NAVY BEAN AND HAM SOUP (IN A CROCK-POT)

Navy Bean And Ham Soup (in a crock-pot) image

Provided by Karla Everett

Time 8h

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 lb small navy beans (or your favorite bean)
1 onion ; chopped
2 stick celery ; chopped
3/4 c chopped carrots
2 Tbsp chopped garlic from a jar
1/2 tsp pepper
2 bay leaves, dried
leftover ham bone with meat on it
1-1/2 c chopped up ham ; optional
4-5 c water
broth from the cooked ham
3 Tbsp fat from ham broth

Steps:

1. Sort through the dry beans and dis-guard any bad beans or rocks you may find. Place in water and soak over night with 2 teaspoons of baking soda.
2. Drain and rinse the beans well.
3. Chop the onions , carrots and celery , I like to use some of the celery leaves in mine.
4. Place cut vegetables in a crock-pot with the beans and Add a meaty ham bone that was left over from a previous dinner and extra chopped up ham meat if you want more meat.
5. Add the left over juice and some of the fat from the cooked ham , it will be jelled once it's cold.
6. Add the water and the remaining spices.
7. Cover and let cook for atleast 6 hours and remove the ham bone and remove the ham off the bone and return the meat to the soup ; I like to mash some of the beans at this time , Cook for 2 more hours.
8. I like to serve my soup with some good ole corn bread....yummy...enjoy!!