Tamale Soup

Ingredients

• 2 23 cups pinto beans, presoaked
• 8 cups water
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 12 cup green peppers or 12 cup red pepper, diced
• 2 cups celery, chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried chives
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon tamari
• 14 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 13 cup olive oil
• 34 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon bacon bits (optional)
• salt and pepper