Shaker bean soup

12 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1poundsWhite navy beans
Water
1Ham bone (or 2 ham hocks)
3Celery stalks; diced
2Carrots; shredded
1Lg onion; chopped
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
½teaspoonThyme; dried
28ouncesTomatoes in puree
2tablespoonsBrown sugar
cupSpinach leaves; finely shred

Directions

Sort and rinse beans. Place in soup kettle or dutch oven. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand 1 hour. Drain beans and discard liquid. In the same kettle, place ham bone or hocks, 3 quarts of water and beans. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, 1½ hrs or until meat easily falls from the bone. Remove bones from broth and, when cool enough to handle, trim meat. Discard bones. Add ham, onion, celery, carrots, salt, pepper and thyme. Simmer, covered, 1 hour or until beans are tender. Add tomatoes and brown sugar. Cook for 10 minutes. Just before serving, add spinach.

Yield: 5 quarts. From Country Woman, Debrah Amrine