Delicious Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb. (2 c.) navy beans, dried
2 1/2 qt. water
1 meaty ham bone (1 1/2 lb.)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small bay leaf
1 c. cubed potatoes
1 c. celery, thinly sliced
1 c. onion, finely chopped
1 c. carrots, cubed
salt and pepper

Preparation

Boil the beans in the water for 2 minutes before removing them from the heat to let stand for 1 hour.
Then add the ham bone, garlic and bay leaf to the beans.
Cover and simmer them for 2 hours or until the ingredients are almost tender.
Add the vegetables and salt and pepper to taste; simmer them for 1 hour longer.
Remove the ham bone; cut off the meat and dice it to add to the beans.
Reheat the soup almost to boiling; then remove the bay leaf.