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The Secret to Longevity and Healthy Hearts: A Minestrone Recipe for Soup Nights

United States
The older I get, the more I adore a pot of soup. I love a soup where you can throw many healthy vegetables into a pot, walk away, and let it simmer. As I sit in my Raleigh home in mid-February, snow is swirling in the air, and I wish I had the forethought to buy ingredients for Minestrone soup. I originally posted this recipe on the HinesSightBlog 2012 for February, which is Heart Healthy Awareness Month with the American Heart Association. 

Made with many vegetables, greens, beans, and pasta, minestrone can provide super nutrients that slow aging and promote heart health. The great thing about Italian minestrone is that you can adapt the soup to the seasons and what is bountiful in the produce aisles.  The variations in this soup can be different from household to household. Why, you ask? Minestrone originated in Italy as a "leftover or "poor man's soup," meaning you use what you have on hand and turn it into a nice one-pot meal. 

You'll be hard-pressed to find two identical recipes when you search the internet.  Eating Well Magazine has well over 10 minestrone recipe variations on its site. Even Hollywood actor  and Italian cooking influencer Stanley Tucci recently wrote on his Instagram account that "Minestrone is the Secret to a Healthy Life," he said several times in his video that it's even better when cooked in a beautiful pot.  I don't know if that is true, but I love the Le Creuset pot I've had for almost 25 years. 





Heart Healthy Minestrone

Ingredients

      2 teaspoons olive oil
      1/2 cup chopped onion
      1/2 teaspoon dried basil
      1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
      2 garlic cloves, minced
      1 1/4 cups cubed peeled acorn or butternut squash (about 1 medium) (optional)
      3/4 cup diced zucchini  (left this vegetable out)
      1/2 cup chopped carrot
      1/2 cup diced fennel
      1 cup water
      1 (14-ounce) fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
      5 tablespoons no-salt-added tomato paste
      1/4 cup uncooked ditalini (very short tube-shaped pasta). I used penne pasta
      2 1/2 cups chopped Swiss chard, Kale, or Spinach.  (I used spinach)
      1/2 cup rinsed and drained canned Great Northern Beans (I used a whole can of white kidney beans)
      1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
       2 tablespoons grated Asiago cheese (I used parmesan cheese)

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, basil, oregano, and garlic to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add squash and the following 3 ingredients (through fennel); sauté 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water, broth, and tomato paste; boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in pasta; cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chard; cook 3 minutes. Add beans; cook for 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in pepper. Serve with cheese.








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Snag Beautycounter's Best-Sellers with HUGE SALE and FREE GIFTS

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I've got great news for Beautycounter fans. The clean beauty company will relaunch its new company in 2025, but founder Gregg Renfrow has announced that it will keep the current Beautycounter website active for the rest of the year. I love this news because I tend to drag my feet making online orders and miss out. 


Beautycounter Black Friday Sale 25% Savings


I have been a brand advocate for Beautycounter since 2016. I have their link on my website. In exchange for hosting the link, I get a discount on the products I use and an affiliate sales commission. I believe in Beautycounter products and use them regularly. When Beautycounter closed earlier this year, I was forced to branch out and try new things. Sometimes, trying new things can be good. I have found some new brands that I like for specific products. In a previous post, I detailed those beauty products when I first announced that Beautycounter would return online for an In-Between Sale. 

Affiliate marketing is unique. Sometimes, a person may click on a link but never purchase; sometimes, people don't click at all, and then sometimes, people buy through your website link. This in-between sale from Beautycounter must have come at the right time when people missed their products immensely. This is where I find analytics fun. I've had 201 people order products in November; my sister-in-law was the only person I knew. I know nothing about these individuals except that they like Beautycounter and believe in cleaner beauty. 

Out of those top five products sold, the only one I currently have in my home is the Think Big All-in-One Mascara. I love this mascara, and it's a decent price for $30. I use it with a Dior Lash Primer that costs a few dollars more than the mascara. I love it because it's one of the cleanest mascaras on the market, and it's all-in-one with the best brush ever. More people need to try this mascara. 

The number one Beautycounter item sold on my website is the Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion. This lightweight lotion adapts to the skin throughout the day* to keep up with modern life. Not only does it provide up to 24-hours of hydration** —it offers the essential building blocks of hydration, nutrition, and oxygenation to keep skin soft, smooth, and glowing. 

Best-selling Beautycounter Moisturizer



The customers have spoken. I'm adding it to my cart for a daytime moisturizer. If you have product questions, email me at hinessightblog@gmail.com. Happy Black Friday shopping.  The resurfacing peel by Beautycounter is a product I can't live without. Grab it for free with a $200 purchase. 





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The Clean Beauty Pioneer is Back: Shop Beautycounter's In Between Sale 2024

United States
If you were a fan of the Beautycounter brand like me, you probably felt lost in 2024 because you could no longer buy some of your favorite clean beauty products online. Last spring, the brand stopped taking orders to focus on relaunching the company with the original cosmetics founder, Gregg Renfrew, back at the helm in 2025. 

