Memes Vegetable Soup

• 1 ham bone, with some meat on it
• 2 bay leaves, preferably fresh
• 1 sprig of thyme
• 6 cups water
• 1 (15-ounce) can tomato puree
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can whole tomatoes, with juices
• 2 cups shelled fresh butter beans (about 1 1/2 pounds unshelled) or frozen butter beans, thawed
• 1 onion, preferably Vidalia, chopped
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 carrots, sliced into thin rounds
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 Yukon gold potatoes, cubed
• 1/2 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• Scraped kernels from 4 ears fresh sweet corn (about 2 cups) (see page 188)
• 1/4 pound fresh okra, stems trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (optional)
• Memes Biscuits (page 204), for accompaniment

1. In a large pot, place the ham bone, bay leaves, thyme, and water.
2. Bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease the heat to low and simmer until the broth is flavorful and fragrant, about 1 hour.
3. Add the tomato puree, whole tomatoes with juices, butter beans, and onion.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Continue cooking on low heat until the butter beans are just tender, about 30 minutes.
6. Add the carrots, celery, potatoes, green beans, corn, and okra.
7. Continue cooking until the vegetables are tender, about 30 additional minutes.
8. Remove the bay leaves and thyme.
9. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
10. Enjoy with hot biscuits.

ham bone, bay leaves, thyme, water, tomato puree, tomatoes, butter beans, onion, salt, carrots, stalks celery, gold potatoes, green beans, kernels from, fresh okra, memes

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/meme-s-vegetable-soup-380434 (may not work)