Seein' as how I been talkin' 'bout puttin' a heap o' good eats on your table, eats that's darned cheap an still good fer ya, that is, seems I never do run outta good grub idears ta feed yer family. Now I knows that sometimes folks think vittles that's good 'n healthy fer ya jes won't taste good. But that jes ain't true. No siree.

Good ole fashioned foods like beans an' vegetables got a heap o' flavor all by theirselves. An' you kin still use all yer favorite ways ta perk up the flavor with the same spices yer used ta fer cookin' meat 'n chicken dishes.

When I went a-shoppin' at the grocery fer this deeelicious kettle o' soup, why I was feelin' mighty good 'cause the bill hardly came to much at all. An' I nearly kicked up my heels an' hollered yee haw 'cause I kin see this pot o' tasty soup is the kind that sticks ta the ribs, feeds the family good 'n hearty, an' still don't use up all yer week's earnin's.

The important thing 'bout cookin' 'n eatin' ole time food like beans an' vegetables is that they fills up yer body with plenty o' energy an' makes ya feel so good yer gonna start a-cravin' more. An' that does my heart good. This is the kinda fixin's I growed up on an' I kin testify that these ole bones o' mine is still workin' without a hitch. An' I got more stayin' power 'n lots o' younger folks I knows.

Now, if'n beans is somethin' yer not used ta feedin' yer family, it jes might take a li'l time gettin' yer young'uns ta take to 'em. Yer family kin be mighty understandin' when y'all set 'em down at the table an' tells 'em this is no time fer fussin' 'bout food. Do some explainin' 'bout needin' ta watch the dollers an' save the fancy food fer speshul times. They gits the idear purty quick.

Cookin' beans from scratch means y'all does a bit o' plannin' ahead, but they's really no trouble at all. Jes put 'em up ta soak in the morning' an' by the time yer ready ta put yer dinner fixin's together, why the beans only take 'bout an hour ta cook.

But if'n ya prefer ta do the cookin' in the mornin', jes start them beans soakin' before ya hop inta bed night before. Now that's not hardly any trubble--though it might take some gittin' used ta.

I got good feelin's 'bout this kettle o' soup. It's got the good flavors everybody likes. Now mind, you git yerself ta the store an' cook up some good grub.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

2 cups black beans

7 cups water
2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

2 medium onions, divided

2 medium carrots, diced
1 stalk celery, chopped

1/2 pound tomatillos, quartered
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt

1 to 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

1. Pick over the beans carefully and discard any small pebbles or twigs or beans that are spoiled or broken. Place the beans in a deep bowl and rinse and drain them. Cover the beans with three inches of water and soak for eight hours or overnight. Drain the water and rinse the beans.
2. Place the beans into an 8 to 10-quart stockpot and add the water and garlic. Coarsely chop one of the onions and add it to the stockpot. Cover the pot partially and bring the beans to a boil over high heat. Watch carefully to prevent a messy boil-over. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer gently for about 45 minutes, or until the beans begin to soften.
3. While the beans are cooking, chop the remaining onion and place it into a large, deep skillet. Add the carrots and celery and water-sauté in 1/2 cup water for about 10 minutes, or until tender. Add additional water if needed to prevent burning the vegetables and set aside.
4. When the beans begin to soften, add the tomatillos, jalapeno, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and salt and cook 20 to 30 minutes longer.
5. Just before serving, add the sautéed onions, carrots, and celery and top each soup bowl with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.

Nowadays, Aunt Nettie just shakes her head and complains, "Nobody cooks anymore. They have no idea about puttin' a meal together." She's on a mission. She wants to help those younguns eat better so they can grow up healthy like her own eight kids.