White Bean Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Navy beans -- dry
• 3 quarts Water
• 1 each Ham bone or hock -- smoked
• 2 tablespoons Parsley -- chopped
• 1 cup Onions -- finely chopped
• 1 each Garlic- clove -- minced
• 2 cups Celery &tops -- finely chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Pepper

Preparation:

• Cover beans with water in large pot or soup kettle and soak overnight.
• Rinse beans well and return to pot with ham bone and 3 quarts of water.
• Simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours.
• Add parsley, onions, garlic, celery and tops, salt and pepper.
• Simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour or until vegetables are tender.
• Remove ham bone, dice the meat, and add meat to soup.
• Serve hot.