15 Bean Soup

What you need:

• 20 oz bag of 15 bean dried mix for soup
• 1 lemon's worth of juice and zest
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks with leaves, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 2 boxes chicken stock or vegetable stock
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• pinch cayenne pepper (add more if you like it spicy)
• optional: for more spice add your favorite hot sauce as well

What you do:

Quick soak your beans (or soak overnight) by putting them in a pot with 4 cups of water.  Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour.  Drain and rinse.  Add all of the ingredients into the pot and bring to a boil and simmer for about 2 hours or more.
Optional: add 1/2 lb of cooked, diced bacon.