Senate Bean Soup Recipe

Grata: Holiday thoughts as well as beans

How did you observe the nation's 235th birthday?

By watching Joey "Jaws" Chestnut shove 62 all-beef weenies down his throat in 10 minutes to win another Nathan's Famous hot-dog eating contest, a symbol of American gluttony held annually at New York's Coney Island?

By helping send $200 million worth of "home fireworks" imported from China up in smoke over the four-day weekend, contributing to the national debt and trade imbalance?

By paying a premium to see "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" in 3-D, enabling the movie industry to gross a record $116.4 million for a fantasy about giant toys from outer space?

Or were you among a handful of citizens who spent 10 minutes reading the Declaration of Independence - the nation's cherished symbol of freedom and the basis of the national holiday.

Don't feel guilty.

The Fourth of July is a time for celebration and excess.

It's about hot dogs, beer, baseball, vacations, fireworks, movies, parades and other activities that have morphed into the American way - a party like no other place on the planet.

On Independence Day alone, people consumed 150 million hot dogs, enough to stretch from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles over five times, according to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council. (Yes, there's such a group.)

They were often accompanied by baked beans. If they were Bush's baked beans, you had to make a difficult choice. Would they be Original, "a secret family recipe?" Or would they be Boston, Homestyle, Country Style, Honey, Maple Cured Bacon, Onion, Bold & Spicy or Vegetarian?

In any case, we hold these truths to be self-evident, as prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau to assist with news media coverage for the Fourth of July 2011.

A population of 2.5 million in July 1776 in the newly independent nation was estimated at 311.7 million as of Monday.

In 2010, the value of U.S. flags imported from other countries was $3.2 million, all but $400,000 worth made in China.

Thirty-one towns in the U.S. have "liberty" in their name, including Liberty Borough near McKeesport.

Thirty-five towns have "eagle" in their name, including New Eagle in the Mid-Mon Valley.

Eleven municipalities have "independence" in their name, including Independence townships in Washington and Beaver counties.

Nine towns have "freedom" in their name, including Freedom Borough in Beaver County.

The dollar value of trade last year between the U.S. and United Kingdom was $98.3 billion, making the British, our adversary in 1776, our sixth-leading trading partner today.

What Would Be A Good Garnish For White Bean Soup? | b2b b2c ...

Wash the navy beans and run hot water through them until they are slightly whitened. Place beans into pot with hot water. Add ham hocks and simmer approximately three hours in a covered pot, stirring occasionally. Remove ham hocks and set aside to cool. Dice meat and return to soup. Lightly brown the onion in butter. Add to soup. Before serving, bring to a boil and season with salt and pepper. Serves 8.

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