Bean Soup(Serves 4) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. beans
18 c. water
1 Tbsp. oil
1 qt. liquid
1 large can tomatoes
vegetables such as celery, carrot, green beans, corn, okra and onions
seasonings (garlic, bay leaf, red pepper and curry powder) in bag

Preparation

To avoid gas from beans soak beans in 9 cups water for a minimum of 4 to 5 hours.
Drain and discard water.
In a large pot over high heat, bring 9 cups water to a boil.
Add soaked beans and oil, to reduce foaming (may be omitted to reduce fat and top of liquid skimmed with a spoon), turn heat down to simmer.
Cover loosely and cook for 1 hour.
Drain water from beans and repeat previous step, cooking until beans are tender.
Drain again reserving 1/2 cup liquid.
Dissolve seasonings from bag in this liquid and return to pot with beans.
Add liquid and tomatoes along with vegetables.
Serve hot with low-fat crackers for a well balanced meal.