Peasant Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. dried Great Northern beans
3 carrots, sliced
3 celery ribs, sliced
2 medium onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1 can (14 1/2 oz.) tomatoes and juice, cut up
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil

Preparation

Place beans in a Dutch oven and cover with water; bring to a boil.
Boil for 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour.
Drain and rinse; return to Dutch oven.
Add 6 cups water and all other ingredients except oil; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are tender.
Discard the bay leaves.
Add oil and heat through. Makes 12 servings.