Ham & Bean Soup

Photo: flickr user liz_noise

Ingredients

1 pound white beans, soak overnight

8 cups water

1 1/2 pounds meaty smoked ham hocks

1 teaspoon salt to taste

2 potatoes, diced

2 carrots, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

1 med. onion

3/4 teaspoon thyme

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preparation

Bring 8 cups water and beans to boil. Add ham hocks and salt to taste. Cover and simmer 1 hour. Remove ham hocks and continue to simmer while cutting meat off bones. Return meat to pan. Cook beans until almost tender. Add veggies and spices. Cover and simmer 1 hour.