Portugese Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 c. red kidney beans (dry)
2 qt. water or meat stock
3 onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, diced
1/4 c. bacon fat
6 potatoes, peeled and diced
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Wash beans; add water. Bring to boil, then reduce heat.
Cook gently for 1 hour. Saute onions, garlic and fat until golden. Add with remaining ingredients; cover and continue to simmer for 1 hour or longer. Do not add salt to initial cooking water, since it will tend to make the beans tough.