Gloria's black bean soup

Yield: 6 servings ---

Ingredients:

1 lb DRIED BLACK BEANS 2 tb FRESH PARSLEY 1 OZ.
1 tb GROUND CUMIN 1 SMALL ONION PEELED DICED
3 qt WATER 1 1/2 tb SUGAR
2 tb DRIED OREGANO 1 LARGE RED PEPPER CLEANED DIC
2 WHOLE BAY LEAVES 1 LARGE GREEN PEPPER DICED
2 tb FRESH OREGANO CHOPPED 4 GREEN ONIONS FINELY CHOPPED OR 2 TS.DRIED 3 CLOVES GARLIC MINCED
1 c OLIVE OIL OR TO TASTE 1/2 c SOUR CREAM.OPTIONAL
3 SMALL SHALLOTS

Instructions:

PEELED DICED x 1 OR 2 TABLESPOONS SALT SOAK THE BEANS IN WATER OVERNIGHT IN A LARGE HEAVY POT.THE NEXT DAY ADD THE BAY LEAVES THE BEANS AND WATER AND BRING MIXTURE TO A BOIL.REDUCE HEAT TO SIMMER AND COOK UNCOVERED OVER LOW HEAT FOR THREE TO FOUR HOURS UNTIL TENDER.THE BEANS SHOULD SPLIT OPEN.STIR OCCASIONLLY AND ADD MORE WATER IF NECESSARY. HEAT THE OIL IN A HEAVY BOTTOMED SKILLET.ADD THE SHALLOTS AND ONIONS AND SAUTE FOR THREE MINUTES.ADD RED PEPPER GREEN PEPPER AND GARLIC. AND SAUTE FOR THREE MINUTES.THEN ADD CUMIN OREGANO AND PARSLEY AND SAUTE 3 SECONDS MORE.ADD THE SUGAR AND SALT.LET MIXTURE COOL. PUREE ALL THE SAUTED MIXTURE THROUGHLY IN A FOOD PROCESSOR OR BLENDER.ADD THE PUREE TO THE BEANS COOK 20 TO 30 MINUTES MORE.CORRECT SEASONING IF NEEDED.THE SOUP WILL BE VERY THICK.REMOVE BAY LEAVES BEFORE SERVING.GARNISH WITH GREEN ONIONS AND A DOLLOP OF SOUR CREAM IF DESIRED.MAKES SIX SERVINGS.