Homemade Bean and Bacon Soup

What you need:

• 8 oz. bacon, diced
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 to 3 carrots, diced
• 2 celery ribs, diced
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 3 cans (15 oz. each) Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
• Salt and pepper
• 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce

Directions:

1. In a large stockpot, cook bacon until crisp and then remove with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with a paper towel. Remove all but 2 Tbsp. bacon grease.
2. Cook onions, carrots, and celery over medium heat in the bacon grease for about 5 minutes.
3. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Add chicken broth and GN beans. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low to simmer. Simmer for 1 hour.
6. Blend half of the soup in a blender until smooth and then stir back into stockpot.
7. Add tomato sauce and 3/4 of the reserved bacon to stockpot and stir. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Heat through and then serve topped with remaining bacon.

Recipe from Taste and Tell