Ham Hock, Sweet Potato & Celery Soup

• Ingredients in order of use
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 large yellow onions, peel & roughly chop
• 4 large garlic cloves, peel & rougly chop
• 1 kg ham hocks or 1 kg bacon bones with plenty meat, remove & discard skin & fat
• 10 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons dried sage
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried herbs (tarragon, basil, parsely etc)
• 3 liters hot water
• 1 bunch celery & tops, chop & discard the hard core end, roughly chop celery & tops
• 1 kg sweet potato, peel & roughly chop
• 4 teaspoons salt (to taste)
• 4 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper

1. 1. In a very large saucepan (about 4 lts) over low heat, melt butter & saute onions & garlic.
2. 2. Toss in all dried herbs, gently fry.
3. 3. Remove meat from ham bone & roughly chop, toss meat & bone into pan.
4. 4. When meat & onions just start turning brown, pour in hot water & stir well to remove all browning residue from bottom of pan.
5. 5. Add celery & sweet potato.
6. 6. Set temperature to gently boil & stir occasionally for about 2 - 3 hours.
7. 7. Add ground black pepper.
8. 8. Salt to taste (be careful, ham & bacon bones will vary in saltiness).
9. 9. Add a little water if required to keep soup fluid but allow to thicken.

ingredients, butter, yellow onions, garlic, bacon, bay leaves, sage, oregano, herbs, liters hot water, celery, sweet potato, salt, fresh ground black pepper

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/ham-hock-sweet-potato-celery-soup-458834 (may not work)