If you're a bacon lover who hates wasting good grease, this project is for you. Not only is bacon fat an amazing cooking ingredient, but it can also be transformed into a long-burning, surprisingly clean-smelling emergency candle. Plus, it smells great (though it’s not as strong as you might expect).
Bacon fat candles only require only a few basic materials, and they burn longer than you’d think. This tutorial comes from the YouTube channel Finding Self Reliance. You can see the video and instructions below.
A wick (cotton string, t-shirt strip, jute twine, or a twisted paper towel)
Pencil or stick (to hold the wick in place while pouring)
Optional:
Clove hitch (for tying the wick)
Microwave (for melting hardened grease)
Step-by-Step: How to Make a Bacon Grease Candle
Step 1: Cook and Save Your Grease
Fry up some bacon and pour the leftover grease into a jar. Strain it through a fine mesh or coffee filter to remove food bits. You can save up grease over time by storing it in a glass jar with a tight lid.
Step 2: Melt the Grease
If your bacon grease has solidified, gently warm it in the microwave until it becomes pourable. Be careful not to overheat.
Step 3: Prepare the Wick
Cut a piece of twine, string, or cloth long enough to reach the bottom of your jar, with a few inches extra at the top. Tie the top end around a pencil and balance the pencil across the top of the jar, so the wick hangs down the center.
Tip: To secure the wick, try a clove hitch knot. It holds well and looks tidy.
Step 4: Pour the Grease
Slowly pour the melted grease into your jar, making sure the wick stays centered. Leave a little space at the top.
Let it cool at room temperature, or place it in the fridge to speed up the solidifying process.
Step 5: Trim and Light
Once the grease has fully set, trim the wick to about ½ inch above the surface. Light it like a regular candle.
How Well Does It Work?
Surprisingly well. The candle burns cleanly with very little smoke and no overpowering bacon smell. It can easily last several hours. One test showed a 2+ hour burn with minimal fat consumption.
Bonus Tip: Use a jar with a lid to snuff the candle by starving it of oxygen. No smoke, no mess.
Frankincense has this way of slipping through history almost unnoticed, except by the people who depended on it the most. Long before hospitals, penicillin, or even the idea of a sterile bandage, healers along the Nile kept small jars of this golden resin close at hand. They did not have the language of chemistry, but ... Read more...
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Picture this. The lights blink out during a backyard campout and your kids cheer. They know what to do. They grab the flashlights, check the water jug, and settle in like it is part of the plan. That feeling does not come from scaring children with worst-case stories. It comes from gentle practice, clear routines, […]
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If you are an experienced prepper, you’ve likely discovered plenty of ways to communicate. When the grid goes down, cell towers go silent, and the internet vanishes, staying in touch becomes a survival skill. But let’s be honest, HAM radio isn’t your only option. There are plenty of clever ways to communicate that can help […]
The Amish (about 300,000 of them) quietly live among us throughout the United States. They do not live on the grid, not in a conventional manner of speaking, at least.
American Amish communities function from a power grid far superior to our antiquated electrical system – “God’s Grid.” We preppers can learn a whole lot from the Amish and their off-grid way of life…and should before it's too late.
Before we delve into the individual survival secrets we can learn from the Amish, we need to discuss the foundation of their successful communities. If you merely enhance your skillset and mimic the Amish lifestyle during an SHTF disaster, you are doing both yourself and your loved ones a vast disservice – one that could lead to an epic failure.
The Amish live simply and in a manner that is wholly devoted to both their strict faith and to their families. Their deeply held beliefs guide their daily lives explicitly. The bond between family members is always present and absolute.
Prepping families who are still embroiled in a typically overly-scheduled life—both parents spending at least 40 hours a week outside of the home then rushing to meetings, ball practices, music lessons, etc. and rarely ever gathering around the table to share a meal—cannot realistically develop the deep bonds and total devotion to family necessary to survive a long-term disaster.
Amish children are not rapidly ushered out the door to go to a babysitter or government school. They spend their time helping on the homestead and are assigned farm and household chores from a very young age.
Toddlers toting and helping stack firewood is a common sight in the Amish community in my rural county. Amish children are educated at home or in a community school with a curriculum based on practical skills and faith.
Everyone has to learn their jobs and do their fair share of work to keep the Amish farm and/or business humming. Their very lives depend on each family member being able to complete tasks properly, in a timely manner, and unsupervised in order to put food on the table and run a business (usually a home-based one) so the family can earn the money they need to expand their operations.
