Spicy Red Bean Soup

Ingredients

3 gr cayenne pepper
3 gr black pepper
2 bay leaves
2 gr cumin
500 gr dry kidney beans
2,800 ml water
550 gr smoked ham hock
8 gr salt
150 gr celery
2 garlic
5 gr parsley

Instructions

Place cayenne pepper, black pepper, bay leaves and cumin in center of 15 cm square of cheesecloth. Pull edges together, making a ball of the spices. Twist and tie with heavy thread. Rinse beans and put them in large kettle with spice ball, water, ham hock, salt, celery, onion and garlic. Heat to boiling, reduce heat and simmer covered for 3-4 hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally. Just before serving, remove spice ball. Stir in Tabasco and parsley. Creme de Colorado Cookbook (1987) From the collection of Jim Vorheis