Garlic Lovers White Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cups great northern beans
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 12 cups hot water
• 2 tablespoons instant chicken bouillon granules
• 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 10-15 garlic cloves, separated but unpeeled
• 3 onions, peeled & coarsley chopped
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 5 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
• 4 stalks celery, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup lean ham, cubed
• salt & pepper

Directions

1. 1

   Soaked bean adding 1 tsp Baking Soda 8 hours or overnight.

2. 2

   Drain and rinse.

3. 3

   Place beans, water, chicken broth powder, rosemary, thyme and bay leaf in a a slow cooker.

4. 4

   Cook on High for 1 hour.

5. 5

   Meanwhile, place garlic cloves in foil; roast at 350F for 30 minutes.

6. 6

   Let cool and set aside.

7. 7

   Add onions, carrots and celery to bean mixture, Leave on High another hour.

8. 8

   Add ham cubes.

9. 9

   Reduce to Low and cook app 4 hours.

10. 10

    Remove about 1 cup of the soup from the pot and place in a bowl.

11. 11

    Break the roasted garlic cloves into pieces with your fingers and press out the cooked garlic and stir into the bowl with the soup.

12. 12

    With hand mixer or blender, carefully puree mixture until still slightly chunky. Stir it back into the pot.

13. 13

    Let it cook another 1/2 hour to blend the flavours.

14. 14

    Remove bay leaf.

15. 15

    Stir in parlsey.

16. 16

    The taste will surprise you!

17. 17

    Cooking time does not include the bean soaking time.