Ham and Bean Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 pound dried navy beans
• 8 cups water
• 1 ham hock or 1 pound diced ham
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, soak the beans in water overnight.
2. Drain and rinse the beans before adding them to the pot with 8 cups of water.
3. Add the ham hock or diced ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper to the pot.
4. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove the ham hock or diced ham from the soup and shred the meat, discarding any excess fat or bones.
6. Add the shredded meat back into the soup and continue to let it simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
7. Serve hot and enjoy your delicious ham and bean soup!