Black Bean And Bacon Soup

• 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

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.

bacon, bacon, onion, stalks celery, carrots, serrano peppers, garlic, black beans, chicken broth, cayenne, salt, green onion

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/black-bean-and-bacon-soup-302146 (may not work)