MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06

      Title: Senate Bean Soup
 Categories: Soups, Pork, Beans, Vegetables, Potatoes
      Yield: 6 Servings

      1 lb Dry white beans;
           - soaked overnight
      1    Meaty ham bone -OR-
      2    Smoked ham hocks
      3 qt Water
      3 lg Onions; fine chopped
      3 cl Garlic; fine chopped
      4    Ribs celery; with leaves,
           - fine chopped
    1/4 c  Parsley; fine chopped
      1 c  Cooked mashed potatoes
           Salt & pepper
           Parsley or chives; minced,
           - for garnish

  Strain the water from the soaked beans and put in a big pot with
  3 qt water and the ham bone or ham hocks. Bring to a boil, then
  reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours.

  Stir the chopped vegetables and herbs into the pot--and also the
  mashed potatoes and cook over low heat for another hour--until the
  beans are nicely tender.

  Remove the bones from the pot--cut off the meat into small bits and
  return the meat to the pot, discarding the bones.

  When ready to serve, ladle into bowls and garnish with pinches of
  herbs. For "U.S. House of Representative Bean Soup" authenticity,
  crush a few of the beans in each bowl to thicken the broth and make
  it slightly opaque.

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