Black Bean and Bacon Soup

Ingredients:

• 6 -8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 3 tablespoons bacon drippings
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• 1 -2 serrano peppers (optional) or 1 -2 jalapeno pepper, minced (optional)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed, drained
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup green onion, finely sliced

Steps:

1. Saute onions, celery, carrots, peppers and garlic in bacon drippings in saucepan over medium heat. Cook until crisp-tender.
2. Stir in beans, broth and cayenne. Simmer 15 min., stirring occasionally.
3. Pour soup into food processor or blender container; cover. Process until pureed. (I use an immersion blender, so I puree right in the saucepan.) Return soup to saucepan.
4. Stir in bacon; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.
5. Garnish with green onions if desired.