Plenty!'s January Newsletter: Ken's Spicy White Bean Soup and more
"As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible support you've shown to Plenty! Farm and Food Bank. Your generosity has been the cornerstone of our efforts to nourish our community and foster connections among neighbors."
This recipe and note from the Plenty! team was featured in the Jan. 1, 2026, newsletter.
Ken's Spicy White Bean Soup
Ingredients:
2 lbs Beans (Navy or I prefer Great Northern)
Bacon (about 9 strips)
White Onions (2)
Can of tomato soup (optional)
Cayenne Peppers (3 or 4 – optional – adds a little kick)
Parsley
Sage
Rosemary
Thyme
Directions:
Soak the beans in a large pot overnight (I use a large aluminum cook pot.)
First chop the onions into about 1/4” to 1/2” pieces and set aside.
Fry 3 strips of bacon.
Sauté 1/3 of the onions in the bacon grease.
While the onions are cooking, add the spices to the onions in the fry pan. (Be generous with the spices)
Dump the contents in the soup pot and repeat frying bacon and adding onions and spices twice more. Don't worry about getting some bacon grease in the soup; it will boil off.
Add the can of tomato soup if wanted (this doesn't add much to the flavor but gives the soup a bit of color.)
Add the Cayenne peppers if you want a little extra spice.
Bring soup to a boil, cover, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 3 hours or until the beans are soft. You need to stir this about every 15 to 30 minutes to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Add more water as needed, but let it thicken some; just don't let it dry out and burn.
Note: This makes a lot of soup. Serve with cornbread muffins or whatever you prefer. You can refrigerate several portions and freeze several portions. It is even better reheated.
Recipe submitted by Plenty! Board President Ken Presser
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Dear Plenty! Friends,
We are so grateful to all of you who have supported our mission. What a year we have had together. As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible support you've shown to Plenty! Farm and Food Bank. Your generosity has been the cornerstone of our efforts to nourish our community and foster connections among neighbors.
In 2025, your contributions have helped us:
- Provide fresh, nutritious food to families in need
- Support local farmers and our regional economy
- Create opportunities for community engagement and growth
The Schroeder Law Firm is dedicated to helping individuals, families, and small businesses plan for the future and achieve their goals. We focus our practice on real estate closings, business law matters, estate and trust planning, probate and estate administration, elder law and special needs planning, and uncontested divorces.
Whether you made a financial gift, volunteered your time, or spread the word about our work, we are deeply thankful for your partnership. Your trust in our mission means the world to us, and we're honored to work alongside you to build a more resilient and connected community.
As we look ahead, we invite you to continue this journey with us. Your ongoing support will help us deepen our impact and respond to the evolving needs of our community.
Thank you again for your kindness, generosity, and commitment to Plenty! Farm and Food Bank.
Learn more about donating, volunteering, and Plenty's mission at www.plentyfoodpantry.org.
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