Old Fashioned Bean Soup

• 1 lb great dry northern white beans
• 2 smoked ham hocks (2 1/4 lb)
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup mashed potatoes (leftover or instant)
• 1 cup sliced celery
• 1 cup thinly sliced carrot
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1. Wash beans, discarding imperfect ones. Cover beans with 2 1/2 quarts water; refrigerate, covered, overnight.
2. Next day, turn beans and water (there should be 6 cups) into 6-quart kettle.
3. Add ham hocks, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat, and simmer, covered tightly, about 2 hours, or until the beans are almost tender.
4. Add mashed potato, celery, carrot, salt and pepper. Return to boiling; simmer, covered, about 1 hour longer, or until beans are tender.
5. Remove ham hocks; cut off meat. Dice meat, and return to kettle. Just before serving, sprinkle with chopped parsley.

beans, ham hocks, onion, garlic, bay leaf, potatoes, celery, carrot, salt, pepper, parsley

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/old-fashioned-bean-soup-143271 (may not work)