Arizona Mountain Soup

ARIZONA MOUNTAIN SOUP

3 cups cooked pinto beans
1 1/2 cups cooked white rice
1 large tomato, skinned and diced (or use a small can of diced tomatoes)
1 cup chopped bacon
3 small onions, finely chopped (probably about 1/2 to 1 cup
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbs. salt (omit if beans are salted) , or to taste
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 cups water )approximately-----read cooking directions)

Cook the bacon (better in microwave on paper towels to absorb )some of the fat, but you can fry it in a skillet and drain well.) Cook the onion and garlic in the microwave with a little water for moisture. Put the beans, tomato and rest of the ingredients in a large pot with 2 of the cups of water. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Add additional water, 1/2 cup at a time during cooking, the amount depending on desired consistency. Yield: 6 cups soup.
(The original recipe calls for the bacon drippings to be added but I never did this because of the fat)