Bean Soup

Bean soup

This is a recipe that you can alter by just the beans you include in it. It can also be both vegetarian or meat lover by just the ingredients you vary. I used black beans in my mix. along with some tomatoes that were getting close to failing their usefulness. I used black beans, lentils, limas, dried corn, pintos, black eyed peas. Be creative.

2 cups beans of your choice of mix can include lentils

½ cup barley or wheat

1-2 medium onions, diced

3-4 cloves garlic minced

½ cup celery, sliced

1 cup cooked meat (optional)

2 tsp favorite herb or seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

8 cups water or broth

Soak first beans overnight. Drain and cook beans and wheat or barley for about half an hour till they soften. Sauté onion, garlic and celery and add to beans with the remainder of the ingredients. Cook until beans are soft enough to eat. This soup is better the day after cooking.

— Barbara Rexford