Ingredients

2 cups black "turtle" beans
1/4 pound bacon, 1/4-inch dice
1 cup onion, 1/4-inch dice
3 to 4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 pound ham, minced and/or small ham bone
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 quarts plus 3 cups water
2 teaspoons chili powder

Directions

In a large heavy bottomed sauce pan, saute bacon until lightly browned. Add onions and garlic and saute until onions are tender (approximately 5 minutes). Add beans, ham, water and oregano. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.

Remove 2 cups of the mixture and puree in the food processor or blender until smooth. Return puree to soup. Add chili powder. Add salt and pepper to taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Makes 6 servings.

Each serving contains 157 calories, 5 g fat, 17 g carbohydrates, 391 mg sodium, 15.5 mg cholesterol.