Senate Soup

Some folks tell me they just don't know how to make soups.  This one is for you!  No techniques... just throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker and leave it for 5+ hours. 

This is just navy bean soup with ham.  I know, some of you ask why you need a bean soup recipe!  Well, sometimes we just need a reminder of the EASIEST and CHEAPEST winter comfort meal of ham and bean soup.   Ahead of time, you'll need to remember to soak a few cups of dry navy beans and thaw out a ham hock, shank or bone.  

Isn't it BEAUTIFUL?!  This is how it looks with all the ingredients before the water goes in.

Speaking of ham bones... next time you buy a ham to cook for dinner, get it with a bone in.  For one thing, cooking on the bone adds a lot of flavor.  But more importantly, be a little lazy about getting all the meat off the bone.  Actually, leave a LOT of meat on the bone.  Then pop the whole thing in a bag and label it 'ham bone for soup', and store it in the freezer for later.  You can use that in this soup as well as a ham hock or shank.

The night before or morning of, just put it all in a crock pot and it's ready at dinner time.  The recipe was written by my mom's mom, Clara Conlon.  She says she got it from the U.S. Senate's cafeteria recipe from her working days.  She had a real incentive for making inexpensive meals that were easy and fed many... she raised 15 children.  My children like it served with ketchup, so if you have little ones (or big ones) who will try anything with ketchup on it, give it a shot.  I just try not to look when they do it.  Here it is...

Senate Soup (navy bean and ham)

Ingredients

• 2 cups navy beans, soaked 8 hours
• 6 cups hot water
• 1 ham hock/shank
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2-1 cup chopped celery and leaves
• one medium onion, chopped
• 2-3 carrots, chopped
• optional: I might add garlic and a sprig of thyme and rosemary each.  Then add a handful or two of chopped kale at the end.

Put everything in your crockpot.  10-12 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high.  Add salt and black pepper at the end if you think it needs it.  Makes about 8-12 servings

A bean soup seems so simple, and it is.  You can make any meal seem more special and filling by taking a few minutes to bake some fresh biscuits w/ some grated cheddar cheese and black pepper in them.  You could also serve this with corn bread or whole wheat bread.  Some cooked greens or salad would be good with it too.  And beer.  I hope you like this and that you make it regularly this winter to make your life in the kitchen a little easier.