Bean and Salt Pork Soup (Ciorbă de Fasole cu Șuncă)

This is one of our family's favorite comfort foods.  It's relatively quick, hearty, and packed with so much flavor and goodness. The beans, along with the salt pork are simply the best combination!

I like to use Vegeta in a lot of my cooking because I grew up with it and it can be found here, in the States, almost everywhere. Vegeta is a spice containing salt and crushed dried vegetables.  It is very common in Romania and throughout Europe.  However, it can be found quite easily in most grocery stores in the international isle.  If you don't have it, can't find it or simply don't want it, season with seasoned salt and other spices you might like, such as dried herbs and garlic powder or something.

Now go ahead and make this for dinner!  You'll love it!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
-cooking spray
-12 oz salt pork, trimmed of fat and cut into large chunks
-6 cups water
-3 (15 oz each) cans great northern beans, drained and rinsed
-1 (15 oz) can dark kidney beans, drained and rinsed
-3 Tbs tomato paste
-1.5 Tbs Vegeta
-1 tsp salt
-1 tsp pepper
-1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Directions:
Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray.  Add the chunks of salt pork and cook until no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
Add the water and beans.  Give it a good stir and bring to a simmer.  Stir in the tomato paste.  Stir until completely melted.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  Give it another good stir, lower the heat to low, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
Ladle into bowls and enjoy!