Happy New Year and a spicy winter soup to warm you up

Happy New Year! Here's to a 2011 full of healthy, delicious food!

I've decided to make some resolutions this year, something that I haven't done for the past few years. I have a couple of them, but the general idea behind them all is being a healthier, happier me.  When I think about it and about the steps it takes to be a healthier, happier me - creating and eating delicious food, being around people I like, traveling, drinking tea -  it seems pretty stupid that I've put it off this long.

The slush, freezing wind and damp chill of winter can make it hard to have the energy and enthusiasm needed to go out after our goals. Here's a hearty winter soup that will warm you up and keep you going through the next couple of months.

Ingredients
1 small yellow or white onion, sliced
2 tsp canola or grapeseed oil
1/2 cup brown rice
1 cup brown lentils
4 cups water
1 low-sodium boullion cube
1 large carrot, sliced
2 Tbsp ginger
1/2 litre low-sodium vegetable broth
3 cups spinach (or other leafy green - swiss chard is particularly nice in soup)
black pepper and hot chili flakes, to taste

To make

1. Cut the onion in half and cut it lengthwise in strips. Put in base of soup pot with canola oil and a bit of water. Saute until onion is transparent.
2. Add rice and stir well, coating rice. Add lentil, boullion, carrot, ginger and water and stir well. Cover and simmer on low heat until rice and lentils are cooked.
3. Add vegetable broth, spices and spinach. Mix together until spinach wilts. If you're using a different leafy green, such as chard, add in with the lentils and carrot.
4. Serve and enjoy

xo
Selene

ps Did you make any New Year's resolutions?