17 Bean and Barley Soup

Thank goodness for Trader Joe's. We love that place. I picked up a bag of their 17 Bean and Barley Mix and we are making the soup recipe on the back. We soaked the beans overnight and all day but this would make a great slow cooker recipe, soaking them overnight and then adding the other ingredients in the morning to cook all day while you play.

17 Bean and Barley Soup:

One bag bean and barley mix or 2 cups mixed beans
Soak overnight or quick soak (boil and rest for one hour)

saute:
2 tsps olive oil
1 cup onion chopped
1 cup carrot chopped
1 cup celery chopped
**TJ's also sells the above Mirepoix chopped and ready to go in the produce section**
1 red bell pepper chopped
1 tsp basil
1 clove garlic chopped
add to drained beans along with one 32 oz vegetable broth, you may need to add more broth or water to keep beans covered as they cook
simmer for one hour+
add chopped tomatoes
s+p
**tomatoes and salt keep beans from cooking so only add when beans are tender**
serve with crusty bread and a fresh salad

Our lettuce is growing faster than we can eat it. I severely cut back the outer leaves the other day, enough lettuce for five big salads, and they had already grown back yesterday. We will prune again tomorrow!!

Tomato update for those keeping track: the Texas Cages arrived today! We did a happy dance when UPS pulled up.