Campbell's Bean and Bacon Soup

By KitchenGnome

Ingredients

• 2 cups navy beans
• water
• 6 slices uncooked bacon, diced
• 3 small carrots, minced
• 3 stalks celery, minced
• 1 onion, minced
• 1 ⁄2 teaspoon thyme
• 2 -4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (4 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 dash dried red pepper flakes
• 6 -8 cups water (substituting 1 or 2 cups of ham stock for equal amount of water gives this soup extra depth)
• 1 teaspoon wine vinegar
• 3 drops liquid smoke
• salt and pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Soak beans overnight and discard water.

Place all ingredients EXCEPT wine vinegar, liquid smoke, salt and pepper in a large kettle.

Simmer until beans are tender, around 3 hours.

Puree 2 cups of soup and return to pot.

Add wine vinegar and liquid smoke.

Mix well.

Taste; add salt and pepper to taste.