Ingredients

• 2 cups dry black beans
• 4 cups water
• 1 large green pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 T olive oil
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 oz chopped smoke turkey or ham
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 4 T cilantro, chopped

Steps

1. Wash beans thoroughly and let stand in the water overnight.
2. Simmer the beans in the same water for 1 hour over a low heat.
3. Add the onion and half of the garlic and green pepper.
4. Add the bay leaf and pepper. Simmer for 1 hour.
5. Saute the ham in the olive oil. Add the rest of the garlic and green pepper. Cook 2 minutes.
6. Add the ham mixture to the soup. Mix thoroughly.
7. Garnish with cilantro.

This recipe creates a wonderful texture by dividing the vegetables in half, chopping one half and pureeing the rest. Then the 2 are re-combined to add a touch of crunch to an otherwise smooth soup.

Ingredients

• 2-3 large tomatoes
• 2 onions
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 medium green pepper
• 5 oz pimento
• 2 cups tomato juice
• 3 T chives to garnish
• croutons to garnish

Steps

1. Use a blender to puree half of ingredients: tomatoes, onions, cucumber, peppers, pimento, and tomato juice.
2. Finely chop the other half of the vegetables.
3. In a large bowl or jug, mix the puree with the remaining tomato juice. Chill for 2 hours.
4. Pour the soup into chilled bowls and add 2-3 T of chopped vegetables to each bowl. Sprinkle with chives and croutons.

Ingredients

• 2 oz smoked turkey ham
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 litres chicken stock
• 6 oz dry lentils
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Steps

1. Soak the lentils in cold water overnight
2. In a skillet, saute the vegetables (except potatoes), with the ham.
3. Add lentils and the stock.  Bring to boil.
4. Simmer for 30 minutes, skimming off the foam as it forms.
5. Add potatoes. Simmer another 10 minutes.