Lima Beans And Ham Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb dried lima beans
8 cups water
1 lb ham steak, cubed
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
1 stalk celery, sliced
2 large potatoes, peeled and halved
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1 dash pepper

Preparation

Rinse and sort beans before adding to a pot of water and bringing to boil for 3 minutes.
Set aside to soak for 1 hour.
While beans are soaking, melt butter in large soup pot.
Saute onions, carrots, and celery for 3-5 minutes.
Add 8 cups water, bay leaf, salt and dash of pepper.
Add halved potatoes.
Drain lima beans and add to pot.
Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce heat to medium low.
Simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beans are tender.
Add cubed ham during last half hour.
Mash the potato halves to thicken the stock.
Salt and pepper to taste.