Simple "Depression" Navy Bean Soup

Submitted by Dennis

"Being a child of the depression, my mother used to make this very simple soup. I think the catsup makes a nice subtle addition to the flavor, without making it too "tomatoey". You can dress this up as much as you like depending on your ingredients and inclination. Feel free to add more or less of any of the vegetables and seasonings."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 30mins
• Ingredients: 17
• Yields: 1 large potful

ingredients

• 2 ham bones or 2 chopped ham
• 2 packages dried navy beans
• 1 medium onion (minced)
• 2 -3 stalks celery (diced)
• 1 -2 carrot (grated or finely chopped)
• 2⁄3 cup catsup (or more)
• 2 -3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (or more)
• 3 -5 dashes celery salt
• 3 -5 dashes garlic salt
• instant mashed potatoes
• 1 tablespoon dried celery flakes, if available
• salt and pepper
• water

• Additional ingredients

• ham bouillon cube or chicken bouillon cube (but add before the salt and taste so as not to get too salty--can always add salt later) (optional)
• bay leaf (optional)
• Tabasco sauce (optional)
• Mrs. Dash seasoning mix (optional)

directions

1. Soak beans overnight according to package directions.
2. Pour off extra water.
3. Add water to about 2 inches or more over the beans (depending on how"soupy" you want it).
4. Can saute the vegetables first if you want to get fancy or just throw them in the pot with all the other ingredients, except the mashed potatoes.
5. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the beans are tender---the longer the better.
6. Add dried mashed potatoes gradually to bring soup to desired thickness.
7. Serve with crackers (oyster crackers are good).