Congressional Bean Soup

Ingredients

1 lb beans
8 c water
1 meaty ham bone
1 c celery
1 onion
2 tb parsley
1 ts salt
1/4 ts pepper
1 bay leaf

Instructions

In large pan, heat beans in water. Boil gently for 2 minutes; turn off heat and let stand 1 hour.* Pour into slow-cooking pot. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on lowfor 12 to 14 hours or until beans are very soft. Remove bay leaf and ham bone. Cut meat off bone; return meat to beans. Serve hot. Recipe By : ----