Black Bean Soup With Roasted Jalapeño Salsa

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 35m | Total Time: 35m

Ingredients
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
1 large poblano or green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large red onion, chopped
kosher salt and black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 15.5-ounce cans black beans, rinsed, or 1 heaping cup dried black beans, soaked and cooked
1 12-ounce bottle lager beer
3 to 4 jalapeños, halved and seeded
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Directions
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the poblano, garlic, all but ⅓ cup of the onion, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the cumin.
Add the beans, lager, and ½ cup water. Mash some of the beans with a fork or potato masher. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the soup is slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat broiler. Place the jalapeños on a broilerproof baking sheet and broil until charred, 2 to 3 minutes. Slice crosswise.
In a small bowl, toss the jalapeños with the cilantro, lime juice, remaining ⅓ cup onion and 2 teaspoons oil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Serve with the soup.

Do not speak loudly

When you speak loudly, it raises the stress level among company. It always implies that you can't reason with people and rely on "brute force" to get your point across. It also draws attention -- negative attention.

Thoughts for my sons and grandsons: on harming a Woman

Never raise your hand to threaten or harm a woman.  You are bigger and stronger than they are and you have no right to do so.  Your life will become worthless to the world once you are found out as a beater of women.

If a man ever harms his wife, sister, mother, daughter or any other female relative, he has no right to ever be respected for rest of his life.  He may as well crawl into a corner and pray he survives each day without the retribution of others.

If a woman angers you because she disagrees with you, you must always use diplomacy in solving the disagreement, but if she refuses, turn around and walk away.  Do not look back.

Thoughts for my sons and grandsons: on Children

Never watch a television show or a movie that depicts the murder of a child.  Turn it off or change the channel immediately.  The thought of such an despicable action can vex your soul for years.

When an elder enters the room:

Stand to acknowledge them and welcome them. If you know them, shake their hand and tell them how nice it is to see them again. If you don't know them, stand and wait to be introduced. Once you are introduced, shake their hand if they offer theirs. Always stop what you are doing and show respect to those in the room even when you or they are just passing through. Listen to them when they speak. Contemplate what they say. Consider them when they speak and never interrupt them. These people have been around a long time, and could still out live you. So listen to what they say if you too want to live a long time and be treated with respect.  And don't give me the "I only respect those that respect me" crap. That don't work.  I agree some elders aren't worth respecting, but unless you know them intimately, never be the one that demands respect first before an elder. I remember being required to stand whenever a teacher or the principal entered the room.  Don't they do that anymore?

The front

Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside and help others get ahead.

Clones

They're cloning cats now. What, are we out?

Dave Long 2011