Whipped up something new

I decided to follow Emily's challenge to Whip Up Something New and try a recipe I'd printed out and never tried. Well it was about time!

I tried this Bean & Bacon Soup recipe from Eat at home cooks. It turned out pretty good. It has a mild flavor - kind of like a subdued minestrone. I didn 't use as much bacon as was listed, but it still had a touch of bacon taste.

Here's how it turned out, after simmering it for about 10 minutes longer than written. I would have liked some shredded parm for the top, but we're out.

I used red beans (instead of kidney), white beans and butter beans. I personally have a phobia of big beans and I have to say I was in shock at how big butter beans are. Hello beans! They are like quadruple the size of small white beans. They're as big as lima beans, if not bigger.

*this photo courtesy of the internet - butter beans

They do have a nice buttery taste though. So I just shut my eyes and took a bite. And it didn't make me cringe the same way it does when I have to eat a kidney bean.

Would I recommend the recipe? Maybe. I didn't make it completely as written (less bacon) and one different bean, but the rest was pretty close, and it had a good mild taste, but isn't knock-your-socks-off-great or anything. It is, however, a good way to integrate beans into your diet.

Thanks for the challenge Emily! I'll have to see what recipe I can dig out of the masses for March.