By Anne Payne

 

Almost everyone has probably heard of 15 Bean Soup.  Several brands and varieties are available in the stores.  I soak mine overnight.  The soup cooks quickly and makes easily, feeds a large crowd, and remains the perfect soup to which you can make it your own by adding various ingredients.

 

Equipment needed:

Large soup cooking pot with lid, large spoon, strainer, crock pot, large knife for cutting bacon

 

Ingredients:

Any brand of 15 dry bean soup with seasoning packet added

2-15 oz cans petite chopped tomatoes with liquid, with 4 cans water added

2-8 oz cans tomato sauce with 4 cans water added

2-6.7 oz cans mushrooms with liquid (optional)

1-4 oz can mild diced green chili peppers (optional)

1 pkg 1-lb bacon, cut sml pieces

1 pkg frozen peas and carrots

1/2 pkg frozen chopped onions

1/2 pkg frozen chopped green peppers

 

Soak 15 bean dry soup mixture overnight in large pot with lid. Rinse next morning in strainer. Place the now soft bean mixture in crock pot.  Add seasoning in packet with 15 bean soup.  Slice pound of bacon in small pieces to mix with other ingredients in crock pot.  Add rest of all ingredients, deciding upon optional ingredients, as well as adding cans of water. More or less water should be adjusted as needed.  Secure lid on crock pot.  Turn on high for 3-4 hours. Serve with cornbread, saltines, Ritz crackers, or all of these!