Country Bean Soup

Ingredients

2 pounds navy beans
2 1/2 quarts water
1 each ham bone meaty
2 each onions, chopped
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 each bay leaves

Directions

Wash and pick over beans.
Add to water.
Cover and soak over night or boil 2 minutes and soak 1 hour.
Add remaining ingredients.
Cover and simmer until beans are tender for 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
Remove bone and bay leaf.
Mash beans lightly.
Cut meat off the bone and put it back into the soup.
Can be frozen at this point.
To serve, add enough water to make a soupy consistency.