Mom's Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:

10 Slices of bacon, finely chopped
2 medium onions, chopped (about 2.5 cups)
6 garlic cloves, pressed
1 (14.5 oz. can) reduced sodium chicken broth
1.5 cups canned chopped tomatoes
2 Tbs. ketchup
2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
1 Tbs. Chili powder
4 (15.5 oz cans) Black beans, drained not rinsed
Kosher Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 bunch of cilantro
juice of 1/2 a lime
Thinly sliced scallions, for garnish
sour cream, for garnish
grated cheddar cheese, for garnish

Method:
Add bacon to large heavy pot over medium heat.  Cook until it starts to give up its fat, about 4 minutes.  Stir in the onions and cook, stirring until they start to turn translucent, about 4 minutes.  Stir in garlic and cook for about 45 seconds.  Add the broth, tomatoes, ketchup, worcestershire and chili powder.  Stir in beans, turn the heat to high and bring to a boil.  Adjust the heat so the soup is bubbling gently and cook 10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, pick off all the stem from the cilantro.  Wash it and shake dry.  Chop cilantro and stir it into the soup when it has been simmering 10 minutes.  Cook until soup is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in lime juice.  Serve with garnishes.

Chico Warm Ups

A Chico clubhouse favorite. We ate this to keep warm while watching our brothers play football.

Favorite Chili (home made or store bought)
Fritos
Shredded Cheese

Cook chili. First add fritos to the bottom of your chili bowl, then add chili and top with lots of cheese (Hmmm...sour cream would be good too!)

Brunson Beans

2 medium sized cans of Pork-n-Beans
1/4 cup brown sugar
Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce (to taste)


Drain as much liquid as you can from the pork and beans and add to a medium pot. Add brown sugar and sweet baby rays (I usually use 1/2 a large bottle or 1 small bottle) and mix. Simmer on low for 20-25 minutes