White Bean Soup

Diane’s White Bean Soup

4 cans white beans, most of liquid strained out or one bag of white beans, sorted and soaked over night, then strained
4 cans chicken stock
1 small yellow onion, chopped
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
Handful of chopped pancetta (or bacon if you cannot find pancetta)
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp dried Italian herb blend
2 bay leaf
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Fresh ground pepper, to taste (about 4-6 twists)
Fresh basil, cut into ribbons
Fresh baguette, thinly sliced, toasted and topped with fresh shaved Parmesan cheese


Saute onion, garlic, pancetta/bacon and carrot in olive oil until onion and garlic are translucent in large stock pot. Add stock, beans and all other ingredients except fresh basil. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Cook for one hour. Remove about four cups soup, ensuring that you are getting mostly beans and some liquid and place into blender (blend one cup at a time), then return pureed soup to pot and allow to simmer an additional ten minutes.

Serve with fresh basil, top soup with toasted baguette slices and additional grated Parmesan cheese.

Dad's vest

I love how this turned out. It looks great on him.

the boys

FInished in the St. Nick of time....

I am really pleased with the way that this turned out. I pick it up from the dry cleaners this morning and off in the mail it goes.

Block n' Roll

This has been a bear to block. I am trying to get the edges as flat as possible and am struggling. It's difficult to see any detail in this picture- the yarn is pretty fuzzy. I am about half-way finished with the other front and then I can do the edges, sew up the seams, slap on some nice leather buttons and be done with it. This has been a tougie. Actually it's been a yawner. It's big, it's grey and has no fun cables or lace patterns. Just lots of stockinette. Yaawn. Done on #4 needles with DK weight, it has gone painfully slow. It will be so worth it and I know it will look great on the giftee.