit of comfort at the office too. We’d help each other pick out gifts for loved ones, we’d talk about what to cook for upcoming gatherings, and figure out as a team how we could work from home the week before New Year’s Day. Work was still getting accomplished, but I have to say truthfully that around the holidays, a lot more team building and bonding would take place than any other time of year. We had a lot of fun, which is the upside to the comforts of the holidays, but the down side is—it’s way too easy to lose focus.
I remember when I would be looking for a new job at the end of the year (because most of us start evaluating our career at that time), I would start slowing down the number of resumes I’d send as Christmas got closer. This is because I “just knew” that Human Resource departments wouldn’t be focused on recruiting at that time of year. But that’s not true! That’s a lie that gives folks permission to get lazy.
One year, I was desperately looking for a new job and knew exactly the position I wanted. Christmas Eve was in a few days, so I figured I would follow up with the company after New Year’s Day. Lo and behold, the day after Christmas, I get a call from that company asking if it’s a good time for a phone interview. “What?! What are you doing calling me the day after Christmas—no one does that?” That’s what I was thinking, but obviously didn’t say. I was shocked, but really happy that they called me. After the phone interview, I scored an in-person panel interview and project presentation, which led to me getting the offer! Within a few weeks, I started my journey with Whole Foods Market! Boy did I learn not to let my guard down no matter what season it is.
If there’s something you set out to accomplish this year but haven’t achieved it yet, keep working at it as if it’s the first week of the new year. If there’s something you’ve been praying to happen that doesn’t look like it’s going to manifest before the new year, keep praying about it as if you can see it happening on December 31st. If you’re looking for a new career opportunity, don’t wait for the Holiday season to pass, get in there now! Have a true peace knowing that your efforts will not be in vain—and when done for God’s glory, He will bless your efforts. Go for it NOW. At the same time, let’s always have time set aside for holiday fun, rest, and sweet comfortable moments of peace.
For this cooking session, I was thinking about what to make for the workweek and I decided to make a big pot of Chunky Black Bean Soup with Sweet Potatoes. This was beyond comfortable. It’s very simple, rich, warm, and delicious. It’s perfect for a comfy morning during your holiday break, or a cozy winter night at home. Bon Appetit!
Chunky Black Bean Soup with Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
2 Black beans
1 Red Onions, large, chopped
4 Garlic, diced
1-2 Sweet Potatoes
1 handful of kale
5 grape tomatoes, sliced in two
1 Bay leaf
2 cloves, whole
Dried herb mixture, like cilantro, basil, thyme, and/or oregano (whatever you have)
Sea Salt and Pepper, to taste
6 tbsp. Olive oil
2 tbsp. Coconut oil
Instructions
-Sweet Potatoes-
Preheat oven at 375 degrees
Cut sweet potatoes in small cubes
Lightly drizzle (approx. 2 tbsp.) olive oil on sweet potatoes
Season with salt and pepper, and herbs if you wish
Put sweet potatoes in oven and let bake until fully cooked
-Bean Soup-
Soak black beans overnight or at least 3 hours
Boil black beans until fully cooked
Remove 1 cup of black beans with 1 cup water (the boiled water) and blend in a food processor. I used a Magic Bullet
Add onion and garlic to medium high pan with 2 tbsp. of olive oil, sauté until soft
Add cooked onions and garlic, blended beans, the bay leaf, cloves, tomatoes, herbs, and salt and pepper to a the pot of beans that was used to boil the beans
Bring the stove to medium high
Once it’s boiling, add 2 tbsp. coconut oil, reduce the heat to medium low for 10 minutes
Tear the kale up into small bite-sized pieces and add it to a bowl, pour 2 tbsp. on top and massage to tenderize
Pour soup over kale leaves
Add sweet potatoes and mix them in if you wish and enjoy!
Have a powerful work day and don’t forget to eat your breakfast!
-Yardley
