when i go on vacation, i go on vacation. i stay up too late, i sleep in too long, brian and i go on long morning drives, and we scout out where we are going to eat lunch. with that being said, i don't always make the best decisions when i eat out...which is preferably, if not always at a seafood shack, over looking the ocean (with a beer in hand)...with a cool ocean breeze...calamari...fried calamari...and a fried grouper sandwich...and onion rings...and a second beer, you get the point. so when i got back into town last night, i wanted (and desperately needed) some fresh, homemade food. problem was, i pretty much emptied my fridge before i left town, and was not about to go to the market. but, i did have enough around to make this delicious soup. it's a simple vegetable soup with a lot of flavor. start by sauteing some diced onion (please dice it small, no one likes big chunks of onion in their soup, trust me on this), minced garlic, yellow pepper (or any color), until soft. throw in a can of drained and rinsed black beans, a can of diced tomatoes, about 1/2 cup of frozen corn (use fresh corn if you have it), a 32 oz. box of reduced sodium chicken broth, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, fresh cilantro, salt and pepper. bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes. i did add a small amount of rice, but it is definitely not needed. empty out your fridge and get creative with your soups, they are really delicious