Melt olive oil and butter in a heavy soup pot. Wilt your vegetables: onion and potato. Add seasonings and garlic. (Hot pepper flakes, if desired, can be added to the oil/butter.) Cover with water, bring to a boil, lower to simmer, and cook until potato is tender. Add beans and celery; add a little more water. Adjust seasonings and heat. Mash up some of the beans and potatoes to thicken as desired. Add milk and heat, do not boil. Adjust seasonings to taste. At the very end, throw in a handful of torn pieces of escarole, romaine, or spinach. Serve with grated cheese over pieces of day-old Italian bread.

   Variations: This was a cheap Depression meal, hot and satisfying. Other “white” vegetables can be added, such as fennel, turnip, and parsnip. To change the look and taste of the 3-bean soup, use black and/or red beans. You can use sweet or yellow potatoes, carrots, plum tomatoes, yellow onions. Do not use milk; add wine and more water. To thicken, mash or put half the vegetables in blender. Keep adjusting the seasonings to taste. Both of these variations are vegetarian soups. For extra flavor, use vegetable stock for cooking. To add more protein, cube and role firm tofu in fine seasoned crumbs, fry in a little oil, and serve on top of soup with the grated cheese.