The life and times of the Redding family.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Bean Soup Mix and Soup Recipe

This last week (today is the beginning of a new week right:) we made up a batch of bean soup mix. I also cooked up a pot of this wonderful bean soup, we baked a lot of bread which I ate too much of.

This is soup weather right? This time of year makes me want to cook and bake and make crafts too! I love feeling the cool air and seeing the beautiful colors of the leaves - they will be gone soon:(

My children really like beans but they are not used to bean soup so I wasn't sure if they would like it. It was all soon gone. My youngest Miss Esther liked it best of all. Most preferred theirs without the ham. So next time I will make a vegetarian version.

I have given and received these packages as gifts through the years. They are nice to have done ahead and are cute tucked into a basket with other things or just as a small gift on their own. They are also wonderful to cook too!

Bean Soup Mix
***Read options before you start
In a very large bowl or pan mix 1 pound each of the following dried beans: black beans, Northern beans, navy, pinto,red, black eyed peas, green split peas, yellow split peas, lentils, baby limas, large limas, garbanzo, and pearled barley. Stir these together into a beautiful soup mix. These can be packaged into 2 cup packages with the soup recipe for gift giving.
*** Instead of mixing them all together you may choose to layer these into quart jars 1/4 cup each of alternating colored beans. This looks very special:) Top with lid and cover it with a small square of fabric tied with twine or ribbon and make a cute little card with the recipe included for gift giving. Those who just want to make the bean soup will like the following recipe.

Bean Soup Recipe
1 (2cup) package of soup mix
water to cover two inches above the soup mix
1 added about a cup of chopped ham (some prefer to skip the ham) or ham hock
2 cups chopped tomatoes, undrained and chopped or broken apart. I do this by hand.
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 chili pepper chopped
1 clove garlic minced
salt and pepper to taste

Sort and wash soup mix. Place in a pot and cover with water about 2 inches above the beans. Soak 8 hours or bring to a boil for a minute or two and cover and turn off. Let stand an hour. Drain and proceed. Add about 2 quarts of water and the ham if desired. Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender (about 1 1/2 hours). AFTER (never before) the beans are tender stir in the tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes uncovered. If you used the ham hock remove and take meat from the bone. Return it to the soup and salt and pepper. Enjoy!!!

1 comment:

crystal said...

Yummy! One of my all time favorites! I usually make a pot and share it with a friend or neighbor. None of my family like beans. (I know,, they're nuts right?)