Friendship Soup

Years ago,  ladies that attended my bible study group brought me little thank you gifts.  I loved them all but there was one gift that was 'unusual' since this was before the time that these kind of 'home gifts' were recognized for their simple joy and worth!
I smiled and thanked the lady who gave it to me, little realizing how much I would enjoy her gift and years later still be enjoying it !
The gift was a tall narrow glass  jar filled with layers of dried beans. Attached to the jar was a rolled up piece of red  construction paper on which was a hand written soup recipe entitled 'Friendship Soup'.
I kept the jar for a long time and then one day decided to make the soup.  It was DELICIOUS and stayed a family favorite.
With Christmas coming  -- I thought what a neat idea this would be to tuck into a gift basket or just to bring as a hostess gift.
I had trouble finding the 'right' glass jar, I wanted a tall, narrow one  -- the one pictured  exactly doubles the recipe. (so if you are going to use a jar that doubles the recipe make sure you make a note of that somewhere on the enclosed recipe)

The hand written recipe reads  as follows....

Friendship Soup 
(in this jar are a combination of  7 kinds of dried beans -- 1/4 cup each)

• 1/4 cup  kidney beans
• 1/4 cup   green split peas 
• 1/4 cup  yellow split peas 
• 1/4 cup pinto beans 
• 1/4 cup  small white beans 
• 1/4 cup  lima beans 
• 1/4 cup soya beans

1. WASH -  the beans thoroughly.  Place in a pot , cover with  water and 2 tbsp. salt and soak overnight. 
2. DRAIN - Add two quarts water and 1/2 ham or ham bones (or bouillion cubes) Bring to a boil, Stir occasionally -- simmer 2 or 2 1/2 hours.  
3. ADD -   

• one large onion chopped 
• juice of one lemon
• salt and pepper 
• 1 large can of tomatoes (29 oz) 
• 1 pod red pepper (or 1 tsp. chilli powder)

    4. SIMMER - another 30 minutes. This makes a large pot of soup. It is even better aged in the fridge. 

    5. ENJOY WITH FRIENDS