Soup, cabbage and chocolate

As I mentioned before I like beans and I like cabbage and I LOVE chocolate.

Lima Bean Soup

1 bag dried large or small lima beans (Soak overnight if I plan ahead, if not soak beans in the hottest tap water for 1 hour)

Place drained beans in pot and fill with:

8-10 c. warm water

2 carrots, 2 celery, 2 onions all coarsely chopped

3-4 garlic cloves, peeled

1 large can diced tomatoes

basil, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, parsley to flavor.(Don’t over power with any of these herbs)

1 c. cheddar cheese

Boil then simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour. In the meantime, cook 1 cup barley. Drain. Cut up 1 large piece Polish sausage, 3 Italian sausage or 1-1/2 cups diced ham.

When soup is ready, cool 15-20 minutes. Puree in blender or hand held blender until smooth. Place back in pot. Add barley and meat. Add additional liquid if it is needed.

Simmer 15 minutes. Season with salt/pepper. (Optional) Add 1 cup cheddar cheese to the finished soup.

Beans & Cabbage

1 can (1 lb.) cut green beans

3 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 c. vinegar

1/4 c. sugar

3 Tbsp. chopped onion

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

3 c. finely shredded cabbage

Drain beans. Fry bacon in skillet until crisp; remove and drain on paper towel. Add to baking drippings in pan; vinegar, sugar, onion, salt, pepper and cabbage. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, or until cabbage is tender. Add beans and heat well. Spoon into serving dish; garnish with bacon pieces.

Pineapple Chocolate Bars

3/4 c. shortening

1/2 HEAPING c. sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking powder

1 c. flour

1 can (8-1/2 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained

2 squares semi-sweet chocolate, melted

1/4 chopped nuts

Combine shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Add flour, cinnamon and baking powder to shortening mixture. Stir in nuts. Divide batter in half. To one half, add melted chocolate and spread into a greased 9-inch square pan. To the remaining half, add drained pineapple and spread over chocolate mixture in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool and cut into bars