When I was in college, I had the extremely good fortune of spending part of a summer studying marine biology in Monterey, CA. It was one of the best things I ever did, and instilled in me a deep love of Cannery Row, John Steinbeck, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pacific Grove, tide pools, digging in the sand, and an impossibly long list of other things. To this day, our professor, Dr. Braithwaite, is one of my favorite people on the planet. He seemed gruff and quiet until you got to know him. Then he became funny and wacky and inspiring. He drew beautifully detailed life cycle illustrations on the board in colored chalk, made up dances highlighting the mating behaviors of different animals, and cooked meals for us on a hot plate in the lab. He made us pancakes in the morning after pre-dawn field trips to tide pools, and this easy, comforting 3-bean soup at the end of long days studying.
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 12 oz canadian bacon, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 28 oz petite diced tomatoes
- 2 15-oz cans black beans
- 2 15-oz cans kidney beans
- 2 15-oz cans pinto beans
- 2 cups salsa
- 16 oz tomato sauce
- 1 small can sliced olives
- 1 cup finely diced green bell pepper
- 2 teaspoons beef bullion granules
- 1½ teaspoons fresh thyme
- shredded cheddar and chopped cilantro for topping
- Saute canadian bacon and garlic in olive oil until golden. Add all remaining ingredients except cheddar and cilantro. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer until completely heated through. Serve topped with cheddar and cilantro.
perfect for winter
I used to live in Monterey and worked at the aquarium for a couple years as a volunteer. Bean soup does seem to be a staple of the area, and this recipe sounds yummy 🙂
Your post made me pleasantly homesick. I miss the fog, the violent waves, the sourdough bread and chowder. *sigh*
Found your blog through your carmelitas post. I will be back for sure! Pop over to my blog sometime 🙂
Jamie–My teacher had some kind of deal going with Stanford, so we had full access to Hopkins Marine Station right next door to the aquarium! A bunch of other students and I bought passes and would go hang out there every day at lunch. Good times.
Oh this sounds very good and super easy!