You only know how much you love something once you can no longer access it. That's been my case. When offered the opportunity to partner with G2G (Beautycounter) for a special "In-Between Sale," I jumped because I needed a restock for the items I learned I can't live without and have a long list, and my fingers are crossed that they are in this special sale. 

Sure, I've branched out to other brands for skincare and cosmetics, such as Kosas, Summer Fridays, Dior, and the German-based brand Oliveda, but Beautycounter has some particular products that I have really missed, such as the cleansing balm, overnight resurfacing peel, mascara, foundation, and its lipstick. Kosas Wet Stick moisturizing lip shine is the only brand that came close to Beautycounter's moisturizing sheer lipstick, but the Beautycounter brand is my favorite, from lip gloss to lip balm to sheer lipstick. 







I don't know what will be available to purchase during this Great In-Between Sale from November 1 to December 2, but now is the time to shop. Holiday sets will be 30 percent off. 










Here are some of my favorite products I now purchase that are not affiliated with Beautycounter


Dior Forever Natural Foundation: I have used this powder foundation for several years and started using it as my powder. It's perfect for those early-morning cheer comps with some mascara. 

Dior 4-D Lash Primer: Beautycounter has never sold a lash primer, but my lashes need one. I have used this primer for the past five years. 

Kosas 10-Second Eye:  I love this liquid eye shadow by Kosas. I've also tried Glossier, but I prefer the Kosas brand. It's affordable and so easy to use. 

Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm:  My teen daughter bought this first, and the great thing about having a teen daughter is that sometimes you learn about things the younger generation likes. I used the tinted sheer in the shade 2.5 skin before my daughter discovered the brand, but she hooked me on lip butter balm. 

Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Mineral Milk 30 SPF: This sunscreen is fantastic. It's lightweight and doesn't cause a breakout in my chin area like the Goop brand did. I highly recommend this brand for sunscreen. 

Oliveda Corrective Eye Elixir: After my summer trip to France, I started researching some European skincare to replace Beautycounter, which I had used exclusively for skincare since 2016. I am still trying different products, but their Corrective Eye Elixir has helped me with fine lines. I told a friend recently that I believe 55 is a time in a woman's life when age creeps up on you in the face. I'm still experimenting with this brand and will try some of the products recommended in the easy quiz I took. Take the Olive Beauty Brain Quiz and see what it recommends based on your problem areas. Oliveda is a waterless beauty brand that uses the power of olive oil in its skincare. It's over my head on this waterless trend and complicated to explain to others, so I won't explain. You can read about the why here, but I recommend the eye elixir. I've been slow to try products, but it's the first skincare product I have liked since Beautycounter. 


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Easy White Bean Chicken Chili for a Crowd

United States
Updated: October 2024
I started searching for this soup recipe today after making another white chicken chili recipe this week. Will said he liked this one better, so I'm bringing it back to life on the blog and in my kitchen this week for Halloween 2024. This post was originally shared in 2018. Enjoy! 
When I'm feeding a crowd, I always look for easy recipes. I first served this white bean chicken soup earlier this fall, and I thought it was great. My mother-in-law was such a fan of this easy chicken-based soup that she wanted me to text her the recipe the next day. 
I liked this chicken soup so much that I plan to serve it to friends at a holiday gathering later this month for the holiday season. Surprisingly, the recipe originated from a Southern Living kid's cookbook I bought years ago. 
This easy white bean chicken soup is great for entertaining a large crowd.


This white bean chicken soup can easily be doubled for entertaining. This easy chicken soup takes on a holiday look when you add cilantro for a touch of green.

I hope you enjoy it as much as my family did. It also freezes well. 
Ingredients:
  • 1 tablespoon butter 
    •  
  • 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
  • 1 rotisserie chicken, skinned, boned, and coarsely chopped
  • 2 (14-ounce) cans chicken broth
  • 1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 3 (16-ounce) cans of great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
    •  

      **You can double the recipe, but I use only one onion. If the chicken soup is too thick, you can add water or extra chicken broth when reheating. 

    Directions: 

    Melt butter in a large pot over low heat. Add carrots, onions, and garlic. Saute until tender, then stir in chicken, chicken broth, green chilies, cumin, and red pepper. Bring soup to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Place beans in a medium bowl and mash using a potato masher until about half the beans are still whole. Add beans and the whipping cream to the chicken soup mixture. 
    Cook for 10 additional minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in cilantro (optional). 
This easy white bean chicken soup is great for cold days and for a crowd #soups #stews #Mainmeals



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Beautycounter In-Between Promo Sale: November 1 to December 31

United States

Beautycounter, the clean beauty pioneer, hosts a one-month-only "Great In-Between" Sale from November 1 through December 31 before relaunching the beloved beauty brand in 2025. 

Take advantage of this fantastic beauty event. 

Get some of your favorite clean beauty products while supplies last. Be sure to snatch some of the best-selling items. 


Beautycounter Promo Sale 2024


SHOP the In-Between Beautycounter 2024 Sale 

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