The extended family often lives together on a single Amish farm or in separate homes on adjoining properties. The Amish have not likely heard the term “mutual assistance group” but they function in this manner constantly and not just during weekend training in preparation for a disaster.
About six years ago, a tri-state region encompassing where we live lost electricity during a powerful summer storm. We were also experiencing a heat wave—a 103°F in the shade kind of heat wave—at the time. Our Amish community members went on with life as normal completely undeterred by the outage.
After several days, word eventually spread into the Amish community about the power outage caused by the storm. They got into their buggies and drove their horses into the sole grocery store in the county to buy up all of the perishables which would soon go to waste when the store’s generators ran out of fuel. Their ice houses were stocked with bargain meat and other perishable food items for the rest of the year.
The storm did so much damage to the store’s electrical system that it reopened only briefly before shuttering its doors for good. We became a food desert for four years until a far smaller supermarket was finally built.
The Amish are a plain people, completely devoid of vanity and materialism. They are so very much like our ancestors who settled this great land. Their clothing is simple, functional, and durable. Their bodies are healthy and strong, and they are not afraid of hard work and find doing it quite fulfilling.
Amish homes are uncluttered. Rarely will you find a closet inside an Amish home, as they do not believe in stockpiling excessive amounts of anything but food and tools. The children have homemade toys and books to read, but not excessive amounts of junk that rarely gets played with or is made of cheap foreign plastic that breaks quickly.
Going inside an Amish home generally has a calming effect. It is neat, it exudes warmth, and it smells delicious thanks to whatever homemade goodness is baking in the 1800s style oven. The family gathers together and actually talks without the distraction of tech gadgets and television.
They may be separated from the rest of society, but they are not isolated from one another. The Amish truly know one another and spend time together both in play and in work – not interacting via text messaging or Facebook.
Why Is Adopting An Amish Mindset So Important, From A Survival Perspective?
Imagine for just a moment that you have worked in an office sitting behind a desk punching away at a keyboard your entire adult life. At the end of the day, you get into a comfortable car, turn on the air conditioning, and listen to the radio so you don't have to spend a single moment being bored.
A short time later, you arrive at your air-conditioned home, pull something to eat out of the refrigerator, pop it in the microwave, and sit down in an easy chair to watch television and play with your phone until bedtime.
Suddenly, the SHTF. The world that you and your family have always known disappears in an instant.
The lights go out. The air conditioning goes out. No more television or texting. Food begins to spoil in the refrigerator. There is no way to cook food indoors – keeping the smell of the tasty food from wafting to the noses of those who will soon be starving.
As preppers, you have equipped yourself with the skills, tools, and supplies to survive a sudden TEOTWAWKI event. But even though you have trained your body how to react, you may have neglected, partially or completely, the same intensive level of training for your mind.
Spending a weekend living off the grid and honing the survival skills of the entire family is one thing. But primitive living for 48 hours does not give you a good enough look at how your family will hold up both physically and mentally and remain focused for a long-term disaster.
A sort of culture shock will eventually occur, especially for the children and teenagers in the family. Adapting your lifestyle now by simplifying and decluttering it will help your family adjust to a less tech and scheduled oriented lifestyle.
How will your children react when their video games, televisions, and other electronic gadgets are gone for a long time, perhaps forever? Decrease the amount of withdrawal the family will feel by focusing on connecting with each other, your land, and finding joy in the simple things in life – the things that will always be important, where the light bulb shines when you flick a switch or not.
13 Amish Survival Skills
1. Alternative Power
How much of the modern world an Amish community allows to infiltrate their homes and places of work varies by sect. No Amish home has electricity, yet they still have lights at night, a way to cook and refrigerate food, as well as warm water, in some cases. The use of gas generator power, wood burning stove and furnaces, and solar power provides the energy necessary to create a fully functional manufacturing business.
Hydro-power is also used, depending on the home or business’s proximity to a running creek or river. Instead of merely stockpiling fuel for your generator or buying a solar generator, work towards taking your home entirely off-grid in steps and stages that fit your budget.
How to get started:
Take a basic solar‑installation course. For example, GRID Alternatives offers hands‑on solar training including array layout, wiring, etc.
Learn about micro‑hydro or wood‑gas systems if your property allows.
