Garbanzo Kale Medley Soup

Garbanzo Kale Medley Soup

It was a "try something new" kind of day.  We had some garbanzo beans and I was trying to think of something to do with them...  My kids suggested soup.  Good idea.  We love soup around here.  But, what to put in it?  Well, none of us have ever had kale before...  and it is dark green and leafy so we know it's loaded with good stuff like vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, and iron...  just to name a few.  So, we had our two main ingredients and built it up from there.
Here's what went into it:

*  8 oz dried garbanzo beans (chick peas)
*  8 ripped leaves of kale (no stems)
*  8 oz fresh mushrooms, quartered
*  one cucumber, peeled, sliced thick and quarter the slices
*  1/2 red onion, big dices
*  one can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
*  1 1/2 tablets (3 servings) chicken bouillon cubes
*  garlic powder (to taste)
*  curry powder (to taste)
*  salt and pepper (to taste)

This is how we cooked it: 
First, soak the beans for at least 12 hours.  Boil 2 cups of water and dissolve bouillon tablets in it.  Using a large pot, pour in the dissolved chicken bouillon, 4 cups water, and garbanzo beans.  Let it come to a boil.  Stirring occasionally.  When beans are tender, add the rest of the ingredients and seasonings...  let it return to a boil, then turn down to medium...  Cook soup until kale is tender...  Don't let it turn to mush!  Serve with warm bread.  We had focaccia.  The kids loved this soup...  They called it the garbanzo bean kale experiment...  hahaha!  They are so cute!  So, now we have a new soup to add to our ever expanding list of things we love.