Hola Baby! This was supposed to be coming to you last week from Cabo on the Tropic of Cancer! For a bit of geography click on this link and learn all about our tropics, latitudes, longitudes, and the likes. Exercise for the brain y’all. But the night before we were to travel, a little publicized Tropical Storm named Lydia hit the Baha Peninsula, washing out roads, closing the airport, knocking out electricity, and much more. I was ready to throw in the towel and just stay home; but not my fast thinking sister-in-law HHH. Within thirty minutes, she had us re-booked to the east coast of Mexico with stellar accommodations at The Iberostar.  I was determined to do some testing of Mexican/Southwestern recipes with the Cabo Chef at Diamante. so I just switched gears and here I am sharing new knowledge with you good people from Playa del Carmen instead! Mucho to come! Yummy, Bold Flavors! Just attempting to put some well being into each and every day.

3 Tbs olive oil
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
1 Tbs ground cumin
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 14 oz cans black beans, drained and divided
3 cups chicken broth
Juice of whole lime
1/4 t salt
1/2 t black pepper

For Garnish:
Avocado, cut into small pieces
Cilantro, chopped
Sour Cream
Lime slices

Heat oil over medium high heat in soup pot.
Add onion.
Sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes.
Add cumin, garlic, 2 cans of drained beans, and broth.
Cover and cook on low 30 minutes.
While soup is cooking, heat remaining 1 can beans in separate pot for 20 minutes, until tender.
Remove soup pot from heat.
Carefully blend with immersion blender until smooth and totally blended.*
Add lime juice, salt and pepper.

To serve:
Ladle soup into bowl.
Spoon separate beans in center.
Top with dollop of sour cream, avocado pieces, cilantro, and lime.**

*You may also use a blender to blend soup in batches. Cover top with wet paper towel instead of blender top. This allows steam to escape.

**I squeeze a bit more lime juice in to each bowl after it is served and garnish side of bowl with additional lime slice.