{"id":6518,"date":"2010-09-20T08:33:22","date_gmt":"2010-09-20T15:33:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/?p=6518"},"modified":"2010-09-20T08:33:22","modified_gmt":"2010-09-20T15:33:22","slug":"the-perfect-fall-dinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/?p=6518","title":{"rendered":"The Perfect Fall Dinner"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I got a 15 bean variety mix like a year ago and it&#8217;s been sitting in the pantry ever since! With the new <a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/?p=6282\">Pantry Challenge<\/a>, we are steadily discovering new food from our pantry.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3378.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6521\" title=\"IMG_3378\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3378-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3378-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3378-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3378.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Cooking Instructions:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">1. Sort and wash bean soup mix in a colander under cool running water.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">2. Place mix in pan, cover with water and soak overnight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">3. The next day, drain the bean mix and then add 2 quarts of water or stock to the beans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">4. Add ham, ham hock, sausage, bacon, or soup bone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">5. Bring to a boil and then simmer slowly for 2.5-3 hours depending on altitude or water hardness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">6. After 2.5-3 hours, check the soup and add:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">1 large onion (chopped)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">1 can tomatoes (15 oz)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Red pepper (optional)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">1 teaspoon chili powder<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">2 tablespoons lemon juice<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">1 clove minced garlic<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">salt and pepper<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">7. Simmer an additional 30 minutes. Add contents of flavor packet a few minutes before cooking is completed.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The bag of beans I had somehow did NOT have a seasoning packet included. Weird. So we improvised and added our own spices.<\/p>\n<p>I wasn&#8217;t sure how to prepare the meat. Like do I cook it before adding it to the soup? Or do I put it in there raw? I was so confused and the instructions did not say either way. I tried Googling it, no luck. So I called my brother. He&#8217;s a great cook and I knew he&#8217;d know.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/andyandme.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6523\" title=\"andyandme\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/andyandme-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/andyandme-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/andyandme.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>He told me to brown the bacon but not cook it until it&#8217;s crispy. He also said that I could by a ham that is already cooked. Perfect! I went to the store to buy some ham.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3389.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6524\" title=\"IMG_3389\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3389-e1284942523298-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3389-e1284942523298-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3389-e1284942523298-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3389-e1284942523298.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3391.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6528\" title=\"IMG_3391\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3391-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3391-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3391-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3391.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I cubed part of the ham and added it to the beans and water.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33931.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6526\" title=\"IMG_3393\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33931-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33931-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33931-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33931.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Michael was awesome and helped with the bacon (definitely not my strength).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3398.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6525\" title=\"IMG_3398\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3398-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3398-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3398-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_3398.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Simmer for several hours.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33951.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6529\" title=\"IMG_3395\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33951-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33951-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33951-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/IMG_33951.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Periodically I checked on the soup, stirred it, poked at it. About half-way through the cooking I started to panic. The soup was an unappealing color&#8211;kind of like dirty dishwater. I was about to give up and tell Michael we had to order pizza. He said to wait and be patient. (Not my strong suit.)<\/p>\n<p>About 30 minutes before serving, I added the rest of the ingredients: the spices, lemon juice, minced garlic and chopped onion.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/omion1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6538\" title=\"omion1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/omion1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/omion1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/omion1.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/onion21.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6540\" title=\"onion2\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/onion21-e1284996302317-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/onion21-e1284996302317-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/onion21-e1284996302317.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>I opened a bottle of wine.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/wine1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6542\" title=\"wine\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/wine1-e1284996467255-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/wine1-e1284996467255-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/wine1-e1284996467255.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>I added the can of diced and seasoned tomatoes and the soup color was finally a &#8220;normal&#8221; appealing hue.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/soup1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6541\" title=\"soup1\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/soup1-e1284996423571-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/soup1-e1284996423571-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/soup1-e1284996423571.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>The soup was delicious! I surprised myself. I know I shouldn&#8217;t doubt the recipe until it&#8217;s finished and I&#8217;ve tasted it. I sliced a few pieces of fresh como bread to go with the soup.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/soup2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-6543\" title=\"soup2\" src=\"http:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/soup2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/soup2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/soup2.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;\">The soup was good and I have enough leftovers for lunches this week. And it&#8217;s low in calories!<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;\"><br \/>\n<\/span>QUESTION: What is your favorite homemade soup recipe?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I got a 15 bean variety mix like a year ago and it&#8217;s been sitting in the pantry ever since! With the new Pantry Challenge, we are steadily discovering new food from our pantry. Cooking Instructions: 1. Sort and wash bean soup mix in a colander under cool running water. 2. Place mix in pan, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[55,315,104,251],"tags":[1536,1535,8770,1537,743,1508,934,937,8724,8763],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6518"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6518"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6545,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6518\/revisions\/6545"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.110pounds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}