Easy Pork and Bean Soup

 

This is another slow-cooker soup that comes together easily, and takes advantage of added leftovers and the slow simmer of a crock-pot to create a soup that tastes hand-crafted. Yet, like many of my favorite recipes, it starts with "open a can of..."

This particular iteration was built on a base can of Campbell's Bean and Bacon Soup, with leftover pork from a tenderloin roast, and some additional carrot and celery.

Other *meat additions that have worked for this soup in the past are ham or bacon, even dark-meat chicken or turkey. For **vegetables, I almost always add carrot and celery, and when I have them, leftover roasted roots (although not beets). And while they don't suit my palate, I think adding fine-chopped onion or red/green/yellow peppers would also serve. For these, as well as for the raw carrot and celery I added here, you may need an extra amount of water to ensure they are cooked.

This recipe serves two with a generous bowl of soup for each. For more servings, simply increase the amounts.

INGREDIENTS

1 can Campbell's Bean and Bacon Soup

Can (and a third) of water

*Four to five slices from roasted pork tenderloin, diced small, for a cup to a cup and a half of diced meat

**Carrots and celery, raw, diced/sliced, about 1 cup of extra raw vegetables 

ASSEMBLY 

In the slow-cooker crock, dump the contents of the soup can, then add the can of water called for by the can instructions. Since we're adding raw vegetables, we'll also add an extra 1/3 can of water.

Dice the *added meat small, add to crock.

Dice **added carrots small to medium (to taste), add to crock. Slice celery into thin crescents (across the stalk). I like the stronger-flavored darker celery stalks for this purpose.

Stir enough to break up the soup concentrate, and set the slow-cooker control to Low. 

This soup is best if cooked on Low for 4.5 to 5 hours, but you can shortcut by cooking on High for an hour, then turn to Low for another hour. (If you have added only cooked meats and vegetables, one hour on High is sufficient.)

Serve the finished soup into bowls and enjoy!