U,S. SENATE BEAN SOUP

U,S. SENATE BEAN SOUP image

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 pound dry white beans. soaked overnite(or quick soaked)
1 meaty ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks
3 quarts of water
3 small or 2 med. onions,finely chopped
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
4 stalks of celery, with leaves finely chopped
1/4 cup parsley finely chopped
[Senate version: add 1 cup cooked mashed potatoes]
1 carrot finely sliced (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

Strain the water from the soaked beans and put in a big pot with 3 quarts of water and ham bone or ham hocks. Bring to boil and reduce heat and simmer for at least 2 hours. Stir the chopped vegetables and herbs into the pot and also the mashed potatoes if you are cooking the Senate version--and cook over low heat for another hour--until beans are nicley tender. Remove the bones from pot-- cut off meat and return to pot, disgarding the bones..garnish with chives etc.