Simple "Depression" Navy Bean Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 ham bones or 2 chopped ham
2 packages dried navy beans
1 medium onion (minced)
2 -3 stalks celery (diced)
1 -2 carrot (grated or finely chopped)
2/3 cup catsup (or more)
2 -3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (or more)
3 -5 dashes celery salt
3 -5 dashes garlic salt
instant mashed potatoes
1 tablespoon dried celery flakes, if available
salt and pepper
water
Additional ingredients
ham bouillon cube or chicken bouillon cube (but add before the salt and taste so as not to get too salty--can always add salt later) (optional)
bay leaf (optional)
Tabasco sauce (optional)
Mrs. Dash seasoning mix (optional)

Preparation

Soak beans overnight according to package directions.
Pour off extra water.
Add water to about 2 inches or more over the beans (depending on how\"soupy\" you want it).
Can saute the vegetables first if you want to get fancy or just throw them in the pot with all the other ingredients, except the mashed potatoes.
Bring to a boil, then simmer until the beans are tender---the longer the better.
Add dried mashed potatoes gradually to bring soup to desired thickness.
Serve with crackers (oyster crackers are good).