mix once more. Throw in the cherry tomatoes and croutons and toss again, adding the avocado on top in wedges as garnish. Enjoy!

# **BLACK BEAN SOUP**

**MAKES 4 BOWLS**

Beans, beans, good for the heart! This soup is hearty indeed, chock-full of black beans and fresh veggies. Spice it up with some jalapeños and cilantro if you choose. If you find it a bit too thick after blending, just add a few spoonfuls of water.

2 ears of fresh corn, sliced off the cob

1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil

1 cup (150 g) white onion, diced

2 tsp (10 g) sea salt

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika

⅛ tsp cayenne pepper

3 cups (720 g) canned black beans, drained and rinsed

3 medium tomatoes, diced

2½ cups (590 mL) purified water

1 small avocado, cut in wedges

1 or 2An Era of Reform By 1820, changes in religious attitudes in New England led to a widespread era of reform. As the harsh views of the Puritans gave way, Protestants came to believe that it was possible for anyone to achieve perfection in their lives and reach heaven. They set to work reforming themselves and their communities. Abolition of slavery, the fight for women's suffrage, and efforts to care for those less fortunate are all rooted in this era. Women like Maine's own Dorothea Dix took an active role leading these movements. By the second decade of the 19th Century, New England's great secret was increasingly seen as America's growing problem with alcohol. Current estimations show that per capita consumption of alcohol in America reached its peak in