Ham & Bean Soup

Ham & Bean Soup

Because I love soup any time of year, because I'm tired of heating up my oven several days in a row, and because I had a ham bone leftover from last week, I made this soup.

-1 (12 oz) bag assorted dried beans, soaked overnight and rinsed

-4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

-4 cups water

-1 ham bone

-1 onion, diced

-5 carrots, diced

-3 ribs celery, diced

-4 cloves garlic, minced

-3 bay leaves

-1 tsp pepper

-1 tsp dry mustard

-1 Tbsp dried parsley

-2 cups ham, chopped

-3 Tbsp lemon juice

In large pot bring beans, broth, water, ham bone, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, bay leaves, pepper, mustard, and parsley to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until beans and veggies are tender (about 2 hours).  Stir in ham and simmer 30 additional minutes.  Stir in lemon juice, remove ham bone and bay leaves, and serve.