Navy Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. dried navy beans
7 c. water
1 ham bone
2 c. cubed ham
1/4 c. minced onion
1/2 tsp. salt
1 bay leaf
pepper to taste

Preparation

Rinse beans.
Heat beans and water to boiling.
Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Cover and let stand 1 hour.
Add remaining ingredients.
Heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 1 1/2 hours until beans are soft.
Skim foam.
Remove bay leaf and ham bone. Trim meat from bone. Add to soup. Season to taste.
Add boiled potatoes as an option.