Thick Ham And Bean Soup

• 1 lb navy beans
• 7 cups water
• 3 stalks celery
• 3 carrots
• 1 large onion
• 4 chicken bouillon cubes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic granules
• 2 large potatoes
• 1 ham bone

1. Either soak beans over night or quick soak by covering beans with 2 inches of water, bringing to a boil for 2 minutes and letting set for 1 hour.
2. Drain and rinse beans, add all ingredients, except for the potatoes.
3. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
4. Remove ham bone and pick off meat, give ham bones to dog.
5. Return ham to soup along with potatoes.
6. Cook for 1/2 hour more or until potatoes are tender.
7. Take a potato masher and mash the potatoes and some of the beans, this makes a wonderfully thick soup.
8. Serve with either crackers or corn muffins. Enjoy!
9. Oh yea, salt and pepper to taste!

navy beans, water, stalks celery, carrots, onion, chicken bouillon cubes, bay leaf, thyme, garlic, potatoes, ham bone

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/thick-ham-and-bean-soup-315331 (may not work)