Navy Bean Soup

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Title: Navy Bean Soup
Categories: Soups/stews
Yield: 8 Servings

2 c Navy beans
3 qt Water;cold
1 ea Meaty ham bone OR
Small shank end of ham
1 ea Large onion;minced
1/2 ts Sugar
2 ea Celery stalks; minced
Milk or water
Salt and pepper

Quick-cooking dried beans do not REQUIRE overnight soaking. Some
people however, believe even those are better for soaking. Others
prefer the old-fashioned type. If you prefer to soak beans, measure
the amount of water specified in this recipe and leave beans in it
overnight. Next morning, add the remaining ingredients. No draining
is necessary. 2 cups beans = 1 lb.

Place beans and water in kettle with ham bone. Add onion, sugar and
celery. Bring slowly to boiling point. Cover and simmer 4 to 5 hours
until beans are tender and the liquid partially cooked down. Remove
ham bone.
For smooth soup, rub through a coarse sieve. Or mash beans lightly
with a potato masher for a chunkier soup. If you prefer, you may
leave beans whole.
Cut ham off bone; add ham to soup. Season to taste. Dilute if
desired with additional milk or water. Serve hot.

Source: Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book Typos by Dorothy Flatman

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