Gradually move your home off‑grid in stages. Start with a few circuits or a battery system, then expand.
Tips for prepping:
Monitor your current electrical loads (what you actually use) so you size panels/batteries appropriately.
Practice running important circuits from the battery/inverter so you aren’t surprised when you shift over.
2. Fence Building and Mending
Strong fences will not only keep your valuable livestock safe and secure, they will help keep the marauding hordes out. I love tactical fencing, but we live in a rural area more than a half mile from a county road – so prying eyes are not an issue here. But you do not have to create a tactical looking fence around your home. In fact, doing so would attract a lot of unwanted attention.
The Amish build wood fences using simple tools and also string barbed wire, which is quite a chore in itself, to create pastures and to separate areas of their farms. Learn how to make and repair your fencing and keep the supplies on hand to make necessary repairs for the long term.
Document your fence layouts so you can repair quickly under stress.
3. Livestock Illness
Learn how to not only detect but also treat livestock illnesses and injuries yourself. Growing your own apothecary to treat both animals and the family should be at the top of your survival priorities list.
How to get started:
Get a basic veterinary/husbandry handbook for your animal types (chickens, goats, pigs, cows).
Take a short course at a local agricultural extension or 4‑H club.
Practice inspecting your animals weekly: check hoof/foot, coat/skin, feed, behavior.
Tips for prepping:
Build a simple “first‑aid kit” for animals: wound spray, hoof knife, dewormer, antiseptic.
Keep a log‑book of your animals’ health, treatments, weight, births/deaths.
Have isolation area in your barn in case of contagious disease.
4. Farm “Equipment”
Horses are deemed farm equipment by the Amish and are as essential to their daily life as water. The power grid WILL fail during any type of long-term disaster…eventually. Owning horses, knowing how to treat their ailments, train them, and trim and shoe them, could be substantially beneficial to your family.
Not only will you have a way to get around for security patrol that is faster than going on foot and does not require gasoline, you will have an important item and skills to barter with during the post-SHTF rebuilding stage.
Horses are trained by the Amish pull not just buggies but also low-tech versions of modern farm equipment. I cannot think of any essential piece of farm equipment that is not still manufactured with a horse pulling attachment. Some of the farm equipment used by the Amish also include a small gas-powered generator to run the machinery, such as a hay baler.
How to get started:
Find a local horse‑trainer/farmer who uses draft horses and ask for a day of shadowing.
Learn to groom, saddle/harness, hitch.
Practice tasks: pulling a small cart, dragging logs, plowing a small patch.
Tips for prepping:
Acquire a dependable draft animal (or two) and maintain their care (hooves, teeth, feed).
Build your skills in incremental steps: buggy/cart first, then equipment pulling later.
5. Horse and Buggy Maintenance
While modern societies depend on vehicles that require gas and maintenance, the Amish depend not just on their horses but also the horse-drawn buggies. Maintaining and repairing these buggies requires a distinct set of skills in woodworking and metalwork, as well as knowledge of horse care and harness repair.
In a post-disaster world where gas is hard to come by and vehicles are nothing more than giant paperweights, knowing how to maintain and operate a horse-drawn buggy could be crucial.
How to get started:
Visit local Amish buggy‑builders or carriage shops; ask to observe repairs.
Pick up basic woodworking and blacksmith/metal‑work skills: file, forge, weld.
Practice repairing a wooden wheel, replacing a spoke, greasing bearings.
Tips for prepping:
Store grease/oil and spare hardware: bolts, washers, grease nipples.
Practice hitching, driving, braking the buggy under safe conditions.
6. Food Preparation and Preservation
Learn how to make and prepare food the way our great grandmothers did by following the Amish example. Cookbooks and off-grid food preparation tools are sold online, in Lehman’s – the slightly expensive but cool store (online and brick-and-mortar location in Ohio) that caters to Amish ways.
Have mapping of your preservation calendar: when to harvest, when to preserve.
Store essential ingredients: salt, sugar, vinegar, jars/lids, smoke chips.
Rotate your preserved foods annually to ensure you know how the systems work.
7. Hand Sewing or Manual Sewing
Old-fashioned manual sewing machines are still on the market. Clothing will be put to the test during an extensive nationwide disaster. What is currently in your closet will have to last for a very long time. Learn how to mend, darn, and sew your own patterns to keep the family warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and to cover growing children.
