Soup In A Jar

[kitchenelf]

Aside from being a great homemade gift this is also a GREAT soup

Holiday Bean Soup Mix
1 pound each of these dried beans:
black beans
red beans
kidney beans
navy beans
great northern beans
baby lima beans
large lima beans
pinto beans
green split peas
yellow split peas
black-eyed peas
green lentils
brown lentils

Combine beans in a very large bowl or layer in each jar, whichever you prefer. Use a 16-oz jar (2 cups) and pour in or use a little of each at a time until you get to the top (this is the way I like to do it). Then on top of the beans I add 2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. chili powder, and 1 tsp. ground cumin.

If you don't want to add these ingredients yourself then add them to the recipe below for each person to do. You also won't have to add that first sentence but be sure and include these items when it mentions adding all the ingredients.

Provide this recipe with each jar:

SOUP IN A JAR

beans from jar
1 smoked ham hock
2 cans stewed tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
6 cups water
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 TBS red wine vinegar

Put beans in sieve to remove seasonings into a bowl and save. Cover beans with water and soak overnight. Drain beans and place in a stockpot. Add ham hock, tomatoes, onion, garlic, 6 cups of water and saved seasonings. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, cover and simmer 1 hour or until beans are tender. Makes 11 cups of soup.