Hearty Bean Soup

Servings: 6
Ingredients:

20 oz Pkg Hamm beans or 2 c mixed
-dried beans
1    Ham bone or ham hock (I use
-1 lb ham chunks)
2 1/3 ts Bouquet garni (can buy in
-the spice section)
3 qt Water
28 oz Can tomatoes
2 lg Onions, chopped (2 cups)
4    Ribs celery, chopped (2
-cups)
2    Cloves garlic, minced
1 lb Smoked kielbasa or Polish
-sausage (optional)

Salt and pepper Chopped fresh parsley

Rinse beans under cold running water. Drain. Place in 8 quart Dutch oven
with ham bone, bouquet garni and water. Bring to a simmer over medium
heat. Reduce heat to low. Simmer covered for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, adding
water as necessary to keep beans covered. Add tomatoes, onions, celery and
garlic. Simmer, covered, for 1 1/2 hours. If using sausage, cut in 1 inch
chunks and add. Simmer for 30 minutes longer. Remove from heat; add salt
and pepper. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.

10 (1 cup) servings without sausage.

Posted by Ellen Cleary. Courtesy of Fred Peters.