I often run into local Amish families at area yard sales snagging sheets, blankets, tablecloths, etc. for next to nothing so they can use the items as fabric to make clothing and other necessary items.
Yard sales are also a great place to find buttons and other notions to stockpile. If you find a shirt you do not like or it is in the wrong size but only costs 50 cents, buy it for the buttons or to use as fabric for a young child.
How to get started:
Buy a used treadle sewing machine (easy to maintain) and practice repair and basic stitching.
Take beginner sewing classes or online tutorials on pattern making and mending.
Mend one piece per week: patch jeans, hem shirts, replace buttons.
Tips for prepping:
Store a “fabric stash”: sheets, blankets, tablecloths (Amish often do this).
Stock up on notions: thread (natural and synthetic), needles, buttons, zippers, patches.
Teach your family basic mending skills so you aren’t the bottleneck.
8. Quilting and Insulation
Quilting isn't just a craft for the Amish; it's a must-have skill for creating warm, durable bedding and clothing which they need to get through the winter. Using scraps of fabric, which might otherwise be wasted, the Amish create beautiful, functional quilts that provide great insulation.
This skill could be especially valuable in a long-term grid-down scenario, helping people stay warm in cold weather. Plus, quilting can be a communal activity that strengthens bonds among family members and neighbors, echoing the Amish value of community.
How to get started:
Join a local quilting group or take an online tutorial.
Use scrap fabrics and practice making basic patch‑work square units.
Learn the insulation principle: multiple layers trap air and retain heat.
Tips for prepping:
Make family quilts now. The practice helps you and gives you valuable gear.
Use quilts for multiple purposes: bed, wrap‑around cloak, ground‑sheet.
Combine quilting with other insulation: wool blankets, down inserts, wall insulation retrofit.
9. Gardening
The Amish, homesteaders, and preppers who live on their survival retreat are already growing and raising at least most of their own groceries. And you should be too, regardless of where you live. Amish make the most of every inch of their property, both inside and out, to start seeds and cultivate crops.
The non-materialistic living style leaves Amish wives free to use folding tables in their living rooms to capture the best light in the house to start their seeds, without worrying what visitors will think about their taste in decor. They also are already picking their first crop, even though snow is still likely to fall a couple of more times before it finally feels like spring.
Use the Amish layering techniques of piling dried manure covered by straw to protect cold weather hardy crops like onions, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, and broccoli so your growing season can begin in February too!
Using natural pesticides is a far better idea than pouring chemicals all over the food you feed your family. Mix up your own bug, wild rabbit, deer repellent, and fungus killing agents to protect your food sources.
The Amish place a strong emphasis on self-sufficiency in healthcare using natural remedies, which they prepare from herbs grown in their own gardens. They often rely on generations-old recipes to treat common ailments, from colds to inflammation.
Since the pharmacies might all be closed during a long-term disaster, learning how to create your own medicinal remedies using natural ingredients is a very valuable skill.
How to get started:
Take a field‑botany/herbal‑remedy class. For example, Jack Mountain Bushcraft School has an off‑grid/foraging intensive.
Start a small medicinal herb patch: chamomile, yarrow, calendula.
Build a remedy kit: tinctures, herbal salves, dried herbs.
Tips for prepping:
Keep a reference book you trust, and a field uses notebook for herbal identification.
Practice making small‑batch tinctures/salves: label date, batch, herbs used.
Integrate with conventional first‑aid kit: show the family which herbs are adjuncts.
11. Carpentry
The Amish are often master carpenters, and they do it all by hand. You will not be able to call a professional to repair your barn roof after a storm or to fix the door on your smokehouse. Learn to use manual tools and make essential repairs yourself and with the help of your family.
Practice building small projects: tool‑rack, shelf, work‑bench.
Get comfortable using hand saws, planes, chisels, measuring and leveling.
Tips for prepping:
Build your own workshop or bench now; stock up on hand‑tool grade items (chisels, mallets, saws).
Keep key building materials in reserve: lumber, nails, screws, hardware.
Practice joining/carving/cabriolet techniques that don’t depend on power tools.
12. Mechanical Skills
The Amish never have a need to call a repairman for plumbing or equipment problems. By hand or sometimes with the aid of a gas generator or solar power, they can keep their utilities and mechanical equipment in working order so the family can keep their work and chores on schedule. Amish men are generally competent blacksmiths, hunters, and sometimes gunsmiths, as well.
