Wash, sort and generally pick over the dried beans, discarding debris. Place the beans in a pot with 2 quarts of water; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce to a gentle simmer and cook until the small beans are creamy, not powdery, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from the heat. ^ Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook the onions with 1 teaspoon of the salt and the black pepper until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the garlic, reduce the heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the aroma is released. ^ Pour the red beans and cooking liquid into the stockpot, along with the chili peppers, parsnips and carrots. Turn the heat up to medium and cook at a low boil for 10 minutes. Add the remaining vegetables and 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 to 15 minutes longer. Ladle into large bowls and serve hot with a dollop of salsa. Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ny: Wm. Morrow (Pub) [mcRecipe 21 Sep 96 patH] Recipe By

beans. This soup was inspired by that experience."-Msm and Sf Substitute 2 ancho chilies for the mild canned.