Barbs Butter Bean or Lima Bean Soup

• lima beans (dried)1 lb
• water↗6 cups

  add more if needed

• kielbasa or 1/2 lb ham↗1⁄2 lb
• chicken base (McCormicks)↗3 -4 teaspoons
• carrot, sliced↗3⁄4 cup
• stalk celery, diced↗1
• medium onion, chopped↗1
• (14 ounce) can tomatoes, diced↗1
• salt and pepper
• flour↗2 tablespoons

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Put beans into large soup pot cover with water bring to a boil for 2 minutes, turn off heat and let set for 1 hour, Drain off water.

2. 2

   Add the 6 cups water to the beans and bring to a boil & simmer; at this point if I an using ham or ham hocks I put them in a smaller saucepan and cook them until done.

3. 3

   When beans are starting to get tender add ham (& broth from ham) or Kielbasa, tomatoes, onion , carrots, celery and simmer until done.

4. 4

   Season with salt and pepper to taste: also for a thicker soup add the 2 tablespoons flour to a little water, add to soup and simmer, check seasonings.