How to get started:
Take a small engine mechanics or basic welding/metal‑fabrication class.
Practice repairing something you own: lawnmower, tiller, pump.
Build a metal‑work bench and basic welding setup if safe.
Tips for prepping:
Stock spare parts that are likely to break: belts, bearings, gaskets, hoses.
Keep manuals and schematic diagrams for your machines.
Practice using hand tools for disassembly, cleaning, re‑assembly, etc. Map the process with photos/videos.
13. Work Ethic
In addition to adopting the mindset of the Amish, you should also learn to achieve the same top-notch work ethic. The day starts around 5 a.m. on an Amish farm and continues until dark when everyone sits down to enjoy supper together.
How many hours per day does your family work together doing chores? How many hours do you think they can suddenly adapt to working when the stress level is at its highest and when they're tired and hungry?
Better to find out now and develop a new routine instead of crossing your fingers and hoping they can handle strenuous manual labor like champs after the SHTF.
How to get started:
Create a daily schedule for your family that emulates the “sun‑up to sun‑down” mentality: chores, garden, tool‑maintenance, communal meal.
Practice “offline days” where tech is minimal and the family does physical work together.
Set measurable goals: e.g., clear X square feet of brush, repair Y feet of fence this week.
Tips for prepping:
Track progress: have a chore board or journal that shows who did what and when.
Make it communal: involve all family members from children up.
Keep morale high: schedule fun “community” work days (barn‑raising style) to reinforce teamwork.
Typical Amish Seasonal Work Schedule
April – Oats, Barley, Sorghum, and Corn are planted. Tomato seeds are moved outdoors as soon as the threat from the last frost has passed.
May – Late harvest corn and the rest of the crops are planted.
June – The first hay cutting takes place. This is also often calving season, depending on when the cows were bred. Berry picking and preservation also begins in June.
July – Honey is collected, fruit tree starts are transplanted, more berry picking and hay cutting.
August – Fall wheat is planted and silos are filled with stores to prepare for the coming winter months.
September – The bulk of the garden is harvested and preserved.
October – The late corn and wheat are harvested, cover crops planted, cider and jams are made, and perhaps a third cutting of hay – weather permitting is completed. Hunting and the smoking of meat now kicks into high gear.
Go Visit The Amish
The best way to learn Amish skills and more about their way of life is from the people themselves. Nearly every state has an Amish community of some type. In Pennsylvania and Ohio, massive communities exist, most of which have businesses that highlight their skills. These businesses are open to the public and welcoming of tourists.
Wisconsin Amish – Green Lake County, Cashton, Monroe County, and Vernon County
If the SHTF tomorrow, would your family be ready? The Amish would.
As you can imagine, the Amish way of life is very similar to how American pioneers lived in the 1800s. Watch the linked video below for more information on survival things our great-grandfathers used to do every single day.
Sixteen-bean soup is a true pantry classic that evolved from American frugality and resourcefulness. By mixing a variety of beans, such as kidney, navy, pinto, black beans, lentils, split peas, and more, home cooks can stretch a single pot into a protein-rich, budget-friendly meal.
These mixed-bean blends became especially popular during the 20th century, when packaged soup and bean mixes appeared in grocery stores. With a long simmer and simple seasonings, families could feed a crowd using inexpensive ingredients, making 16-bean soup a beloved staple in many homes.
It’s that time of year to make the best sixteen-bean soup ever! It’s full of delicious, healthy beans, and you can add so many vegetables, and some leftover ham for flavor and even more protein.
I froze some leftover ham cut into bite-sized pieces because I knew I wanted to make this soup. This recipe has been in my cookbook for years. When I see the 16-bean soup mix on sale, I always buy a few bags. Please keep in mind that you can buy beans in bulk and make your own dry bean soup mix.
If there was ever a time to know how to make a good bean soup, it is now, my friends! Please be prepared to feed your family beans now, before they have to eat bean soup every day. If you know how to make bread or biscuits, that’s a bonus for a belly filler. Homemade Bread or Homemade Biscuits
Soups of all kinds are used as a comfort food when people get sick, particularly at this time of year. Many of those soups have more broth than this soup recipe, but you might consider having it available just in case. I love soups and make them any time a family member is “under the weather,” or to have a feel-good moment on a particularly cold day. Give it a try, they will love you even more for your kind efforts!
