Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. dried navy beans
3 medium, chopped onions
2 diced carrots
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 bay leaves
parsley sprigs
ham bone with meat

Preparation

Wash beans and put in kettle.
Add 2 1/2 quarts of water and bring to boil.
Boil, uncovered, for 2 minutes.
Cover and let stand 1 hour.
Add next 6 ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 2 hours or until beans are mushy.
Remove bay leaves and ham bone.
Remove any meat from bone and put back in soup.
Season to taste and if necessary, thicken with flour-water paste.
Makes about 2 1/2-quarts.
Can substitute with ham shanks.