How to Make Bacon & Bean Stew

Omigosh! The hubs raved about how delicious this stew turned out! It's hearty and flavorful! It will become one of your favorites! Check it out!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb of bacon - cut in one inch strips

• 1 cup of chopped onion

• 3 celery stalks - chopped

• 3 carrots - chopped

• 5 or 6 cloves of garlic - diced

• 2 Tbsp of tomato paste

• 1/2 cup of flour

• 8 cups of chicken stock/broth

• 2 or 3 cans of Cannellini beans-drained & rinsed

• 4 cups of baby spinach - rough chopped

• 1 bay leaf

• Salt & pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a soup pot, fry up your bacon until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towel. Reserve 2 Tbsp in pot.

2. Then cook your onions, carrots and celery. Cook until soft. About 8 minutes.

3. Then add the garlic and tomato paste. Cook for another minute.

4. Slowly add the flour and mix/cook together with veggies.

5. Slowly add 1 to 2 cups of the chicken stock and keep stirring. This will turn into a thick gravy.

6. Then add the rest of the chicken stock (the other 6 cups). Add the beans and the bay leaf.Salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 10 minutes.

7. Remove the bay leaf and add the baby spinach and stir. Turn off heat and let cool for 5 minutes.

8. After 5 minutes, ladle into a bowl and sprinkle with the bacon pieces.

9. Serve and enjoy!