The History of Sixteen-Bean Soup
Sixteen-Bean Soup didn’t begin as a single, traditional recipe but rather as a clever solution to two timeless kitchen challenges: stretching ingredients and reducing waste. For centuries, cooks around the world have combined various beans and legumes into hearty stews because beans were inexpensive, filling, and stored well through winter. Mixing whatever beans were on hand, kidney, navy, black beans, lentils, split peas—created a nourishing meal without relying heavily on meat.
In the United States, the idea of multi-bean blends gained popularity in the late 1800s and early 1900s as dried-bean availability expanded. Rural families often kept jars filled with leftover beans from different harvests, making “mixed-bean soup” a regular part of homestead cooking. It wasn’t about a specific number of beans—it was simply practical, a comforting food.
The modern name “16-Bean Soup” emerged in the mid-20th century when food companies began packaging pre-mixed bean assortments. These mixes offered convenience and variety in one bag, appealing especially to home cooks looking for affordable, high-protein meals during economic downturns. Brands like Hurst’s and regional mill companies made sixteen-bean and fifteen-bean blends widely available, and the soups became a staple of frugal but flavorful cooking across the country.
As slow cookers and pressure cookers gained popularity in the 1970s through the 1990s, multi-bean soup found new life as an easy, dump-and-simmer meal. Today, Sixteen-Bean Soup remains beloved for its rustic charm, its nutritional value, and the cozy tradition of letting a pot of beans bubble on the stove for hours—turning humble ingredients into something delicious.
16 Bean Soup Bag: A delicious assortment of beans – typically contains: large lima beans, red kidney beans, small white beans, baby lima beans, cranberry beans, pink beans, great northern beans, pinto beans, lentils, whole green peas, green split peas, black-eyed peas, yellow split peas, small red beans, speckled lima beans, and green baby lima beans. It also contains a bag of seasonings to add to the soup as recommended in the instructions.
Carrots: A root vegetable that is typically orange in color. It has a delicious crunch and is high in beta-carotene, a vitamin known for its role in eye health.
Celery Stalks: Refreshingly crisp, light, and delicious! High in antioxidants, and the fiber contained within is excellent for the digestive and cardiovascular systems.
White or Yellow Onion: Both onions have a very distinct spicy flavor that adds a lot to a savory soup, casserole, or other dish. White onions tend to be a bit stronger and pungent in taste than yellow onions.
Garlic Cloves: Provide delicious flavor and may also offer health benefits due to their antiviral and antibacterial properties.
Sweet Dried Basil: Sweet dried basil has a very distinct flavor but is a milder herb than regular dried basil. It has less of a licorice flavor.
Dried Parsley: Parsley has a delicious, slightly bitter taste that contrasts nicely with other flavors. Used to enhance the different flavors of the soup.
Salt and Pepper: They also help to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients in the soup.
Water: Used to rinse the beans before cooking to wash away any rocks or debris; also used to cook the beans, vegetables, and seasonings.
Ham: A type of pork that is roasted, pre-cured, or cooked in a variety of ways. Adds the final touch of delicious and savory flavor to this soup!
This sixteen-bean soup recipe is full of beans, chopped vegetables, and some bite-size pieces of ham. It's a wonderful comfort food!
CourseSoup
CuisineAmerican
Prep Time15 minutesminutes
Cook Time6 hourshours
Soak Beans Overnight12 hourshours
Total Time18 hourshours15 minutesminutes
Servings10people
AuthorLinda Loosli
Ingredients
20ounces16 bean soup bag (save the "ham seasoning" bag included)
2cupschopped carrots
2cupschopped celery
1onion, chopped
2cloves of garlic
1teaspoondried sweet basil
1teaspoondried parsley
Salt and Pepper to taste
7-8cupsof water
1-2cupsfresh thick pieces of ham (cut into chunks)
Instructions
Gather all of your ingredients. Open the bag of 16-bean soup and look for small rocks or debris. Rinse the beans in a colander and drain.Place the "washed" beans in a soup pot and cover them with cold water. Let them soak overnight.
The next morning rinse the beans in a colander and drain the water from the beans.
Place the soaked beans in your slow cooker.
Chop the vegetables.
Add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic to the beans.
Add the ham pieces. Add 7-8 cups of water. Sprinkle the seasonings on top of the water. Set your slow cooker to 6 hours on HIGH. One hour before serving add the ham seasoning package included in the 16-bean soup package.
