Good Soup

What is more welcoming that the smell of a nice soup cooking on the stove?
Soaked my beans overnight, made sure I had a Ham Hock, used some of my flavorful homemeade chicken stock......
When it comes to making good stock, I follow the cookbook "Nourishing Traditions"
It is worth saving your pennies for this book and referring to it often. I strayed from the good info in here and find myself not feeling very well. Get back to using good foods, that's the focus!

I don't know how you feel about ham hocks, but, I get load of flavor from one. Usually can get 2-3 batches of soup from one Ham Hock that I cut apart.

So, back to the soup. I think it should be called Christmas Soup. Take a look at that tastiness.

Christmas Soup

3/4 Cup White Beans and a 1" piece of Kombu

1-1/2 Quarts Homemade Chicken Stock

2T Olive Oil

1-2 Cloves Fresh Garlic, Mashed

1/2 Large Yellow Onion, Chopped

1 Bay Leaf

Portion of a Smoked Ham Hock

 (1/2 if it is small, 1/3 if it is large.

They are easy to cut starting from the narrow

end toward the wider end)

Large Bunch of Kale, rinsed, ribs removed and torn into pieces

Pint of Chopped Tomatoes (or a 15oz can)

Pepper to taste, you really shouldn't need salt as the Ham Hock will add that flavor.

Heat a soup pot on the stove, with the 2T olive oil. When the oil is heated enough, add the onion and garlic. Rinse your soaked beans and remove the Kombu . Add the beans to the pot and stir. Add your broth, Ham Hock piece and Bay Leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce your heat to low and simmer until the beans are tender.

Remove your bit of ham Hock and let it cool til you can touch it. Take the meat parts and chop into little pieces. Throw the rest of it away, it already did its work flavoring your soup for you.

Now add your torn kale, tomatoes and the reserved meat parts.  Let the kale wilt and the tomatoes heat through, about 5 minutes. Season to tase with pepper.

Serve.

I like eating this with Wasa Sourdough Rye Crackers or Sprouted Wheat Pretzels.

Soaking Beans: Rinse and pick over your beans, Put them in a bowl with a lot more water than beans. Add a 1" piece of Kombu to this also. Kombu helps make beans easier to digest. Let them soak over night or while you are away for the day at work.