French Market Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. mixed dried beans (the larger the assortment, the better!)
2 1/2 qt. water
salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper to taste
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. hot sausage (meat removed from casings)
1 onion, minced
1 qt. canned tomatoes
4 potatoes, cubed (optional)
4 carrots, sliced (optional)
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
juice of 1 lemon

Preparation

Use heavy 5-quart pot to cook bean mixture in 2 1/2 quarts water.
Bring to boil.
Cover and simmer.
While beans are cooking, make very small meat balls from sausage meat, ground beef, onion, salt and peppers.
Fry or bake in oven to brown and remove excess fat.
After beans have cooked for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, add browned meat balls and cook for 30 minutes.
Then add potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, tomato paste, salt and peppers.
Cook an additional 20 minutes or until all ingredients are done.
Add lemon juice and serve.