What are the sixteen beans in the bag of soup?
It was fun to put together the list of bean varieties for this special soup. There were a few new names I wasn’t as familiar with. As with most soups from the shelf, you’ll find the old standby beans in most bean soups, such as lima, pinto, black, speckled, etc. We all tend to stick with those we know our family will eat, and have the flavor we enjoy the most.
Large Lima beans: Also known as a butter bean. They are larger lima beans shaped like a moon and are used in a variety of dishes. Starchier than other white beans, which creates a texture that resembles a potato. They have a buttery flavor and can become slightly mushy when cooked.
Small White beans: An ivory bean that is very easy to prepare. They have a mild flavor, making them a versatile and common bean used in many dishes.
Red Kidney beans: A very flavorful bean that is red in color and in the shape of a kidney. They have a nutty yet mild flavor with a hint of sweetness.
Baby Lima beans: Smaller than navy beans, also a white bean. Known as butter beans because once cooked, they taste buttery and creamy.
Great Northern beans: A medium-sized white bean with a mild flavor. A very versatile bean, it is widely used for its ability to absorb flavors and seasonings.
Speckled Lima beans: Also known as speckled butter bean. They have a very creamy texture when cooked and are high in soluble fiber.
Black beans: Very well known in Latin American dishes. Very rich in protein, antioxidants, carbohydrates, and fiber.
Green Baby Lima beans: Very pale in color and plump in size. They are creamy and quite tender beans.
Pinto beans: Are small and flavorful beans. Known for being made into refried beans. They have a very earthy flavor with a creamy texture. They have a “painted” look.
Cranberry beans: A medium to large bean. They are also known as Borlotti beans. Light brown color with a splash or streak of red, black, magenta, or purplish pink spots. They have a slightly nutty flavor and are sweet and creamy.
Pink beans: are oval-shaped and small. They are pale pinkish brown. Also known as a chili bean. They are similar to pinto beans but are smaller and rounder, with a deep, meaty flavor.
Small Red beans: Also known as the adzuki bean. It has a strong, nutty, and sweet flavor.
Navy beans: A small white bean in the shape of an oval. One of the most popular beans, it has a smooth white surface and a very mild flavor. Also known as a Boston bean or pea bean.
Lentils: An edible legume that is naturally gluten-free. They range in color from yellow and red to black, brown, and green. They tend to have a bit of an earthy, sweet, or nutty flavor and hold their shape well while cooking.
Whole Green peas: Part of the legume family. They are pale green and round. They have a sweet flavor and are nutritionally rich.
Black-eye peas: A white bean with a small black eye. They are small, a bit plump, and round.
One of the fun things I like about this soup is the variety of colors. All the bean varieties, along with some pea variations, make for a very colorful bowl of soup.
How do I store this sixteen-bean soup after cooking?
After cooking, I store the leftover soup in a Tupperware-type container. It should stay good for 3 – 4 days in your refrigerator.
Can I freeze this sixteen-bean soup after cooking?
Absolutely, place the soup in an airtight container and store it in your freezer for 2-3 months.
Can I use canned beans that are already cooked?
Yes, you can skip the bean soaking and add 2-3 cans of your favorite canned beans.
Is sixteen-bean soup good for me?
Yes, it has a lot of protein, fiber, and nutrients all in one bowl!
My sixteen-bean soup is too thin. How can I thicken it?
Sometimes, we may add a bit too much water, and we want the soup to be thicker, I get it. To thicken your soup, use your ladle to remove three tablespoons of the broth and place it in a bowl.
Stir in 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch into the broth, and stir until smooth. Add the mixture back to the slow cooker. It will thicken as it cooks.
Another trick I learned from a reader is to use a package of instant potatoes, add a little, and stir it in the soup until you find the right consistency.
Can I make this sixteen-bean soup without a ham bone?
Yes, you can. Do I love a ham bone? Oh, yeah! But sometimes I don’t have one, and this soup is perfect without one.
Can I use a Ham Bone in this sixteen-bean soup?
I didn’t have one today, but yes, you can throw a ham bone in when you start the slow cooker. After the soup finishes cooking, remove the ham bone, cut off the remaining ham pieces, and return them to the soup.
Can I use LENTILS to thicken up this sixteen-bean soup?
A reader, Janet (thank you, my friend), has taught me slowly how to use lentils in so many ways. Add about 1 cup of lentils to this recipe, and it will thicken up really well.
