Old Fashioned Bean Soup

---

This is a no fail easy to make recipe. the soup is thick and rich with lots of flavour. i've made it with leftover whole ham with bone, which keeps down the fat content. The original recipe came from a magazine over 20 years ago. it's best when made with left over mashed potatoes.

---

Steps

---

Wash beans , discarding imperfect ones.

---

Cover beans with 2 1 / 2 quarts water.

---

Refrigerate , covered , overnight.

---

Next day , turn beans and water into 6-quart kettle.

---

Add ham hocks , onion , garlic and bay leaf.

---

Bring to boiling.

---

Reduce heat , and simmer , covered tightly , about 2 hours , or until the beans are almost tender.

---

Add mashed potato , celery , carrot , salt and pepper.

---

Return to boiling.

---

Simmer , covered , about 1 hour longer , or until beans are tender.

---

Remove ham hocks.

---

Cut off meat.

---

Dice meat , and return to kettle.

---

Just before serving , sprinkle with chopped parsley.

---

Ingredients

---

dry northern white beans, smoked ham hocks, onion, garlic cloves, bay leaf, mashed potatoes, celery, carrot, salt, pepper, parsley