Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Soup for supper....

It has been damp and cold in the cabin. Jack wanted soup to help with the chill. My mother had always talked about cranberry beans so when I found a package of beans at Williams-Sonoma, I decided to give them a try.
I googled some recipes for cranberry bean soup and sort of combined the ones I found - taking what I thought was the best from each one.

We soaked the beans overnight.
I used 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, and 2 small onions - all chopped and diced the way we like them.
A hunk of chopped Pancetta was tried out with a little olive oil.



I used a big pinch of Kosher salt and a few dashes of black pepper. Fresh garlic has been disappointing recently so I have been using minced garlic from the herb and spice rack.

When the vegetables looked ready, I added 6 cups of water and a small can of chopped tomatoes. I used a half a teaspoon each of Better Than Bouillon chicken and beef. Herbs from the garden simmered slowly. Two bay leaves completed the herbs and a glug of red wine for good measure. We have also started using the rind from Parmesan cheese. It is a very subtle flavor that I like with tomatoes (remove before serving).

We cooked the mixture for a little over an hour. Almost done. It was very good on this cold damp day and there are leftovers for tonight!


Hope your weather is getting better! See you on Pink Saturday!

12 comments:

Savannah Granny said...

Yum, this looks good. It is stifling hot here but this soup still sounds good. Great supper with an added salad. Thanks for sharing, Ginger :)

Lynn said...

Sounds great! I actually have some pintos in the little oven now:@)

Vee said...

I'm sure that a bowl of hot soup was very welcome on that chilly night. We were out shopping at Lowes and thought we'd freeze. It's not looking much better for tonight.

From the Kitchen said...

Looks delicious! We enjoy soup year round--cold and hot coups--and I'm making a faux French onion soup today to use up some onions.

Best,
Bonnie

Miss Char said...

I've never heard of cranberry beans but your soup sure looks yummy. I bet the soup was just what ya needed on a cool spring day at the cabin. Thanks for sharing.

deb said...

Funny...I found some cranberry beans a month or so ago and made them up. I was surprised to find that (to me) they tasted just like pintos!!

Eileen said...

That looks and sounds absolutely delicious! I love your descriptions - it was as though we were right there beside you as you were preparing it.

Pam said...

Carol, your soup looks very good. I've never heard of the beans either but, I haven't met a bean I don't like so will be looking for them. Hope your weather is better! The last couple of days here have been wonderful but rain on the way yet again tonight and for the next few days. This soup would be perfect for then, or anytime!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

We've got the same yucky weather.

podso said...

As it's gotten a tad cooler here, I can try and picture your cool temperatures and chill to the cabin air and what a perfect meal to have on such a day. Simmering on the stove adds some anticipation of a good meal too. Had not heard of cranberry beans but now I know!

LindyLouMac said...

Sorry it is so cold that you felt you needed a hearty soup.

Jacqueline said...

Looks like you are having too much fun and lots of great food at the cabin! I was catching up. I wish I had a Trader Joes around here!

Also, wishing you a great birth month! I just read that post. I agree, a birthday is just not long enough.
Keep celebrating!

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