Week 27: 10 lbs. of Beans or more!

There are so many different kinds of beans to store. Mix it up, so you have a nice variety. Kidney beans are the easiest and quickest to cook when you are in a hurry. Beans are an important part of the diet to build iron, fiber and protien.


Spicy Black Bean Soup With Cajun Sausage

Ingredients:
•1 tablespoon olive oil
•12 to 16 ounces Andouille or spicy sausage, thinly sliced
•1 large onion, diced
•2 ribs celery, diced
•2 cloves garlic, minced
•1 small red bell pepper, diced, about 1/2 cup
•2 tablespoons diced jalapeno peppers
•4 cups beef broth
•1/2 lb. dried black beans, (prepare in crockpot and add rest of ingredients)
•1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with juice
•2 tablespoons lemon juice
•1/4 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
•1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
•Salt, to taste
•1/4 teaspoon pepper
Preparation:
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add sausage and cook over medium heat until browned. Add onion, celery, red bell pepper, and jalapeno peppers; sauté for about 3 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute longer. Add all to crock pot, along with the beef broth,tomatoes, lemon juice, and remaining seasonings. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for a few hours.
Serve with cornbread or crusty rolls.