Fall is certainly in the air. I do enjoy the crisp feel of the air,
and I love to see the brilliant colors of the trees. As the air gets cooler, it is time to think about the foods that warm us from the inside out. Today I am sharing a very simple recipe for Bean Soup.
Easy and Delicious Bean Soup
2 pounds of pinto beans
1 sweet onion diced
1/2 pound of smoked ham diced (or ham hock)
2 teaspoons of Ham Flavored Soup Base
Put the beans in a roaster pan, and cover them with water. I let the beans sit in the water overnight. I do this step the night before I am making the bean soup.
Drain the beans in a colander, and rinse thoroughly. Return the beans to a roaster pan. Dissolve 2 teaspoons of the Ham Flavored Soup Base in 2 cups of boiling water. Cover the beans with this broth. You can make additional broth by dissolving 1 teaspoon of the Ham Flavored Soup Base in 1 cup of water. Add the chopped onions and the chopped ham or ham hocks to the beans. Make sure the beans are covered by liquid. You can add water to cover the beans.
Put the pot over a medium heat until the mixture boils. Turn the heat down to simmer. Put a lid on the pot and cook this for at least 5 hours. You want your beans to be soft.
I serve this with Jif Cornbread. I add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the mix and make muffins. This is a great meal, and even better the second day.
Until next time, “From our Butcher Block to your Table”.