GREAT NORTHERN BEAN N HAM SOUP / CROCK POT

Great Northern Bean N Ham Soup / Crock Pot image

Provided by Cassie *

Time 6h15m

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 lb dry northern beans
1 hambone w/ meat or 2 ham hocks
extra ham, chopped of not a lot on your bone or hocks ( i didn't have a lot of ham on my bone, so added cubed ham i had in the freezer)
2 carrots, sliced
2 sweet onions, chopped
2 stalk(s) celery, sliced
6 clove garlic, sliced
2 bay leaves
1/2 - 1 Tbsp dried thyme
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder
2 Tbsp chopped parsley
1/2 tsp ground cloves
6 c chicken broth
5 c water
2 Tbsp chicken bouillon paste
taste before adding salt at the end

Steps:

1. Place your beans in a large bowl; cover with water and soak overnight. After soaking, pick through and discard any stones or shriveled beans. Rinse thoroughly and place in an 8 quart crock pot. Add all remaining ingredients except for the chopped ham, unless you aren't using a bone. I just use the bone and its meat for cooking, then add other cubed ham at the end.
2. Once all ingredients are added; stir as best as you can - mainly to mix in the bouillon. Place on the lid. Turn pot on low and cook for 6 - 8 hours or on high for 4 - 5 1/2 hours; or until the bean are creamy. All pots cook differently. I started mine on low for the first 4 hours, then turned to high for another 3 1/2 hours...was perfect..