Smokey Black-Eyed Pea Soup

This is a good, hearty soup. Not much else to say about it, other than we are eating it tonight. Use any fake bacon you like, but I prefer the temphe fakon bacon for this recipe.

Smokey Black-Eyed Pea Soup from Cooking Light

4 - 6 slices temphe Fakon Bacon, chopped

3 cups onion, chopped

4 - 6 cloves garlic, mashed

3 cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained

2 cups veggie broth

1 tsp dried thyme

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1 - 2 cups arugula OR trimmed watercress

Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add small amount of olive oil, then add fakon bacon, onion and garlic. Saute until just browning.

Add black eyed peas and next 5 ingredients (through pepper)

Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.

Place 1/2 the bean mixture into a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid to allow steam to escape. Place lid on and a towel over the opening. Blend until smooth. Pour pureed soup into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining bean mixture. Once blended, put all together and stir in arugula.

*** I got a bit lazy tonight and decided NOT to blend the soup. You know what? It was really tasty as is! So, if you want a smooth soup, take the time and throw it into the blender, but if you are short on time, don't worry about blending. Another note, go light on the salt. I am salt sensitive, and a little goes a long way. I did not put any where close to the amount called for, and it was at the upper end of my tolerance. ***