Thick Ham And Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb navy beans
7 cups water
3 stalks celery
3 carrots
1 large onion
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon garlic granules
2 large potatoes
1 ham bone

Preparation

Either soak beans over night or quick soak by covering beans with 2 inches of water, bringing to a boil for 2 minutes and letting set for 1 hour.
Drain and rinse beans, add all ingredients, except for the potatoes.
Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Remove ham bone and pick off meat, give ham bones to dog.
Return ham to soup along with potatoes.
Cook for 1/2 hour more or until potatoes are tender.
Take a potato masher and mash the potatoes and some of the beans, this makes a wonderfully thick soup.
Serve with either crackers or corn muffins. Enjoy!
Oh yea, salt and pepper to taste!