Rinse the lentils as you did the beans, and add them to the slow cooker with the beans. The 16-bean soup mix has some lentils, but this would be an additional cup of lentils.
Can I use another meat in the soup besides ham?
Deborah, one of my amazing readers, reminded me about adding ground beef instead of ham. Great tip! If you’re interested in trying another meat, I highly recommend cooked Italian sausage or pork; either would taste delicious!
Can I make this sixteen-bean soup meatless?
You can make this soup vegetarian by skipping the ham or any other meat. It still tastes delicious!
Is this sixteen-bean soup considered gluten-free?
As with any food allergy, I would highly recommend reviewing the ingredients of any product you use in this recipe, or on any other packaging, if you decide to add additional ingredients. With the recipe made as is, the most common ingredient that may contain gluten is the seasoning packet included in the sixteen-bean bag. Please review all packaging if this is a dietary concern.
Let me know if you try making my sixteen-bean soup recipe. You know I love to hear from you. It’s a great recipe to teach our kids and grandkids how to make soup with only a few ingredients. Soups of all kinds are a welcome meal this time of year as the weather turns a little colder. Nothing like a hot soup to warm up our bodies and spirits!
Plus, we can teach them how to stretch a meal with more beans! May God bless this world, Linda
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Inflammation is at the root of many chronic health issues; joint pain, brain fog, high blood pressure, and even certain metabolic conditions. Fortunately, nature provides us with potent, time-tested remedies that work with the body instead of against it. And you can make them right at home.
This tutorial shows you how to make your own anti-inflammatory herbal tablets using moringa, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and raw honey. These tablets are packed with powerful natural compounds that help reduce pain, improve brain function, support the immune system, and protect vital organs.
Turmeric fights systemic inflammation and supports brain health.
Ginger enhances immunity and relieves muscle and joint pain.
Moringa protects tissues and lowers blood pressure.
Black pepper boosts absorption of turmeric’s active compound, curcumin.
Raw honey binds the powders while adding antibacterial benefits.
This particular tutorial comes from the YouTube channel Nature’s Darling. You can watch the video and read the instructions below.
Disclaimer:This recipe is shared for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before beginning any herbal supplement.
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons moringa leaf powder
3 tablespoons turmeric powder
3 tablespoons ginger powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2½ to 3 tablespoons raw honey (adjust based on your local humidity)
A few drops of olive oil to prevent sticking (optional)
Instructions:
Step 1: Combine the Powders
Start by putting on some gloves. You will definitely need them.
In a mixing bowl, add:
3 tablespoons of moringa powder
3 tablespoons of turmeric powder
3 tablespoons of ginger powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Stir the dry ingredients until well combined.
Step 2: Add Honey
Slowly add 2½ to 3 tablespoons of raw honey into the powder mix. Stir well until you get a thick, pliable paste. The amount of honey may vary depending on the humidity in your area.
Step 3: Mix Thoroughly
Lightly coat your hands and utensils with olive oil to prevent the mixture from sticking. This step also provides a fat source, which helps activate turmeric’s benefits.
Finish mixing the ingredients, then squeeze and knead the mixture to bind it.
If the mixture feels too sticky or wet, add a small amount of extra powder. If it’s too dry and crumbly, add a bit more honey.
Step 3: Roll into Tablets
Press everything down into one large piece, then cover it with parchment paper and press it until it's flat.
For the next part, you can use the tube of a syringe or some other tube to pike pea-sized balls out of the mixture. Then roll them into tablets.
You should yield approximately 140 tablets from this recipe.
Step 4: Dry the Tablets
Place the tablets on a parchment-lined tray or plate and let them air dry in a dark, dry area for 2 days. Avoid direct sunlight, which can degrade some of the medicinal properties.
Step 5: Store Properly
Once dried, store the tablets in a dark, airtight glass container. Keep your main supply in the refrigerator, but you can store a monthly dose at room temperature in a separate jar for daily access.
Dosage and Usage
Take 2 tablets daily with a meal, especially one that includes healthy fats (like avocado, nuts, olive oil, fish, or milk). Fat helps enhance the absorption of turmeric’s active compound, curcumin.
Final Note
These herbal tablets aren’t just easy to make. They’re a powerful, low-cost way to support your body naturally. While not a replacement for professional medical treatment, they can be a great complement to your wellness routine.
