Old Fashioned Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb great dry northern white beans
2 smoked ham hocks (2 1/4 lb)
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 bay leaf
1 cup mashed potatoes (leftover or instant)
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup thinly sliced carrot
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Preparation

Wash beans, discarding imperfect ones. Cover beans with 2 1/2 quarts water; refrigerate, covered, overnight.
Next day, turn beans and water (there should be 6 cups) into 6-quart kettle.
Add ham hocks, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat, and simmer, covered tightly, about 2 hours, or until the beans are almost tender.
Add mashed potato, celery, carrot, salt and pepper. Return to boiling; simmer, covered, about 1 hour longer, or until beans are tender.
Remove ham hocks; cut off meat. Dice meat, and return to kettle. Just before serving, sprinkle with chopped parsley.