Fiddle 15-Bean Soup

Most stores carry a mixed bag of beans called 15-Bean Soup Mix

or 15-Bean Blend. If there is a "seasoning packet" in the

bag toss it in the trash becuase it is usually full of artificial flavoring.

Always rinse beans before cooking, especially lentils.

there are often pebbles of dirt in certain beans so rinse well.

Ro Tel tomatoes. Most Californians have never heard of these

but they are a staple in the South! They add a fresh punch

of spice to so many dishes. If you don't like spicy food then

substitute a regular can of diced tomatoes. We like these

so much we often put in 2 cans.

This recipe is so easy that it hardly feels like a recipe. This version is vegetarian and gluten free. It is also a Slow Cooker recipe. I've been working on a series of Slow Cooker recipes because everyone keeps asking for them.

For those who are not vegetarian feel free to add a ham hock or piece of leftover ham. This does take A LONG time in the Crock pot. So start it either the night before or in the morning. I started it at 1:00 and it wasn't ready by 6:00. So start early.

Then I made a brilliant mistake yesterday. I was reheating the bean soup on the stove and got distracted by my computer. All of a sudden I smelled something burning. I go in to the stove and the soup had cooked all the way down. The result was this intense rich tasting bean dish that was full of flavor. You'd have no idea that there wasn't any meat in the dish because it was so flavorful. So I highly recommend taking the soup and cooking it down even more to make a bean dish.

Then a quick note on Ro-Tel Tomatoes. I'd never heard of them before. My friend from Houston, Carol Sawyer, introduced me to her friend, Laura Ward, who is a fabulous cook! FABULOUS! Laura told me that Ro-Tel tomatoes were her secret in Crawfish Etoufee and a number of other dishes. They add a certain freshness and heat and truly almost taste like fresh tomatoes. I went to experiment with them and am now hooked. I keep a case of them in the pantry at all times. And they sell them everywhere from Target to Von's to Albertson's. I just love how I always learn something new about cooking! Another great tip from Laura was to put a whole lemon in a dish. I've been doing that in a number of dishes with fabulous results. Cut a lemon in half, squeeze the juice into whatever soup, etc. you are making and then put the two halves in the pot. Lemon juice was always a secret ingredient in my chili and it goes surprisingly well with beans.

FIDDLE VEGETARIAN 15-BEAN SOUP

1 1-pound bag of 15-Bean Soup Beans, rinses

2 quarts of water (if you aren't vegetarian you can use broth)

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 yellow onion, minced

3 celery stalks, diced

3-4 carrots, peeled and sliced

pinch of kosher salt

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 10-ounce can Rotel tomatoes (14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes

can be substituted)

1 whole lemon

Wash the beans than place them in a Slow Cooker. Add 2 quarts of Water and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. (if the beans came with a seasoning packet throw it in the trash!)

In a large saute pan saute over medium heat saute the onion, celery and carrots in olive oil. Sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt. After about 5 minutes add the garlic. Cook for about 1 minute and then add the tomato paste and let it coat and caramelize the vegetables. Then pour all the veggies in the Slow Cooker and stir.

Add the can of Rotel Tomatoes (substitute a can of Diced Tomatoes if you don't like spicy food.) Then cut a whole lemon in half. Squeeze the juice in the pot and then put the two lemon halves in the Slow Cooker.

Cook in a Slow Cooker for a minimum of 8 hours on high or overnight on medium or low. If you want a rich side bean dish a day later, reheat the beans on the stove and cook down until most of the liquid evaporates.

I don't have the calorie count on this yet but it should be somewhere between 180 to 230 depending on how much liquid vs. beans you have in a cup. A packed cup of beans is 230. So if you have more broth to beans it will be less than that. Beans are so healthy and packed with protein and fiber!