Famous Senate Restaurant Bean Soup

This is another recipe that has been part of the recipe box for such a long time that I have no idea where it came from...but it's delicious! (When I searched for a picture I found the recipe on food.com.)

Famous Senate Restaurant Bean Soup

4 qts. water (16 cups or 1 gallon)
2 lbs. navy beans, washed (4 cups)
1 1/2 lbs. ham hock (2-4 cups cut up ham pieces, depending on how much meat you want in it.)
1/2 cube of butter (This is an estimate. Use more or less as your tastes dictate.)
1 onion, chopped
3 carrots, sliced (I added this to the recipe.)
salt and pepper

Cook beans and meat in the water. Simmer 3 hours. Remove the meat and clean and chop it. Return it to the beans and water. (You may drain the beans, rinse and add clean water, if you are concerned about the bean "issues".) Brown the onions and carrots in the butter. Add to soup. Cook it another hour or so. I think that it just gets better the longer that it cooks. Season with salt and pepper before serving. Serves 8.

Recipe shared by Robin.

Dutch Oven Baked Beans

We love baked beans when we are camping or at a BBQ. This recipe is pretty basic. Add whatever additions your family likes, like bacon!

Dutch Oven Baked Beans

1 large can of baked beans

2T. chopped onions

Large squirt of mustard

large squirt of ketchup

2T. brown sugar (or molasses)

Mix all ingredients in a dutch oven, cover and cook dutch oven style until done, about 1 hour. If you keep the fire/coals low, you may cook it longer. Serves 6.

Recipe shared by Robin.

Hummus

This is a recipe that Jay was given at work. He loved it so much that he actually asked for the recipe.

1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained but reserve some of the liquid
1-2 cloves finely chopped garlic
1/4 t. cayenne pepper (add more, if you want it spicier)
juice of 1 lemon
sea salt and pepper
olive oil- 1/2 to 3/4 cup

Blend the garbanzo beans, garlic, cayenne, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Drizzle in 1/2 cup olive oil. Add more olive oil or reserved bean liquid until desired consistency.

**Add 1-2 T. Tahini for creamier texture.

Recipe shared by Robin.