Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      slice         bacon
   1      teaspoon      garlic -- minced
     1/2  cup           onion -- chopped
   2 1/2  cups          kidney beans -- canned with liquid
   3      cups          beef broth
   3                    bay leaves
     1/2  teaspoon      salt
     1/8  teaspoon      ground pepper -- freshly
     1/4  teaspoon      dried basil -- crumbled

Preparation:

Fry bacon over medium heat in heavy frying pan; crumble bacon and set aside. Reheat bacon drippings over medium heat; saute garlic and onion until tender, stirring occasionally. Puree beans in blender or food processor fitted with steel blade and stir into onion mixture. Blend in crumbled bacon and remaining ingredients, stirring occasionally until soup is hot. Remove and discard by leaves. Soup will thicken as it stands and be thinned with water or additional beef broth.