Seed Stew

I’ve had this idea for quite some time and finally, this past weekend, I gave it a try.  I began the recipe in celebration of the venerable bean.  Of couse and as usual, I got carried away and the result went quite beyond the intended beans.

 Ingredients:

• 1 – 16 oz can of black beans
• 1 – 16 oz can of kidney beans
• 1 – 16 oz can of Great Northern (white) beans
• 1 – 16 oz can of baby lima beans
• 1 – 16 oz can of butter beans
• 1 – 16 oz can of cut green beans
• 1 – 8 oz can of green peas
• 1 – 16 oz can of chicken broth
• 1 – 16 oz can of chicken
• 2 –  tbs butter
• 1/2  – white onion
• 1/2  – bulb of fennel
• 1 lb –  of Kielbasa Sausage cut in one inch chunks
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 2/3 cup shelled pistachios
• 1/2 cup roasted pumkins seeds
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Chop and saute the onion and fennel in the butter in a large pot.  Add all remaining ingredients, (include the liquids), bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes.  Brighten with a few sprinkles of red wine vinegar and serve.

This makes a large pot to share with family and friends.  It freezes well and is even better reheated.

My father always lamented the fact that my mother perpetuated the Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit song into my generation.  Had it not been she, it would surely have been someone else.  Of course we were delighted to be the first among our peers to know and share this delightful little ditty.  Mom also counselled us to eat bread with our beans, which she asserted would stop the inevitable gas.  It didn’t!

Somehow, however, Seed Stew did not produce such effects.  Perhaps it was canned beans, which we don’t ordinarily use.  Perhaps it was the combination that magically rendered the concoction inert.  Most likely it was a fluke.  That said, there are no guarantees, at least until the recipe has been widely field tested.  Let me know of your results.

I have a mind to try peanuts, sunflower seeds, corn and who knows what other kinds of seeds in this easy and delightful soup.

Hope you find Seed Stew as delicious as we did!