Not to be outdone, the humble dried red bean beat out my favourite - wild blueberries - for the No.1 spot in antioxidant rich foods. Dried beans are so versatile, they can be added to soups, stews, salads, salsa, casseroles, dips, and the list goes on which is probably why they are found in most cuisines around the world.

Antioxidants, ever heard of them? I’m sure you have, but do know what they are? Chances are good antioxidants are already in your diet, but the fact is we all need more!

So what are they? Antioxidants are nutrients in our food that help repair damage done to our body by crazy free radicals. This helps prevent health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Since most of the Top 20 Antioxidant rich foods according to the USDA are fruits, we should all try to eat a good 7 to 8 servings of fruits and veggies a day.

Well, now that Easter has past I looked in the fridge to see what was leftover. If you have been a loyal blog reader you will know that the best way to utilize leftovers is…that’s right SOUP!

I just happened to have a ham bone with a nice amount of meat on it (the best base for a good soup is stock, with ham soup you make the stock simultaneously with the soup) along with an assortment of vegetables including a sweet potato and some quinoa. Perfect for an Old Fashioned Ham Soup.