smoky black eyed pea & kale stew

hearty healthy stew - great served as is or with 1/2 of a grilled caramelized onion & hummus sandwich.  our family also prefers a kick to our soups, stews & chili's. so feel free to add some cayenne pepper or better yet hot sauce.

ingredients:
~1-2 tablespoons coconut oil
~2 sweet onions - diced
~6-7 garlic cloves - minced
~1 large red bell pepper or 2 small
~1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
~1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme (or dried if you have it)
~1 container organic white mushrooms or 2 cups - coarsely chopped
~1/4 teaspoon chipotle chili pepper
~1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika
~3 cups vegetable broth
~3 cups water
~2 tablespoons wakame flakes - crushed - I put this in a zip lock back and hit it with a hammer a few times haha.. didn't want to clean our grinder. ;)
~3 cans of black eyed peas - rained & cooked (toss in frying pan and cook up)
~1 small bunch of kale - steamed & chopped after steaming
~juice of 1/2 lemon
~5 drops of liquid smoke - or to taste

directions:
1. in a large soup pot, add coconut oil over medium heat and sauté onions - sprinkle with salt (sauté for about 5 minutes) then add your garlic and cook for additional 4 minutes. add in your red peppers, thyme & oregano - coat everything.  add your mushrooms. chili powder and smoke paprika, mix until coated, cook until 10 minutes until tender.

2. add vegetable broth, water, ground wakame flakes and beans - simmer for 30 minutes.

3. stir in the kale and continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes. add lemon juice & liquid smoke, season with salt & pepper.

serve and enjoy :D