Old-Fashioned Bean Soup

• 1 (16 oz.) pkg. dried Great Northern beans
• 10 c. water
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 c. chopped celery
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. oil
• 1 meaty ham bone or smoked ham hock
• 3/4 tsp. thyme, crushed
• 3 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1. Rinse beans; combine with water in large pot.
2. Heat to boiling; cook 2 minutes.
3. Turn off heat; cover.
4. Let stand for 1 hour.
5. Saute onion, garlic, celery and carrots in oil for 10 minutes.
6. Add to beans and liquid, ham bone and thyme.
7. Heat to boiling; cover.
8. Simmer 2 hours or until beans are tender.
9. Remove bone and dice meat.
10. Spoon about 2 cups beans and 1/2 liquid in processor or blender.
11. Stir back into pot along with the ham.
12. Add salt, pepper and cheese.
13. Heat slowly until hot.

dried great northern beans, water, onion, clove garlic, celery, carrots, oil, ham bone, thyme, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese

Taken from www.cookbooks.com/Recipe-Details.aspx?id=572102 (may not work)