Recipes from Vegetarian Vegan Cooking Classes

Enjoy this simple no-frills and healthy black bean soup.  You can start the soup by soaking the dry beans overnight to use in the soup , or you can just open a couple of cans of beans .  Buying dry organic beans is definitely a less expensive way to go.  Growing your own beans and drying them is better yet!  Whatever works for you! INGREDIENTS: 2 cups of black beans (soaked overnight or from a can) 2 onions, chopped 2 carrots, chopped 2 stalks of celery, chopped 2 teaspoons salt 5-6 cups of water 2 teaspoons basil (see below**) METHOD: If using soaked beans, drain and rinse the beans and put them in a pot with a tight-fitting lid and all the other ingredients and simmer for 4 hours, covered.  Add more water if needed.  If using canned beans, use slightly less water and simmer for about 30 minutes until all vegetables are tender.   Press the soup through a sieve or whirl up in a blender with a little extra water. Determine if you need to salt a little mo