Bean and Ham Soup

Bean and Ham Soup.  Hearty and delicious and perfect for a cold day.  This recipe was from our local Mariano's grocery store but I modified it by adding a couple ingredients, changing amounts and leaving a few out.  So, yeah.  Basically, it's not their recipe anymore.

Bean and Ham Soup

1 lb dried cannellini beans

1/4 c. olive oil

1 onion, chopped

4 carrots, diced

3 stalks celery, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

3 T. flat leaf parsley (I just used dried.  about 2 t.)

2 bay leaves

4 c. chicken broth

2 c. water

1/8 t. black pepper

pinch of salt

1 - 1 1/2 c. chopped ham

Soak beans overnight in water to cover by 1 inch.  Drain.

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add onions, carrots, celery, bay leaf, parsley and saute until veggies slightly softened.  Add garlic and saute another minute or so.

Add drained beans, ham, chicken broth, water, salt and pepper.  Bring to a simmer, cover and adjust heat so that it is barely a simmer.  Cook, stirring occasionally until beans are tender, 45 -90 minutes, depending on the age of the bean.  

Remove and discard the bay leaves.  Remove about 1/2 of the soup from the pot. Use an immersion blender to blend what is in the pot and add the 1/2 back into the pot.  Eat.

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c = cup

lb = pound

t = teaspoon

T = tablespoon