Bean and Bacon Soup...

Sharee has always loved Bean n Bacon Soup. This is a wonderful hardy soup. The whole family will enjoy it. I made it for Grampa and Gramma Martin and they loved it too!

1 Meaty Ham Bone
2 lbs. Navy Beans
6-8 Cups Vegetable Broth
1 Yellow Onion (chopped)
3 Cups Sliced Carrots
2 Cups Chopped Celery
2 Tsp. Minced Garlic
4 Tsp. Paprika
Salt to taste

Rinse and soak Navy Beans overnight. Place vegetable broth, ham bone and beans in a large stock pan (Broth should cover the beans by about 3 inches) and bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until beans are soft. Remove 1/2 the beans and set aside. Add Onion, Carrots, Celery and Seasonings to soup. Continue to simmer until carrots are soft. Remove the ham bone and clean meat off the bone in small chunks. Return meat to the soup. Mash the beans you have set aside until well mashed... you may process in blender. Return mashed beans to the soup... this will thicken the soup. Continue to simmer soup until it thickens and you are ready to serve it.

I serve this soup with Homemade Breadsticks... Everyone cleans the broth from their bowls with breadsticks.... it's just that yummy!