Old Fashioned Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. white beans
1 meaty ham bone
3 qt. water
1/2 c. mashed potatoes
1/4 c. parsley, finely chopped
3 onions, diced
4 to 5 stalks celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced

Preparation

Soak beans in water to cover overnight. Drain and place in large soup kettle. Add ham bone and 3 quarts of water. Simmer slowly for an hour. Stir in mashed potatoes and let simmer another hour. Then add all the remaining ingredients and simmer another hour or until done. Remove the ham bone; dice the meat off of it and return the meat to the kettle. Discard the bone. Serve with corn bread or large chunks of warm French bread.