Brown Bean Soup

Description
A traditional soup, it can be made very basic and varied by additional ingredients. It is very filling and is often eaten here as a main dish with bread. The brown Beans we use are also known as Swedish brown beans. If you cannot get these then the best substitute for this soup would be pinto beans. I always serve this with dark fried onions and crispy Bacon cubes. Soaking time not included.

Ingredients

 * 2 cups brown Beans, soaked overnight and drained
 * 3 liters water
 * 1 bay leaf
 * 2-3 leeks, washed and sliced in rings
 * 1 large carrot, cubed
 * 1 large peeled Potato, cubed
 * worcestershire sauce
 * salt and pepper
 * 1 bouillon cube (optional)
 * 1/2 cup chopped flat celery leaves

Directions
Put the Beans in a pan with the water and bayleaf, bring to the boil.

Boil rapidly for 10 minutes, then simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until the Beans are tender. Then add the leeks, carrot, Potato, Worcestershire and salt and pepper, simmer for another 30 minutes. Taste the soup or you want to add a stock cube.

You can puree the soup at this point, but it is nicest when you just mash the Beans and potaoes a bit so it thickens. Add the sellerie leaves 5 minutes before serving. Other additions/fillings for the soup: left-over cooked Beef or Pork, tiny meatballs, slices of smoked Sausage, hot sauce, ketchup sauce.