Stone Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. dry Great Northern Beans or 5 cans Great Northern beans (reduce water to 3 c.)
6 c. water
1 ham bone
1 lb. smoked sausage (cut into bite size pieces)
1 c. carrots (chopped)
1 c. celery (chopped)
1 bay leaf
1/4 c. cilantro
1/4 c. parsley
1 Tbsp. basil
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
1 stone (cleaned and washed)

Preparation

For dry beans only:
rinse beans of any dirt or debris.
Add beans and bay leaf to a good-sized pot, fill with water about 3 inches over beans.
Boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat, cover, and let stand 2 hours.