U.S. Senate Bean Soup


1 pound Great Northern beans,
soaked overnight
1 meaty ham bone
12 cups water
3 medium onions, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
1 cup mashed potatoes, cooked
salt and pepper, to taste

Place beans, ham bone and 3 quarts water
into a large soup pot.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 hours.
Add onions, garlic, parsley, celery and
mashed potato and simmer 1 hour longer,
or until beans are tender.
Season with salt and pepper.
Remove ham bone and dice meat
into 1/2 inch pieces.
Return meat to pot and discard bone.
Serves 8.