15 Bean Soup

Jana here with a recipe that is very easy, and also really delicious!  All you need to start this soup is a bag of 15 Bean Soup!  This is found at the grocery store on the aisle with the bags of dry beans.  The brand my store carries is Hurst's, and I was very pleased with the quality of the beans!  There was a recipe on the back of the package, and I followed it closely, with great results!  I used the 'Quickcook Method', and it only took a few hours. (as opposed to needing to soak the beans overnight, etc)

15 Bean Soup

1 bag of 15 bean soup (20 ounces)
1 pound ham or smoked sausage
1 cup onion, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1-2 cloves minced garlic
salt to taste

1. Place rinsed beans in a pot with 3 quarts of water.

2. Bring to a rapid boil.  Reduce heat, cover and continue boiling 60-70 minutes.  Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

3. After 60 minutes, add ingredients. Simmer for 30-45 minutes. 

4. Add contents of ham packet, and salt and pepper to taste.

This makes a lot of soup, so it could easily be eaten for a few nights, and frozen for a future meal!  Soup is a great freezer meal food!