Navy Bean Soup

Crock Pot Navy Bean Soup

1 large onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb dried navy beans
1 cup mashed potatoes (prepared without milk and butter)
1/2 cup shredded carrot
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
1 meaty ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks
32-oz carton chicken broth
Water
8-oz diced fully cooked ham
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley, if desired, to garnish

In a saute pan over medium-high heat, cook the onion and celery in the olive oil until vegetables are tender and starting to change color.

Place the washed beans, mashed potatoes, shredded carrot, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, thyme, bay leaves and ham hocks in the Crock Pot.  Add the sauteed onion and celery and the chicken broth.  Add water to cover beans by about 2 inches.  Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

About 1 hour before you're ready to serve the soup, saute the diced ham in the butter until it begins to brown a bit.  Stir into the soup and let cook until dinner-time!  Sprinkle each bowl with parsley if desired.

Good soup!  Adapted from a Taste of Home recipes (Contest-Winning Ham and Bean Soup)