Bean with Bacon Soup

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package dried navy beans
• 9 cups water
• 1 pound bacon
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 4 teaspoons chicken bouillon
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/3 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 (16 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 4 cups water

Directions

1 Boil the beans in 9 cups of the water and then let sit for one hour. Drain and set aside.
2 Cook the bacon to your desired texture (it can be soft or crisp, whatever you prefer) and drain except for 1/4 cup grease. Coarsly chop the bacon.
3 Add the onions and celery to the reserved grease and bacon and saute until soft, do not drain. Add the chicken base or cubes, 4 cups water, beans, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and cloves, and simmer for 2 hours.
4 Stir in the tomatoes with their juice. Serve.

Submitted 6/13/05.
Source: Internet/Karena
Submitted By: Marlen
matchlessm@aol.com
Bean with Bacon Soup