Yes, I really love bean soup.
The Bestest Bean Soup
1 lb navy beans (approx. 2 cups)
2 qt water
1 6 oz can tomato paste
2 Tbs Better Than Bouillon™ Ham Base
6 slices uncooked bacon, diced
1 cup carrots, finely grated
1 1/2 Tbs onion powder
2/3 cup instant mashed potatoes
salt to taste
Put the beans in a large pot and cover with 2 to 3 qts of water. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, turn off the heat, cover, and let stand for an hour. Drain and rinse.
Put the beans, water, tomato paste, ham base, bacon, carrots, and onion powder in a large pot. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat. Simmer for 90 minutes or until the beans are tender.
Add the instant mashed potatoes and stir. Salt to taste.
Tasty and simple to make. Easily adaptable for a crockpot.
