Our Family's Navy Bean Soup

DIRECTIONS

• Combine beans, water, tomatoes, onion, celery, garlic, ham, bouillon, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, garlic, and bay leaf in a stock pot; bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for two hours.
• Add additional water. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for an additional two hours. Discard bay leaf.
• ****if time allows, I often make a ham stock instead of using the bouillon and 1/2lb of ham. My family just prefers this to chunks of meat in a soup. I'll add the traditional stock ingredients and then use that to proceed with the soup recipe -- it's MUCH more flavorful this way. I'll also use the little flavor packet that comes with the navy beans. ****.