White Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 c. Great Northern beans
1/2 lb. salt pork or 1 ham bone with some meat attached
1 large onion, chopped
1 c. freshly cooked, mashed potatoes (if desired, salt and pepper)
2 Tbsp. melted butter or margarine
2 Tbsp. flour

Preparation

Wash beans in lots of cold water.
Remove beans that float to top.
Cover beans with more water and let soak for several hours, usually overnight.
Add salt pork or ham bone and bring beans to a boil.
Cut heat down and let beans simmer slowly until tender, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.