Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1              pound  Great northern beans -- rinsed and drained
  2                     smoked ham hocks -- about 2 pounds
  1              large  onion -- chopped
  4             cloves  garlic -- minced
  1                     bay leaf
  1             medium  potato -- pared and cubed
  2               ribs  celery -- finely chopped
  1              large  carrot -- shredded
  2        tablespoons  fresh parsley -- minced
                        freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

In a large soup pot, combine beans and 2 1/2 quarts of water. Discard any beans that float to the surface. Bring to a boil, cover, continue to boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow pot to stand, covered, 1 hour. Add ham hocks, onion, garlic and bay leaf. Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 hours. Add potatoes, celery, carrot and parsley. Cover and continue simmering, at least 1 hour or longer (all day if you wish). Remove ham hocks and bay leaf with a slotted spoon. Separate meat from fat and bones, dice meat and return to the soup. Discard fat and bones. Season with black pepper. DO NOT FREEZE THIS SOUP!!!!

Nutritional Information:

490 Calories (kcal); 15g Total Fat; (27% calories from fat); 34g Protein; 55g Carbohydrate; 80mg Cholesterol; 76mg Sodium