Gift Giving Bean Soup Mix 

Ingredients:
    2       cups instant minced onion
    1/4     cup dried crushed basil leaves
    4       tsp ground black pepper
    2       tsp EACH cumin and garlic powder
    1       tsp ground ginger
    4       bay leaves
    6       cups dried small red beans
    2-2/3   cups dried lentils
    1-1/2   cups EACH dried white navy beans and dried yellow split peas
    4       cups uncooked brown rice

Instructions:

Toast minced onion in non-stick skillet, stirring constantly, over medium 
low heat. Remove from skillet; cool. 

In each of 4 one-quart jars, place the following: 1/2 cup red beans, 
1/3 cup lentils, 1/3 cup split peas, 1/2 cup red beans, 1/3 cup lentils, 
1/3 cup navy beans and 1/2 cup red beans. 

In each of 4 zipper-style plastic bags, place the following: 1/2 cup toasted 
onion, 1 T. basil, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 
1/4 tsp ground ginger and 1 bay leaf. 

Place spice-filled bags on top in each jar and cover with jar lids. Place 
1 cup rice in each in 4 zipper bags (not the same bag as the spices). 

Makes 4 soup mixes. 


Stovetop Cooking Instructions to Include with Gift:

Remove spice bag from jar of beans. Wash beans and combine with 9 cups water 
in Dutch oven. Bring to a boil and boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand 
30 minutes. (This is the way you "jump-start" dried beans so you don't have to 
soak overnight.) Drain. Return beans to pot and add rice, 12 cups chicken broth, 
and spice bag contents. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 1 hour or 
until beans and rice are tender. Garnish each serving with sliced green onion 
tops if desired. Each bean soup mix makes 8 servings.