Blustery Winter Days

Blustery days and and a bowl of hot, hearty soup go together. 

Busy days and soup go together. 

I've been packing. And packing. And packing.

So far, seventeen boxes of china. 

Yep - that's right - I said seventeen. Boxes of china. 

And then cleaned out the basement. There I found three truckloads of miscellany fit to go to St. Vincent's.  And three giant bags of garbage  fit to go to the road.  

At the end of the day I was so relieved to have put a pot of bean soup on to simmer.  

Try it on your next busy day. It would probably work in a crock pot too, if you're not going to be home. 

Bean Soup

In a large stock pot or dutch oven place:

1 smoked pork hock or meaty ham bone.

3 cups dried white beans or black eyed peas

2 large potatoes, halved

2 medium carrots, in large chunks 

2 yellow onions, chopped

2 bay leaves

rosemary or thyme ( whichever or neither ) 

freshly ground pepper 

Cover generously with water  ( start with 8 cups and add more if necessary ) 

Simmer until beans are tender and vegetables are soft. 

Remove pork hock or ham bone and pick off and chop the meat,

Use a potato masher to chop up the potatoes and carrot in the pot.

OK - now the secret ingredient - pour in about 1/4 cup or so of molasses. 

It improves the colour and makes it super yummy.

Enjoy!

( it's even better the next day )

<3 Karen