Amish Bean Soup

Ingredients for Amish Bean Soup

2 cup navy beans, dried

2 1/2 qt water

1 each ham bone (1 1/2 lbs)

1 each garlic, clove, minced

1 each bay leaf

1 cup potatoes, cubed

1 cup celery, thinly sliced

1 cup onion, finely chopped

1 cup carrots, cubed

1 salt and pepper, to taste

Cooking Instructions for Amish Bean Soup

Boil the beans in the water for 2 minutes before removing them from the heat to let stand for 1 hour. Then add the ham bone, garlic and bay leaf to the beans, and cover and simmer them for 2 hours or until the ingredients are almost tender. Add the vegetables and salt and pepper to taste, and simmer them for 1 hour longer. Remove the ham bone, cut off the meat and dice it to add to the beans. Reheat the soup almost to boiling, then remove the bay leaf.