Lima Bean Soup

This soup really doesn't taste like lima beans at all, so don't let it's name scare you off.It's a delicious thick soup similar to pea soup and an old family favorite (especially during the winter). I come from a large family and we need to make one large pot of soup for dinner (hopefully with leftovers). It should be renamed though to "clog your arteries soup"

• Ready In: 5 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 25

Ingredients

• 2  bags  large lima beans (rinsed)
• 2  medium onions (peeled and quartered)
• 10  medium potatoes (diced)
• 2  lbs bacon (cut across slices to form cubes)
• 1  cup flour

Directions

1. Place rinsed lima beans and 2 quartered onions in a 6 quart pot.
2. Fill with water until 2 inches from top.
3. Bring to boil over medium heat.
4. Once soup comes to boil, reduce heat and simmer 4 hours, stirring occasionally, replacing water as needed to keep at 2 inches from top of pot.
5. After 4 hours place diced potatoes to soup and continue to simmer 1 more hour.
6. Brown bacon pieces in frying pan, reserving all drippings.
7. Slowly add browned bacon pieces and 3/4 of drippings to soup.
8. Stir flour to remaining drippings in frying pan and stir till smooth.
9. Add flour and dripping mixture to soup and stir well.
10. Salt and pepper to taste, simmer for 5 minutes and serve.