Aunt Ginnys Bean Soup Recipes

AUNT GINNY'S BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Wash beans and add water to cover 2 inches over the beans.
• Soak overnight.
• Drain and put in a 6-8 quart pot.
• Cover with 2 quarts water, or use the ham stock made the day before (you may want to use chicken or vegetable broth if you didn't use a ham bone to make a stock).
• Remove meat from ham bone and dice, discarding any fat.
• Add the remaining ingredients and the meat removed from the ham bone and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat and simmer for 3-4 hours, or until the beans are tender.
• Sometimes I will add about 1 T chili powder to the soup for a change of pace.

GREAT NORTHERN BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse and drain beans.
• Heat water, beans, bay leaves, onion, bacon and potatoes to boiling in 8-qt. stock pot; boil 2 minutes. Turn off heat, cover, and let stand 1 hour.
• Add tomato sauce, instant bouillon, salt, pepper, garlic and half of the carrots and celery to beans. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until beans are tender, about 2 hours (do not boil or beans will burst).
• Stir remaining carrots and celery into soup. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 1 hour. Stir in additional 1 or 2 cups water for thinner consistency.
• Using a slotted spoon and a wooden spoon, scoop potatoes against inside of pot and smash them, letting smashed potatoes drop back into the soup.
• Stir in butter and milk and serve immediately.

OLD FASHIONED BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Wash beans, discarding imperfect ones. Cover beans with 2 1/2 quarts water; refrigerate, covered, overnight.
• Next day, turn beans and water (there should be 6 cups) into 6-quart kettle.
• Add ham hocks, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat, and simmer, covered tightly, about 2 hours, or until the beans are almost tender.
• Add mashed potato, celery, carrot, salt and pepper. Return to boiling; simmer, covered, about 1 hour longer, or until beans are tender.
• Remove ham hocks; cut off meat. Dice meat, and return to kettle. Just before serving, sprinkle with chopped parsley.

QUICK BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• In a 3-qt. saucepan, combine onion, carrots, celery and water. Bring to a boil; boil for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients; mix well. Heat through.