‘Witches Brew’

October 28, 2016 Leave a Comment

It’s finally here! Halloween! The excitement here is not over candy or costumes, jack-o-lanterns or trick-or-treating. It is over this family tradition – Witches Brew (Quick Bean Soup)!

This soup has been a Halloween tradition in my family for more than 50 years. As kids, my mom began serving this to us on Halloween – a must before we were allowed to go to the school carnival or trick-or-treating. It was warming and delicious, filled with beans, bacon, celery, tomatoes and hot dogs! (I admit, I am not usually a big fan of the ‘tube steak’ – but this soup – I could eat it daily!) This has become such a hallowed tradition – that we are not allowed to make this soup prior to Halloween. . . .

And now, all of these years later, this delicious tradition – begun by mom – continues all across the country – as this soup is being prepared in the homes of her children and grandchildren. There is something wonderful that happens to the family – as we all realize that parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are all making the same meal – and continuing a tradition that brought us together as a family around the dinner table.

There has not been a year, since my children have left home and started homes of their own that I don’t get a call or text -“Mom – I can’t find my recipe for ‘Witches Brew”. . . and so – I am posting this – for them and for you – for my grandchildren, nieces, nephews – and for mom.

Thank you mom – for being such a great believer in family traditions – and seeing that the things we loved most have been passed along. In a few days, there will be tables from the Mid-West to the Pacific Northwest, Southern California to Texas, Arizona and the Rocky Mountains – filled with steaming bowls of ‘Witches Brew’ and pans filled with hot cornbread. . . . and realizing that those that they love and hold dear – family – are all doing the same thing. There is something so important here. Although we are spread over thousands of miles, it still brings us home to mom’s table. I have no doubt that this tradition will continue for years to come – and that this soup will be served in the homes of her great-grandchildren as well – as they have all become lovers of the ‘brew’.

Come join us at our table!

Happy Halloween,

Kathy

Witches Brew (Quick Bean Soup)

This soup is a family tradition. As a child, my mom served this every Halloween - and called it 'Witches Brew'. It is such a delicious tradition, that every Halloween - it is now being served by her grandchildren around the country. No doubt - it will be served in the homes of her great-grandchildren - for whom it is now an official part of Halloween. . . it's that good.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 30

Total Time 35

Servings 6

Ingredients

1 package Hot dogs
1 tablespoon sugar (optional - I never use it)
4 strips bacon sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 small onion chopped
1/2 cup celery chopped
1 29 ounce can tomatoes diced, stewed, or whole - undrained
1 20 ounce can pork and beans
2 whole bay leaves
2 teaspoons better than boullion - beef flavor or two beef boullion cubes
1 cup water
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Slice hot dogs into rosettes (slices) and set aside
In a dutch oven or large pot, saute bacon, onion and celery. Add the remaining ingredients except hot dogs and simmer 20-30 minutes.
Add the sliced hot dogs to the soup and simmer for 5-10 minutes to heat the hot dogs.
Serve with hot cornbread.

Notes

This recipe is very flexible. If you love hot dogs, add more. If you love bacon, add more. If you love celery, add more. I never add the sugar - as baked beans are plenty sweet. If you don't have worcestershire sauce, no problem. . . . It's that good and that flexible.

Spring. Just the word congers up images of blossoms and bunnies, eggs and chicks. . . . and catalogs filled with tableware, linens and all the fresh spring color imaginable. . . . so when my spring edition of the Pier1 catalog arrived – I was immediately drawn to devour every page. The dinnerware, table settings, linens were, in typical Pier1 form, a wonderful feast for the eyes.

But, there was one thing that especially drew my attention. . .their adorable folded napkins – especially the little bunnies in the upper right corner of the page. The catalog directed readers to log on to their website for instructions – which I immediately did.

Upon arriving at the page, I searched for the Bunny Fold and found this. I grabbed some cloth napkins (which happened to be from Pier1) and, following their directions, began folding. It only took me to the 4th step to figure out that there was a real problem with the directions – they were rolling from the wrong side of the napkin. . . and by the final step – it was unmistakable.

I had created this. I took an unfolded napkin and the directions to my husband – who, as a builder, reads instructions for a living . . . and his response was immediate – these are not right. They have rolled from the long side and not the point – and used directions for a granny knot. It needs to be an ‘overhand’ knot. (50 plus years of scouting – he should know his knots!)

After making a few simple changes – rolling from the point and using an overhand knot – the finished product looked like the one in the Pier1 picture. Success!

And so, as much as I LOVE Pier1, no one is infallible. I have done my own set of instructions, including pictorials, for your use should you be wanting to try these little treasures. Such a simple way to dress up a spring or Easter table.

Just Click Here to go to the instructions. Happy Spring!

Enjoy,

Kathy

‘Witches Brew’