Shaker Bean Soup
1 lb. dry northern beans
1 meaty ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks
1 lg. onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, diced
2 carrots, shredded
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes in puree
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 1/2 c. finely shredded fresh spinach leaves
Sort and rinse beans. Place in a Dutch oven or soup kettle; cover with water and
bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 1 hour. Drain
beans and discard liquid. In the same kettle place ham bone or hocks, 3 quarts
of water and beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered 1 1/2 hours
or until meat easily falls from the bone. Remove bones from broth trim off the
meat and discard bones. Add ham, onion, celery, carrots, salt, pepper and thyme.
Simmer covered 1 hour or until beans are tender. Add tomatoes and brown sugar.
Cook for 10 minutes. Just before serving spinach.