Mumsy's US Senate Bean Soup ...p24

Yes, if the Senate has its way, this is all we will be eating now that Health Care Bill has passed.  Beans are after all nutritious, filling and can be stretched to satisfy any budget.

All jesting aside, this is one of my favorite soups.  I remember the first time I cooked it, I couldn't believe all the celery that went into it - but it does and the flavor is barely noticeable.  Served with some good warm bread, this a very satisfying meal.

I think it appropriate to print the lyrics to an old children's song that Pappy would sing everytime Mumsy made beans.  Hey!  Maybe it can become our new national anthem?

Beans, beans the musical fruit,
The more you eat, the more you toot,
The more you toot, the happier you feel,
So let's eat beans at every meal!

Here served with pumpernickel bread and, as dessert, a lemon meringue pie.  Now that's a luxury tax!

Hardy Appetit!

MUMSY'S US SENATE BEAN SOUP

2 cups white beans, soaked overnight
hambone with some meat on it
3 quarts water
1/2 cup cooked mashed potatoes
3 onions, chopped fine
1 bunch celery, stalks & tops chopped fine
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
chicken bouillon to taste

Put soaked beans, hambone & water into a soup kettle.  Simmer slowly 2 hours.  Add mashed potatoes when the beans are cooked halfway and stir till thoroughly mixed.
Add onions, celery, garlic & parsley and simmer one hour longer.  Remove hambone, chop up pieces of meat and return to soup before serving.