rostrum, at times, i throw white wheat & barley instead of red beans. then i steam peeled sweet potatoes, when the soup is abt readly, i through the cut steam peeled sweet potatoes inside. dh likes that & usually i will cook a big pot, put them in 3 -4 small tubbleware container & keep them in the fridge. dh likes them cold & he will eat them for desserts on wkday nights when he comes home/