The only good thing about the Senate is... the soup
Between the Big Brother provisions in the healthcare portion of the proposed Stimulus Bill to outright arrogance regarding whether or not average Americans care if there are any "pork" provisions, I'm not real happy with the Senate (or the House of Representatives or the President).The only thing I can say that I like about the Senate right now is the soup.
U. S. Senate Bean Soup is a favorite soup of mine. Not only is it delicious, it's also easy (and cheap) to make.
Bean soup is on the menu in the Senate's restaurant every day. There are several stories about the origin of that mandate, but none has been corroborated.
According to one story, the Senate’s bean soup tradition began early in the 20th-century at the request of Senator Fred Dubois of Idaho. Another story attributes the request to Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota, who expressed his fondness for the soup in 1903.
Whatever the case, it's good soup. Here's the recipe - and I've also included canning instructions.
U. S. Senate Bean Soup
- 2 pounds dried navy beans
- 4 quarts hot water
- 1 1/2 pounds smoked ham hocks
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Add ham hocks and simmer approximately three hours in a covered pot, stirring occasionally.
Remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Dice meat and return to soup.
Lightly brown the onion in butter. Add to soup. Before serving, bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper. Serves 8.
Canning instructions:
Prepare soup. Wash and sterilize pint or quart jars. Keep hot. Wash and rinse lids and rings. Keep lids hot but don't boil.
Prepare pressure canner for processing.
Ladle hot soup into hot jars, leaving 1 inch of headspace. Wipe mouths and threads of jars with a clean towel. Put on lids and screw on bands finger-tight.
Place jars into pressure canner and process at the following:
Pints: 60 minutes at 11 lbs. pressure (dial gauge) / 10 lbs. pressure (weighted gauge) [or correct pressure for your altitude]
Quarts: 75 minutes at 11 lbs. pressure (dial gauge) / 10 lbs. pressure (weighted gauge) [or correct pressure for your altitude]
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