Chili's Black Bean Soup

1/4 cup Olive Oil
1/4 cup Yellow Onion, Diced
1/4 cup Carrots, Diced
1/4 cup Green Bell Pepper, Diced
4 Beef Bouillon Cubes
1 cup Boiling Water
1 1/2 quarts (3 pounds) Canned Black Beans, Not Drained
2 tablespoons Cooking Sherry
1 tablespoon Distilled White Vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 tablespoon Sugar
2 teaspoons Garlic, Granulated
2 teaspoons Salt
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, Ground
2 teaspoons Chili Powder
8 oz. Smoked Sausage, small dice
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
2 tablespoons Water

In a medium stock pot, place the olive oil, onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Saut� the vegetables until they are tender. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil, add the bouillon cubes, and allow to dissolve. Add the bouillon, cooked beans, and the remaining ingredients (except cornstarch and 2 tablespoon water) to saut�ed vegetables.

Bring mixture to a simmer and cook approximately 15 minutes. In a blender, puree 1 quart of the soup, and put back into the pot.

In a separate bowl, combine the cornstarch and 2 tablespoon water. Add the cornstarch mix to the soup and bring to a boil for 1 minute.

Serve with cornbread, white rice, or your favorite side dish.

AUTHOR: blondie2