Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2      tablespoons   oil
   3      medium        onions -- chopped
   4      cloves        garlic -- minced
  48      ounces        canned black beans -- (frijoles negros)
                        -- drained and rinsed
   1      tablespoon    fresh oregano -- finely chopped
     1/2  teaspoon      ground cumin -- to taste
     1/2  teaspoon      fresh thyme -- finely chopped
   1                    bay leaf
   2      cups          cubed ham -- cooked
   2      cups          chicken stock
     1/4  cup           dry sherry
  16      ounces        canned whole tomatoes -- drained & chopped
     1/4  cup           fresh tomatoes -- peeled and chopped
                        salt and freshly ground pepper -- to taste
                        *accompaniments*
                        fresh lime or lemon wedges
                        sour cream
                        radishes -- thinly sliced
                        green onions -- sliced
                        cilantro leaves
                        chile salsa

Preparation:

In a wide-bottomed, large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onions and cook until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in beans, oregano, cumin, thyme, bay leaf, ham, stock, sherry, and tomatoes. Increase heat and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt, if necessary, and pepper. Serve soup with your choice of accompaniments, or cool to room temperature and refrigerate or freeze. Makes about 7 cups. * Timesaver Tip: Soup can be made up to 2 days ahead, covered, and refrigerated, or it can be frozen. To freeze, spoon soup into one large or several smaller individual freezer containers. Cover, label, and freeze at 0 degrees F up to 1 month. To serve, defrost soup 15 to 20 minutes on Defrost setting of microwave, or thaw in refrigerator 8 to 24 hours. Gently warm soup in a saucepan or microwave at 50% power until it is warmed through. Stir several times both during defrosting and during reheating. Microwave Version Put oil in a 2-quart casserole and microwave on 70% power 45 seconds. Add onions and microwave another 3 minutes, until onions are soft. Add garlic and microwave a minute longer. Complete step 2 as directed above. Cover casserole with waxed paper or loosely with plastic wrap and microwave, still on 70% power, 30 minutes. Season to taste and proceed with step 4 as directed above. Preparation time and timesaver tip same as above.