So this takes awhile because, well.... it's beans and they take some time, but it's so easy peasy as to be ridiculous and the family loved, loved, loved it...
I bought the soup mix somewhere. Zarpentine's Farm Market, maybe? Or somewhere in my travels, scouting out sweet settings for books. There's nothing like playoff time and cold winter Sundays to have soup brewing... bread baking.... and a cozy nap by the fireplace is never a bad thing!
This was what was left of the glorious spiral ham we had last night with a bunch of us here...
Yup. A hank of bone and bits and pieces... But I grabbed me a plateful of pieces to use for the soup. "Waste not, want not...." Use it up, make it do, wear it out!
And we tuck the beans/pea/mix into water and simmer for 30 minutes:
Then we add the meat, I threw in four home-grown chopped carrots, the seasoning mix (a little Cajun/Tex/Mex blend in the packet) and two cans of diced tomatoes. If I'd had time, I'd have canned my own tomatoes this year, but I'd have had to PLANT them first.
Oops.
Okay, back to soup:
Uncle Art Eichas grew these bad boys.... and they have that wonderful taste and texture of real carrots, not grown in sand or water. Whole different ball game when they have to fight for supremacy in real top soil!
We simmer for a while....
Oh my stars, the entire house is scented of some kind of sweet, red Kohl's Candle in the dining room.... and a spicy, herbed scent of bean soup in the kitchen.
This is part of why I love winter. One pot meals, extra writing time, peace and quiet. Around here there is nothing akin to peace and quiet in the summer.... which I LOVE but.... I love this, too.
All is calm. All is bright. And I've got a blanket.!!!
