Zooty's Lazy Bean Soup

Yesterday I was walking around in a short sleeve top and capri pants!

Woke up this morning to grey skies and the smell of rain, and although not exactly cold I have been wearing jeans, a long sleeve tee and a body warmer!

We had a huge brunch and have been nibbling all afternoon so I felt for something light for supper, like yummy BEAN SOUP! 

Now making bean soup the "proper" way is quite a production which involves soaking dried beans overnight!   The cooking process itself takes about four to five hours!    

I decided to make Bean Soup at twenty past five THIS afternoon - making it the "proper" way is  out of  the question wouldn't you say??

So here is my LAZY BEAN SOUP RECIPE:

Ingredients:

3 medium size carrots (peeled and grated)
2 medium size onions (peeled and finely chopped)
250g diced bacon (guess you could leave it out for a vegetarian option!  - but I cook for a good old fashioned South African man!)
2 x 410g cans Mixed Beans (drained)
1 x 410g can Butter Beans (drained)
500ml  (2 cups) stock (I make mine by dissolving a chicken stock cube in 500ml boiling water - vegetarian option use 5ml veggie stock powder)
5ml (1 teaspoon) garlic pepper (a mix of garlic flakes, ground pepper and salt)
12,5ml (1 tablespoon) butter or margarine
12,5ml (1 tablespoon) flour
125ml (1/2 cup) milk
12.5ml (1 tablespoon) lemon juice

Method:

Heat a little sunflower oil in a heavy base pot (I use a cast iron pot)
Sweat the onions, carrots and diced bacon for about 5 minutes

Add the beans and stir through with a wooden spoon

Sweat for a further 5 minutes
Add the stock and the garlic pepper

Simmer over low heat for 60 minutes

(Meanwhile do something that does not require much concentration like working ends in!)

While still simmering -  mash the soup with a potato masher (when making "proper" bean soup this process involves putting the mixture through a sieve).    Now bring the mixture to the boil.

Melt the margarine or butter in the microwave.   Mix in the flour (make a paste).   Mix in the milk

Add to the boiling soup and stir until the soup binds (the milk mixes in and it goes a creamy beigy colour)

Add the lemon juice and stir through

Serving suggestion:   Toasted bread fingers (I cut the crust of day old bread, cut into fingers and toast under the grill in the oven for a minute or so!)

YUM!   

Does not look very artistic I am afraid - but it does taste good!!!