Say hello to...tomato bean soup.

My father is a great chef and makes the tastiest soups. Since we come from German heritage, a lot of his classic recipes are German. This is one of my favorite soups that he makes. I always make a huge batch and eat it all week! All the chopping is worth it :)

Ingredients:
1 bag of mixed beans*
1 lb of sausage, thawed, peeled, and chopped**
2 onions, diced
2 cans of diced tomatoes or 2 large fresh tomatoes, diced
4-6 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cups celery, diced
2 cups cabbage, sliced
2 potatoes, chopped
1 carrot, diced
handful of fresh dill
salt & pepper to taste

1. Soak beans in water overnight. Rinse and drain before using.

2. Cook sausage on medium heat until brown. Set aside.

3. Bring 2 cups of bean mix to a boil. Simmer for 25 min.

4. Puree the diced tomatoes and add to the soup.

5. Add cooked sausage, garlic, onions, celery, cabbage, potatoes, and carrots.

6. Bring to a boil and simmer for a few hours. Add salt and pepper and stir every 25 min.

7. Add dill before serving.

*I like to buy an already prepared bag of beans that has many varieties. If you do this, make sure it does not include barley (some bean mixtures do include barley). You can also make your own mixture.
**Make sure the sausage is gluten-free. I prefer the taste of pork sausage with this soup since the juices from it add great flavor.