U.S. Senate Bean Soup

This recipe I got from the Taste of Home magazine and it is great. This soup is famous from the real U.S. Senate you can actually go to their website and get the recipe too!

U.S.Senate Bean Soup

1 lb dried great northern beans
1 meaty ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks
3 med onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 ribs of celery, chopped
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley
1 c mashed potatoes or 1/3 c instant potato flakes
salt and pepper to taste
Parsley or chives for garnish

Place beans and enough water to cover in a sauce pan and bring
to a boil and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and soak
for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans. In a large kettle, place beans
ham bone and 3 qts water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover
and simmer for 2 hours. Skim fat if necessary. Add onions, garlic
celery, parsley, potatoes, salt and pepper; simmer 1 hour longer.
Remove meat and bones from the soup, dice and return to kettle.
Heat through. Garnish with parsley or chives.

Yield 8-10 servings.