White Bean Soup

• 1 pound Great Northern beans or other white beans
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup minced fresh onion
• 3/4 cup diced lean smoked ham
• 2 tablespoons minced seeded jalapeno pepper
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 7 cups water
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1. Sort and wash beans, and place in a Dutch oven. Cover with water to 2 inches above beans. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 1 hour. Drain beans; set aside. Wipe pan with a paper towel.
2. Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add onion, ham, jalapeno pepper, and garlic; saute 7 minutes or until onion is tender. Add beans, water, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil. Partially cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour.
3. Place 2 cups of bean mixture in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Return puree to pan; stir in parsley.

beans, olive oil, fresh onion, lean smoked ham, pepper, garlic, water, salt, pepper, parsley

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/white-bean-soup (may not work)